[anxious_RN]

Curious - does anyone know the statistics of motherhood infertility in the United States? Maybe like infertile versus fertile women? This is all simply out of curiousity.

Also, what makes a woman infertile? Other than obvious disorders/diseases that can affect a women's chance of becoming pregnant, is it genetic fators? Does the woman not ovulate? I don't know if that's possible, but that is the only reason I can think of. Thanks.

[J_9]

Curious - does anyone know the statistics of motherhood infertility in the United States? Maybe like infertile versus fertile women? This is all simply out of curiousity.

Here is an interesting site from the Centers for Disease Control.

N C H S - FASTATS - Fertility/Infertility

Also, what makes a woman infertile? Other than obvious disorders/diseases that can affect a women's chance of becoming pregnant, is it genetic fators? Does the woman not ovulate? I don't know if that's possible, but that is the only reason I can think of. Thanks.

There are many causes of infertility including diseases, too numerous to list really. Untreated STDs are a large part of infertility. Anovulation (not ovulating) is obviously a cause because a woman has to ovulate for the sperm to reach the egg. Damage to the fallopian tubes, such as scar tissue, is a cause as well.

[DoulaLC]

Depending on the age range, and what resource you use, it may be around 10-15% for the average woman of childbearing age, and increase from there for older women.

There can be any number of possible reasons... from very simple to very complex. Issues with ovulation... not ovulating or ovulating sporadically. Underlying causes for this as well... there can be some genetic reasons, hormonal reasons... thyroid issues, low progesterone, high prolactin, PCOS, etc. Structure issues... uterus shape, condition of fallopian tubes. How the woman's body responds to her partner's sperm... her general health, diabetes may play a role for some women, weight may play a role for some women. Some women will have blood clotting issues or problems with the lining of the uterus that effect a pregnancy to take or last.

These are just several, and then you throw into the mix the possible problems the man might have... sometimes it is one or the other, but sometimes it is both. The male factor accounts for a fairly high percentage of infertility issues. This is why it is so important for both partners to have testing if pregnancy is not being achieved.

You can then add secondary infertility, where someone has already had a child, or children, but find they are unable to after that.
It's no wonder that only a small percentage of couples get pregnant right away; that it can take a year or so and still be perfectly normal. So much is focused on the timing and that is just one small, although important, element in the process.

[DoulaLC]

Here is an interesting site from the Centers for Disease Control.

N C H S - FASTATS - Fertility/Infertility




There are many causes of infertility including diseases, too numerous to list really. Untreated STDs are a large part of infertility. Anovulation (not ovulating) is obviously a cause because a woman has to ovulate for the sperm to reach the egg. Damage to the fallopian tubes, such as scar tissue, is a cause as well.

Yep, a very large list of possible causes indeed... had to spread the rep... :)

[J_9]

I too have to spread the rep Doula... I knew you would come in with what I left out!!

Doula to the RESCUE!!