Infertility

What is infertility and when should I seek medical help?

Most experts define infertility as not being able to get pregnant after at least one year of trying. Women who are able to get pregnant but then have repeated miscarriages are also said to be infertile.

Most healthy women under the age of 30 shouldn’t worry about infertility unless they’ve been trying to get pregnant for at least a year. At this point, women should talk to their doctors about a fertility evaluation. Men should also talk to their doctors if this much time has passed. In some cases, women should talk to their doctors sooner. Women in their thirties who’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months should speak to their doctors as soon as possible. A woman’s chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30, so getting a complete and timely fertility evaluation is especially important.

How does age affect fertility?

From the age of 30, the per month chance of conception is a little over 20 per cent. By the age of 36 a woman’s chance of conceiving per month decreases to 15 per cent. The downward slope continues until about age 45 with the average natural fertility rate per month being approximately 1 per cent.

What causes infertility?

There are many reasons why a couple may not be able to conceive naturally. After a woman’s age, male infertility is the biggest single factor.

The Bonnie Babes Foundation counsellors can help families with infertility issues.