Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffFemale infertility, male infertility or a combination of the two affects millions of couples in the United States. An estimated 10 to 15 percent of couples are infertile, which means that they've been trying to get pregnant for at least a year — or for at least six months if you're a woman age 35 or older.
Generally, infertility results from female infertility factors about one-third of the time and male infertility factors about one-third of the time. In the rest, the cause is either unknown or a combination of male and female factors.
The cause of female infertility can be difficult to diagnose, but many treatments are available. Treatment isn't always necessary: Half of all infertile couples will go on to conceive a child spontaneously within the next 24 months.
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