Did you know one in eight couples experience infertility? That's right. The sometimes isolating experience is actually is far more common than you may realize. That's why we're breaking it down: What is infertility, really?

Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system characterized by the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex¹. For women over 35, however, the inability to conceive after six months of unprotected intercourse is generally considered infertility.²

What causes infertility?

There are a number of factors that can cause or contribute to infertility. In females, infertility may be the result of abnormalities of the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes and the endocrine system, and other³ parts of the reproductive system. In males, infertility is typically caused by problems in the ejection of semen, the lack of—or low levels of—sperm, or abnormal shape and movement of the sperm.⁴

How common is infertility?

Infertility impacts between 10 to 15 percent of couples, making it one of the most common diseases for people between 20 and 45 years of age.⁵ Infertility isn’t just an issue for women. In fact, approximately one-third of infertility cases are caused by women's problems and one third are due to the man. The other third are due to a mixture of male and female problems—or by unknown problems.⁶

What are the types of infertility?

There are two different types of infertility, primary and secondary. Here’s how they’re defined⁷:

• Primary infertility: When a pregnancy has never before been achieved.
• Secondary infertility: When at least one prior pregnancy has been achieved.

What are the risk factors for infertility in both genders? 

There are certain risk factors for infertility that apply to both genders. These include⁷:

• Age—women aged over 35 and men over 40 are at increased risk
• Diabetes
• Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia
• Excessivealcohol consumption
• Exposure to environmental toxins like lead and pesticides.
• Excessive exercising
• Radiation therapy 
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Smoking
• Stress
• Substance abuse
• Obesity 
• Underweight

What are the risk factors for infertility in women?

In addition to the risks of infertility for both genders listed above, there are risk factors specific to females, like⁸:

• Abnormal menstruation
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Celiac disease
• Kidney disease
• Prior ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Pituitary gland disorders like Cushing’s syndrome
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),ovarian cysts and primary ovarian insufficiency
• Sickle cell anemia
• Uterine complications like endometriosis,uterine fibroids and uterine polyps
• Thyroid disease

What are the risk factors for infertility in men?

These are also risk factors for infertility that are specific to males⁹:

• Enlarged veins (varicocele) in the scrotum
• Genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis
• High heat exposure to testicles
• Injury to the scrotum or testicles
• Low sperm count or low testosterone 
• Misuse of anabolic steroids
• Premature ejaculation or retrograde ejaculation
• Testicular cancerand associated treatments
• Undescended testicles

How is infertility diagnosed in men and women?

If your healthcare provider suspects that you or your male partner may have a fertility issue, there are a variety of gender-specific tests she may recommend, including¹⁰:

• Pelvic exam: Coupled with a Pap smear, this exam will help your provider determine if there are any structural issues or signs of disease that need to be addressed.
• Blood test: This test will uncover any abnormal hormone levels, including your thyroid hormones.
• Transvaginal ultrasound: This is an internal ultrasound that enables your provider to identify any problems with the reproductive system.
• Hysteroscopy: This involves having a thin, lighted tube inserted into your vagina so your doctor can examine your uterus.
• Saline sonohysterogram (SIS): With this test, your provider will fill the uterus with saline before performing a transvaginal ultrasound—a full uterus makes it easier for your doctor to see inside it.
• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): This test helps your doctor determine if there are any blockages in your fallopian tubes via X-rays that capture an injectable dye as it travels through your
• Laparoscopy: This test helps your healthcare provider identify problems like endometriosis, uterine fibroids and scar tissue. It involves having a thin tube with a camera attached inserted into a tiny abdominal incision. 

For men, the following tests can help diagnose or rule out fertility issues¹¹:

• Semen analysis: For most men, this is the only test needed to identify fertility issues. It checks for problems with sperm, including low sperm count and poor mobility, two of the most common causes of infertility in males.
• Blood test: This can help check testosterone, thyroid and other hormone levels. There are also genetic blood tests, which can help identify chromosomal abnormalities.
• Scrotal ultrasound: This helps your provider determine if there are abnormalities with the testicles.

What are the steps for treating infertility?

There are a variety of treatments for infertility, but the best one for you depends upon a number of factors, including the cause of your challenges, how long you’ve experienced issues, your age and your partner’s age. Your comfort level with each option is also an important consideration, and one that should be discussed with your partner and in some cases, your doctor.

For some women, fertility is improved by one type of treatment. For others, a combination of therapies is required. Here is an overview of some of the most common treatment options for women experiencing infertility¹²:

• Hormone therapy: This approach is often prescribed for women with a hormone imbalance, endometriosis or short menstrual cycle.
• Medication: Certain medications can help regulate or stimulate ovulation in women who are infertile due to ovulation disorders. Antibiotics may also be prescribed if an infection is to blame.
• Surgery: If a woman has blockages, scar tissue, fibroids or adhesions in her fallopian tubes, uterus or pelvic area, surgery may be the best option.
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI): This involves healthy sperm being placed directly in the uterus around the time of ovulation.

For men struggling with infertility, medications, surgery or sperm retrieval may be prescribed. Changing certain behaviors or habits may also help improve fertility. Discontinuing certain medications, eliminating harmful substances, increasing the frequency and optimizing the timing of intercourse, and exercising regularly are just some of the changes that may support male fertility.

Assisted Reproductive Technology

For some couples struggling with infertility, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is the best option. Although there are a few different definitions for ART, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)¹³, this term describes any fertility treatment in which either eggs or embryos are handled.

ART procedures typically involve surgically removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries, combining them with sperm in a laboratory, and returning them to the woman’s body—or donating them to another woman. Treatments in which only sperm are handled, like IUI or artificial insemination, or procedures in which a woman takes medicine to promote ovulation without the intention of having the eggs retrieved are not considered ART by this definition .

In vitro fertilization (IVF)¹⁴, which involves stimulating and retrieving multiple mature eggs, fertilizing them with sperm in a dish in a lab, and implanting the embryos in the uterus several days after fertilization, is the most common ART technique¹⁵. 

Can you prevent infertility? 

In instances where infertility is the result of genetic problems or illness, not much can be done to reverse it. But there are a number of things you can do if you’re struggling with infertility caused by other issues, like¹⁶:

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Stop smoking
• Abstain or limit alcohol
• Minimize stress
• Avoid exposure to pesticides, heavy metals and toxins
• Refrain from using illicit drugs
• Men should avoid prolonged heat exposure for the testicles and should not undergo a vasectomy. ¹⁷

Women can also set themselves up for conception and pregnancy by optimizing their nutritional intake. For those whose diet may fall a little short, supplements are a great addition as they can help fill nutritional gaps in your diet. Perelel offers a Women's Trio Vitamin ¹⁸, which helps prepare your body for pregnancy with antioxidant support, added omegas, additional folate and a full-spectrum prenatal vitamin.*

Can people with infertility eventually conceive?

Although success rates vary, couples struggling with infertility can often still achieve a pregnancy through use of ART¹⁹.

Will insurance cover infertility treatments?

Whether or not your insurance will cover fertility treatments depends on the type of insurance plan you have as well as where you live—14 U.S. states currently have laws in place requiring insurance companies to cover or offer to cover some form of infertility diagnosis and treatment²⁰. Here’s a list of them:

• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• West Virginia

For more information about the laws in your state, contact your state's Insurance Commissioner's office or your State Representatives.

Shop Vitamins for Fertility

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If you or someone you know is struggling with infertility, check out our series Fertility, Unfiltered, where we share the unspoken stories of fertility. From egg freezing to IVF, no topic is off-limits.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and we recommend that you always consult with your healthcare provider. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Perelel.

1. Who.int. 2022. Infertility. Available at: <https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility> .

2. Reproductivefacts.org. 2022. Defining Infertility. Available at: <https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/patient-fact-sheets-and-booklets/documents/fact-sheets-and-info-booklets/defininginfertility/#:~:text=Infertility%20is%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20inability%20to,months%20is%20generally%20considered%20infertility> .  

3. Mayo Clinic. 2022. Infertility - Symptoms and causes. Available at: <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354317> .

4. Womenshealth.gov. 2022. Infertility | Office on Women's Health. Available at: <https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/infertility> .  

5. Cleveland Clinic. 2022. Infertility Causes: Types, Risk Factors, Diagnosis & Treatment. Available at: <https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16083-infertility-causes> .

6. Mayoclinic.org. 2022. Infertility - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic. Available at: <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354322> .  

7. Cdc.gov. 2022. What is Assisted Reproductive Technology?. Available at: <https://www.cdc.gov/art/whatis.html> . 

8. Perelel. 2022. Fertility, Unfiltered: "Fertility is Like a Game of Monopoly". Available at: <https://perelelhealth.com/blogs/news/fertility-unfiltered-ivf-journey> .

9. American Pregnancy Association. 2022. Infertility in Women. Available at: <https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/female-infertility/#:~:text=Can%20infertility%20in%20women%20be,to%20prevent%20sexually%20transmitted%20diseases: There is usually nothing that can be done to prevent female infertility caused by genetic problems or illness.> . 

10. Mayo Clinic. 2022. Female infertility - Symptoms and causes. Available at: <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/female-infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354308> . 

11. Perelel. 2022. Conception Support Pack*. Available at: <https://perelelhealth.com/products/conception-support-pack> .

12. Mayoclinic.org. 2022. Infertility - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic. Available at: <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354322> .

13. Reproductivefacts.org. 2022. Q08: Do Insurance Plans Cover Infertility Treatment?. Available at: <https://www.reproductivefacts.org/faqs/frequently-asked-questions-about-infertility/q08-do-insurance-plans-cover-infertility-treatment/> .