Question 3: How Common is Infertility

One of the unique features of the 100 Q&A series of books is that patients offer their view on several of the topics that are covered. As a physician it is easy sometimes to assume that patients have knowledge that they actually don't possess. We do thousands of sonograms every year and yet to the patient these images often just look like weather maps. It's kind of like that scene in the Matrix when they are all watching a stream of numbers flowing down the screen. To us we just see a flow of characters on the screen and yet to them they are watching Neo and Morpheus slug it out in a training session within the Matrix... Perhaps it is not the smartest idea to share my knowledge of science fiction with potential/existing patients.... On the other hand, I did convince my wife to date, marry and reproduce with me so go figure.

So here is the Question of the Day from the soon to be published 2nd Edition of 100 Questions and Answers about Infertility by Gordon and DiMattina...with a little help from three of our patients....

3. How common is infertility?


Infertility is an extraordinarily common disorder. An estimated 25% of all women will experience an episode of infertility during their lifetime. Infertility currently affects about 6.1 million women and their partners in the United States. The percentage of reproductive-age women who report problems successfully conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy varies with age. In the youngest segment of the population, approximately 10% to 15% are affected by this problem. Among women older than age 35, however, more than one-third report diminished fertility. The rates of pregnancy loss are also related to a woman’s age, with the rate of miscarriage exceeding 50% in women older than age 40.


Kristin comments:


When you’re in the throes of infertility, desperately wanting a child while seemingly everybody around you gets pregnant on their “first try,” you wonder if you’re the only one who can’t get pregnant. My husband and I have been very open about our fertility problems, and once I really started to share our story with friends and acquaintances I discovered I was not alone . . . far from it. I have created amazing friendships with other “infertiles” I have met through Internet communities, reading blogs, and even support groups in my area.