1. A couple must be trying to get pregnant (that is, having regular, unprotected sex) for at least one year before it's considered infertility.
2. Infertility affects 15 percent of the population, or about one of every six or seven couples.
3. Approximately 50 percent of otherwise healthy reproductive age women will get pregnant in the first three or four months of trying to make a baby. About 70 percent of women will be pregnant by six months.
4. Fertility peaks in a woman is mid-twenties, when her menstrual cycles are most regular and ovulatory. Fertility is slightly decreased before age 20 and after age 30. Women over age 37 are much less fertile.
5. Current recommendations are that a woman 35 years old or younger can try for a year before seeing a fertility specialist, but if she is aged 35 to 40, she should only try on her own for six months. Women over 40 should see a doctor after only three months.
6. There are usually signs to show that a woman is ovulating. Some women feel a brief period of sharp pain on one side of the lower abdomen (the side where the egg was released) when they ovulate. Slight spotting may also occur near the time of ovulation, and cervical mucus becomes stringy.
7. Extremes of weight — both under and over — reduce fertility. This is true in both men and women.
8. Birth control pills do not lead to infertility. However, ovulation problems may not be apparent until a woman stops taking the Pill.
9. It is necessary for a woman to make certain lifestyle changes during pregnancy. Cutting back caffeine intake, taking prenatal vitamins and reducing stress all can boost women's fertility. Exercising and avoiding tobacco and alcohol can be helpful to men and women.
10. Women should start prenatal vitamins with folic acid at least 3 months before trying to conceive.
11. Soaking in a hot tub can make a man less fertile. The high temperature in a hot tub slows or halts sperm formation, and may harm sperm that have already been made, lowering the chances the man can conceive a child.
12. The unfertilized egg only lives for about 24 hours, while sperm can live in the female reproductive tract for days. So if you are trying to conceive, making love before and around the time of ovulation is more effective than after.
13. In the U.S., IVF (in-vitro fertilization) costs $15,000 per cycle, on average, and additional cycles may be needed 60 percent of the time or more.
14. Studies have shown that the radio-frequency electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones may increase oxidative stress and decrease sperm motility, contributing to decreased fertility. Men trying to conceive should avoid carrying cell phones in their pockets.
15. A review of studies found that men taking antioxidants were four times more likely than men not taking supplements to get their partner pregnant and see a successful live birth. No one antioxidant seemed to be better than another.
16. Roughly 25 percent of all recognized pregnancies result in miscarriage, but less than 5 percent of women will experience two consecutive miscarriages, and only 1 percent experience three or more.
17. "Ovarian reserve" is the medical term for the number of eggs a woman has left. Blood levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Estrogen, Inhibin B and Antimullerian Hormone (AMH) have been used to estimate the remaining egg pool (ovarian reserve).
18. There does not appear to be a maximum length of time that frozen embryos can be stored. Live births have been reported using embryos that have been frozen for almost 20 years.
19. Side effects from fertility treatment like mood swings, bloating and headaches can make women feel anything but in the mood, often leading to reduced sexual satisfaction and tension in the relationship.
20. The time that menstruation begins does not affect ovulation or pregnancy. An earlier or later start does not correlate to infertility, and doesn't predict when a woman will reach menopause.
2. Infertility affects 15 percent of the population, or about one of every six or seven couples.
3. Approximately 50 percent of otherwise healthy reproductive age women will get pregnant in the first three or four months of trying to make a baby. About 70 percent of women will be pregnant by six months.
4. Fertility peaks in a woman is mid-twenties, when her menstrual cycles are most regular and ovulatory. Fertility is slightly decreased before age 20 and after age 30. Women over age 37 are much less fertile.
5. Current recommendations are that a woman 35 years old or younger can try for a year before seeing a fertility specialist, but if she is aged 35 to 40, she should only try on her own for six months. Women over 40 should see a doctor after only three months.
6. There are usually signs to show that a woman is ovulating. Some women feel a brief period of sharp pain on one side of the lower abdomen (the side where the egg was released) when they ovulate. Slight spotting may also occur near the time of ovulation, and cervical mucus becomes stringy.
7. Extremes of weight — both under and over — reduce fertility. This is true in both men and women.
8. Birth control pills do not lead to infertility. However, ovulation problems may not be apparent until a woman stops taking the Pill.
9. It is necessary for a woman to make certain lifestyle changes during pregnancy. Cutting back caffeine intake, taking prenatal vitamins and reducing stress all can boost women's fertility. Exercising and avoiding tobacco and alcohol can be helpful to men and women.
10. Women should start prenatal vitamins with folic acid at least 3 months before trying to conceive.
11. Soaking in a hot tub can make a man less fertile. The high temperature in a hot tub slows or halts sperm formation, and may harm sperm that have already been made, lowering the chances the man can conceive a child.
12. The unfertilized egg only lives for about 24 hours, while sperm can live in the female reproductive tract for days. So if you are trying to conceive, making love before and around the time of ovulation is more effective than after.
13. In the U.S., IVF (in-vitro fertilization) costs $15,000 per cycle, on average, and additional cycles may be needed 60 percent of the time or more.
14. Studies have shown that the radio-frequency electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones may increase oxidative stress and decrease sperm motility, contributing to decreased fertility. Men trying to conceive should avoid carrying cell phones in their pockets.
15. A review of studies found that men taking antioxidants were four times more likely than men not taking supplements to get their partner pregnant and see a successful live birth. No one antioxidant seemed to be better than another.
16. Roughly 25 percent of all recognized pregnancies result in miscarriage, but less than 5 percent of women will experience two consecutive miscarriages, and only 1 percent experience three or more.
17. "Ovarian reserve" is the medical term for the number of eggs a woman has left. Blood levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Estrogen, Inhibin B and Antimullerian Hormone (AMH) have been used to estimate the remaining egg pool (ovarian reserve).
18. There does not appear to be a maximum length of time that frozen embryos can be stored. Live births have been reported using embryos that have been frozen for almost 20 years.
19. Side effects from fertility treatment like mood swings, bloating and headaches can make women feel anything but in the mood, often leading to reduced sexual satisfaction and tension in the relationship.
20. The time that menstruation begins does not affect ovulation or pregnancy. An earlier or later start does not correlate to infertility, and doesn't predict when a woman will reach menopause.
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