Reproductive Specialist Dr. David Hoffman’s Facts About Infertility

April 23 kicks off National Infertility Awareness Week, an event that brings much needed awareness to a disease that affects over 7 million women worldwide.  While infertility is a personal journey that that can affect anyone at any age, it is also a challenge that so many share.  NIAW is a great opportunity for anyone affected with infertility to communicate a message of hope and understanding.

Our own Dr. David Hoffman is subspecialty certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and has over 25 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.  Below he offers valuable information about infertility that may help shed some light on this condition that affects so many.

• Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse (six months in the woman is over age 35) or the inability to carry a pregnancy to live birth.
• Six percent of married women aged 15 to 44 years in the U.S. are affected by infertility.
• Twelve percent of women aged 15 to 44 years in the U.S. have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term regardless of marital status.
• In 35% of couples with infertility, a male factor is identified along with a female factor.  In about 8% of couples with infertility, a male factor is the only identifiable cause. 
• Almost 9% of men aged 25 to 44 years in the U.S. reported that they or their partner saw a doctor for advice, testing, or treatment for infertility during their lifetime.
• Infertility impacts 1 in 8 couples of reproductive ages.
• One third of infertility issues are considered “unexplained” infertility. 
• Women between the ages of 20-24 have an 86% chance of conceiving after trying a year.  As women age, this percentage gradually falls.  Between the ages of 40 – 44, the chances decrease to 36%.
• Couples that are between the ages of 29 to 33 with a normal functioning reproductive system have only a 20 to 25% chance of conceiving in any given month.  After 6 months of trying, 60% of couples will conceive without medical assistance.
• 7.4 million women (or 11.9% of women) have received infertility services in their lifetime.
• Approximately 85 to 90% of infertility cases are treated with drug therapy or surgical procedures.  Fewer than 3% need advanced reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization.

For more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. David Hoffman at one of our IVF FLORIDA locations, please call 866.770.2168.