Epidemiology of Infertility

doi:10.1017/9781316488294.002

Chapter 2 - Epidemiology of Infertility

An Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 June 2019

Madelon van Wely

Edited by

Jane A. Stewart

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Jane A. Stewart: Affiliation:
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Summary

Infertility is defined by WHO-ICMART as a disease of the reproductive system defined as the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 of more months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. As all women lose their ability to conceive with age, this definition only holds within the womens’ reproductive age-span between the menarche and menopause. On average the woman’s fertility is highest in the early and mid-twenties, then slowly declines and drops even faster at 35 years and older.

Type: Chapter
Information: Subfertility, Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproduction , pp. 6 - 9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316488294.002 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2019

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