Understanding infertility

When you first learn about infertility, it may feel overwhelming and isolating, but it’s important to know you’re not alone.

In fact, infertility is more common than you may think, and is just as likely to impact those with female anatomy as those with male anatomy.

Infertility
in numbers

Infertility affects about

1 in 6

Australian couples of reproductive age1
Infertility is just as likely whether a person is assigned

female or

male at birth1

1 in 3 cases
are related to fertility issues in people assigned female at birth
1 in 3 cases
are related to fertility issues in people assigned male at birth
1 in 3 cases
are related to fertility issues with both or ultimately the cause is unknown

Infertility is defined as not being able to achieve a pregnancy after actively trying (ie, sex without contraception) for 12 months or more for women under 35, and 6 months or more for women over 35.2,3

Many factors impact fertility – some you don’t have control over, such as age and conditions affecting the reproductive system, and some you do, such as lifestyle choices.

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In this brochure, learn about the many factors that may impact infertility.

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  2. World Health Organization. Infertility. September 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility. Accessed April 2024.
  3. Your Fertility. Thinking about having a baby? Available at: https://www.yourfertility.org.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/Thinking_about_having_a_baby_resource.pdf. Accessed April 2024.
  4. Cleveland Clinic. Diminished ovarian reserve. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23975-diminished-ovarian-reserve. Accessed April 2024.
  5. Your Fertility. Age and reproductive outcomes. Available at: https://www.yourfertility.org.au/sites/default/files/2018-11/Age_and_reproductive_outcomes.pdf. Accessed April 2024.
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  7. Healthline. How does sperm morphology affect fertility? Reviewed August 2017. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/sperm-morphology. Accessed April 2024.
  8. Medical News Today. How does sperm motility affect fertility? Reviewed November 2017. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320160. Accessed April 2024.
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  10. Oyelowo T. Menstrual cycle. In: Mosby’s guide to women’s health. Missouri: Mosby, 2007: pp 11–15.
  11. MSD Manual. Overview of infertility. Reviewed September 2020. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-nz/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/infertility/overview-of-infertility. Accessed April 2024.
  12. Jain M, Singh M. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) techniques. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing, 2023. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK576409. Accessed April 2024.
  13. Oyelowo T. Anatomy, physiology, and neurology. In: Mosby’s guide to women’s health. Missouri: Mosby, 2007: pp 1–7.
  14. Patton KT, et al. Anatomy and physiology, 11th ed. Missouri: Elsevier, 2022.
  15. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are some possible causes of female infertility? Available at: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility/conditioninfo/causes/causes-female. Accessed April 2024.
  16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infertility FAQs. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/index.htm. Accessed April 2024.
  17. Mayo Clinic. Female infertility. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/female-infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354308. Accessed April 2024.
  18. Mayo Clinic. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594. Accessed April 2024.
  19. Oyelowo T. Pelvic inflammatory disease. In: Mosby’s guide to women’s health. Missouri: Mosby, 2007: pp 168–71.
  20. Cleveland Clinic. Uterine factor infertility. Reviewed January 2020. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17738-uterine-factor-infertility. Accessed April 2024.
  21. Healthy Male (Andrology Australia). Male infertility. Reviewed May 2018. Available at: https://www.healthymale.org.au/files/resources/male_infertility_fact_sheet_healthy_male_2019.pdf. Accessed April 2024.
  22. Mayo Clinic. Infertility. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354317. Accessed April 2024.
  23. Gnoth C, et al. Hum Reprod 2008; 23(6): 1359–65.
  24. Zhang LJ, et al. BC Med J 2020; 62(9): 319–22.
  25. Healthline. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): symptoms, causes, and treatment. Reviewed April 2021. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/polycystic-ovary-disease. Accessed April 2024.