Nearly 1 In 6 Heterosexual Couples Are Facing The Same Arduous Infertility Struggle As You

From experiencing tremendous pregnancy loss to the frustration of not getting pregnant to feeling like a “jealous judgy monster,” infertility can be a very isolating experiencing for many women. But new research on the commonality of such an emotional experience suggests that many of you ladies (and men) are not alone.

Reuters reports that in a study of over 7,600 (which is being called “nationally-representative”) researchers determined that one in six heterosexual couples don’t get pregnant in the first year of trying.

Germaine Buck Louis, of the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, Maryland, and her colleagues reportedly reviewed data from in-person and “computer interviews” with ladies around the country (all aged 15 through 44 in 2002).

Researchers ultimately determined the number of infertile couples in America in two ways:

First, they calculated the number of infertile couples as a fraction of all pairs that could or could not have become pregnant, based on their sexual behavior – resulting in a rate of seven percent.

Then they looked specifically at women trying to get pregnant, not including those who were using contraception or had very recently given birth, for example. That strategy showed 15 to 16 percent of couples couldn’t get pregnant after at least a year of unprotected sex.

This data is apparently consistent with previous research that demonstrates 12 to 18 percent of women may encounter some trouble conceiving. Yet, that isn’t necessarily to say that these fertility problems are all related to the female body.

Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology reportedly cites male factor infertility and diminished ovarian reserve being the most frequent infertility-related diagnoses.

Some experts believe that the rate of infertility has been increasing in recent years. Dr. Sacha Krieg cites a few of the usual suspects, including women putting off having children until quite late — or “environmental toxins.” Nevertheless, she finds this new study to reveal “a little bit higher infertility than we [fertility specialists] typically quote patients.”

Not alone, indeed.

(photo: Sam72 / Shutterstock)