Infertility statistics

Facts about fertility

 It is estimated that one in six couples in the UK have difficulty conceiving – about 3.5 million people. 

 Of 100 couples trying to conceive naturally:

• 20 will conceive within one month
• 70 will conceive within six months
• 85 will conceive within a year
• 90 will conceive within 18 months
• 95 will conceive within 2 years

Infertility is defined as failing to get pregnant after 2 years of regular unprotected sex by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

 Infertility is the most common reason for women aged 20-45 to see their GP, after pregnancy itself.

Reasons for infertility:

The following reasons for infertility were collected from patient registration forms for IVF treatment.

• male factor - 32.5%
• female factor - 32.5%
• multiple male and female factors - 10.8%
• unexplained - 23.1%
• other factors - 1.1%

(Human and Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), 2008).