Infertility Services
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Your Source for Infertility Information and Services

Infertility is a disease and a disability. It discriminates against no one. It strikes people from all walks of life, rich or poor, young or old, black or white, Asian or American, Australian, African or European, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from.

If you or someone you know has been struck by infertility, then you know that it can be all consuming. You find yourself pre-occupied. Not only does it take up all of your time, but you could find yourself physically, emotionally and financially drained. And just when you think you've reached your stopping point or the end of your rope, you find yourself drawing on all available resources (and some that are not so available!) just so you can try once again to achieve what most couples expect and take for granted once they've made up their minds........Parenthood.

Read on-- YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

What Is Infertility?

Infertility is a diagnosis made by a medical professional after a couple( under 30 years of age)has been unsuccessful in conceiving /becoming pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse,or a couple (over 30 years of age) has been unsuccessful in conceiving /becoming pregnant after six months of unprotected intercourse, It is also diagnosed when a woman is unable to carry a pregnancy to a live birth.

National Infertility Rates

Nearly one out of five couples has a problem with fertility.

Percentage of Women with Infertility :

According to a study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, (Dr.Howard Jones, New England Journal of Medicine, December 2, 1993 pg. 1710 --The Infertile Couple) it was estimated in 1988 that 8.4% of women 15-44 years of age, had impaired ability to have children and about half of these couples eventually concieve.(These are overall average infertility figures- statistics will vary greatly depending on the age of the individual).

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15-24 years old.......4.1%

25-34 years old.......13.1%

35-44 years old.......21.4%

(above information summarized from Redbook Magazine, August,1993)

Percentages of Biological Reasons for Infertility -Female:

Tubal Factors..........................36%

Ovulatory Disorders.................33%

Endometriosis...........................6%

No known cause.......................40%

( above information; Dr. David Lindsay,Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Monash University -Melbourne, Australia. Lancet,June 18, 1994)

Percentage of Men with Infertility:

8-12% of men are functionally sterile (men having sperm counts below 20 million per milliliter of semen.) Dr. Cecil Jacobson, Reproductive Genetics Center - Vienna, Virginia

40% of couple infertility is due to the male.(Dr. Pat McShane, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Boston, Mass.)

Infertility treatment is a $1billion a year industry. (HealthFacts,Vol.19 (176),January,1994