Infertility can be defined as a failure to become pregnant within a certain time frame – typically one or two years.⁵

Data suggests that for women who have monthly menses and regular sexual intercourse (every 2-3 days), with no contraception, then 84% of couples will conceive within the first year. After two years the figure will be 92% and after three years 93%.⁵

This suggests that one in seven couples can be considered as having difficulty conceiving. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 worldwide – will experience infertility.^5,6,7

NICE considers infertility as the period of time people have been trying to conceive without success after which formal investigation is justified and possible treatment implemented. However, it advises that an infertility diagnosis based on no success within 12 months of trying “may exaggerate the risk of infertility, since up to half of women who do not conceive in the first year are likely to do so in the second year.”⁵