Around 1 in 7 heterosexual couples in the UK seek advice at some time in their lives about difficulties in getting pregnant.¹

The World Health Organization describes infertility as “a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.” A working definition of ‘regular’ is typically every two to three days.^1,2

In the UK, more than 80% of couples (where the woman is aged 40 or under) will conceive within a year with regular sexual intercourse and no contraception, and 90% will conceive within two years.¹

Potentially, 30% of infertility cases are due to the man alone, with low sperm count or quality behind 90% of these cases, and problems with ejaculation also significant. Another 20% of infertility cases involve both partners. Around 35% of cases involve just the woman, and 15% of cases are unexplained.^3,4

For men, infertility is usually due to:²

• ·     problems in the ejection of semen
•      absence or low levels of sperm; and/or
•      abnormal shape (morphology) and movement (motility) of the sperm.