Female infertility, also known as female factor infertility, is defined as the inability to get pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. For women over the age of 35, this timeframe is shortened to six months. Infertility is attributed to female factors in about one-third of cases.
Primary vs. Secondary Infertility
It’s helpful to understand the distinction between the two types of infertility diagnoses:
- Primary Infertility is diagnosed when a couple has never been able to conceive a child after trying for the specified timeframe (12 months for women under 35, and 6 months for women over 35).
- Secondary Infertility is diagnosed when a couple is unable to conceive after previously giving birth without aid of fertility treatments.Â