Defining Infertility

In the medical community, the term "infertility" means the inability to conceive children within one year if the woman is under 35 years of age, or within 6 months of the woman is over 35. It does not define whether the inability is related to the man or the woman. It also does not explain the reason for the infertility, only that conception is not possible.

There is, however, a concern among health care professionals who treat infertility, that there is no consistent definition. Some reference it as a "condition," while others refer to it as a "disease." Practitioners in the field of treating infertility feel that the most reasonable definition must include 1) infertility is a disease of both men and women and 2) that it results in the inability to conceive a child, or to carry a pregnancy to term.

Regardless of how you define it, infertility affects both men and women, and impacts not only physical health, but also psychological well-being of those affected by it.