Understanding Infertility

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About Infertility:

• An estimated 15% of couples will have trouble conceiving. (UCLA Health, 2020)
• Globally, 48.5 million couples experience infertility. (Reproductive Biological      Endocrinology, 2015)
• About 9% of men and 10% of women aged 15 to 44 reported infertility problems in the United States. (CDC, 2013 and Office on Women’s Health, 2019)

Infertility in the U.S.

• The U.S. has an average of 1.87 children born per woman. (Central Intelligence Agency, 2017)
• About 85% of couples will be able to conceive in their first year of trying. (UCLA Health, 2020)
• Additionally, 7% of couples will be able to conceive in their second year of trying. (UCLA Health, 2020)
• Infertility affects 10% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the U.S. (CDC, 2019)
• Half (48%) of couples with difficulty conceiving do not consider their condition to be infertility. (SingleCare, 2020)

Infertility statistics by sex

• As reported by 9% of men aged 15 to 44 and 10% of women in the same age group, infertility is nearly as common in men as it is in women in the U.S. (CDC, 2013 and Office on Women’s Health, 2019)
• 30% of infertility cases can be attributed solely to the female, 30% can be attributed solely to the male, 30% can be attributed to a combination of both partners, and 10% of      cases have an unknown cause. (Fertility Answers, 2020)

Infertility statistics by race and ethnicity

• Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women had the highest rate of fertility in the U.S. in 2018 followed by Hispanic Americans and Black Americans.
• Black American women are two times more likely to be impacted by infertility. 
• White and Asian Americans had the lowest rates of fertility in 2018.

Common infertility complications

Infertility and infertility complications, like miscarriages, can negatively affect a person’s overall health and quality of life. Many couples who want to start a family and are unable to conceive will experience psychological and interpersonal distress that could negatively impact their quality of life.  

• Infertility is one of the primary reasons for divorce among couples. (International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine, 2020)
• Up to 60% of infertile individuals reported psychiatric symptoms with significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than fertile individuals. (Clinical Therapeutics, 2014)
• Nearly 41% of infertile women have depression. (BMC Women’s Health, 2004)
• Almost 87% of infertile women have anxiety. (BMC Women’s Health, 2004)
• Women who get pregnant via IVF have a higher chance of giving birth prematurely. (Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2017)

The cost of infertility treatment

• All treatment costs for infertility can range from $5,000 to $73,000 (Fertility and Sterility, 2011)
• The average patient goes through two IVF cycles, bringing the total cost of IVF (including procedures and medications) between $40,000 and $60,000. (SingleCare,      2020)
• An estimated 85% of IVF costs are often paid out of pocket. (Fertility and Sterility, 2011) - which speaks to the need to address insurance providers and their coverage protections and limits for women around infertility treatment.