Life
If trying to get pregnant has been tricky for you, rest assured, you're not alone. Stats about National Infertility Awareness Week that will make you feel less alone offer proof in numbers that other people are going through what you're experiencing. I'm not a numbers person myself, but when you think about the ten to 15 percent of couples in the United States who are infertile, according to Mayo Clinic, you'll realize that sharing experiences with tons of people can help offer solace and solidarity. During this week, try to educate yourself on what infertility is, and never ever diagnose yourself.
Only after you see a fertility specialist (many offer free consultations) and get tested (many tests are covered by insurance, according to fertility specialist) do you have an idea of what your fertility treatment is going to be like. Until then, try and have an open dialogue with yourself, your partner, your friends, your community — online or in real life — about infertility. You have to know the medical definition of infertility, which varies by age and other factors that go into procreating. So talk to your doctor, and check out these stats that prove infertility is something you, or you and your partner can handle, because you're awesome.
1
Infertility Is Very Common In Women
According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, infertility is defined as a "common problem." As for the numbers, about six percent of married women 15 to 44 years of age in the United States are unable to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex. That's 6.7 million women who experience infertility, according to the CDC.
2
Infertility Is Common In Men
A past National Survey of Family Growth and found that almost eight percent of all sexually experienced men younger than age 45 reported seeing a fertility doctor. That, according to the CDC is about 3.3 to 4.7 million men seeking infertility treatment. 18 percent of men, according to the CDC are diagnosed with infertility, including problems with sperm and semen. Two takeaways here: one, don't assume infertility is a woman's problem and two, if your partner's sperm isn't fertile, he's not alone, either.
3
A Lot Of Women Are Having Kids Over 35
According to the CDC, 20 percent of women in the United States have children after turning 35. So, waiting to procreate is becoming more and more common, making infertility treatments something the medical community should want to invest in.
4
There Are A Lot Of Women Undergoing Infertility Treatments
Key Statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth reported that 7.4 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 have reported seeking infertility treatment.
5
There Are A Lot Of Babies Born With Assisted Conception
A 2015 article in Business Insider reported 1.5 million babies are born each year with assisted reproductive technology, mainly through in vitro fertilization IVF.
6
Ovulation Stimulation Drugs Have High Success Rates
A totally less invasive assisted reproduction treatment is as simple as taking a pill. If you are taking a medication to help you ovulate like Clomid, according to Attain Fertility, a clinic that specializes in treating infertility, Clomid has an 80 percent chance of getting you pregnant. That's pretty high!
7
It's Not All That Easy For Fertile People To Get Pregnant
According to Resolve, the National Infertility Association, a young and fertile couple has just a 15 to 20 percent chance to conceive naturally in any one month. Er, those numbers aren't super high—yep, it's a lot harder to get pregnant than you think.
I'm not going to end on some lame note like "have fun trying" to get pregnant, because when you're trying to conceive that sentiment can pinch a nerve (in other words, it's not all sex and more sex). But, you can rest assured that you're not alone, and if anything, what you're trying to do is pretty damn fabulous. No stats needed for that.
