Evaluation of a couple’s fertility is a direct assessment of factors that might reduce the chance of conception. In broad terms, testing assesses: Eggs, Sperm, and Tubes. With current technologies, the causes of infertility have been identified and the proportion of couples with a particular problem is relatively stable. Obviously, one day in the future, newer tests will be even more helpful and more specific, with less couples being left in an “unexplained” infertility category. A current example of advancing science is diagnosis of male factors. The number and diversity of male fertility issues and causes has grown over the past 20-30 years.
The pie chart below offers general proportions of different causes. Almost 1/3 of couples completing an evaluation find that there are BOTH male and female factors.
