A couple is considered infertile if there is a lack of pregnancy after one year of unprotected intercourse. Infertility is classified as primary or secondary, depending on previous history of pregnancy.  History of pregnancy includes all pregnancies, even those that resulted in miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

Primary infertility is defined as a couple who has never been pregnant.  Secondary infertility describes a couple who are having trouble conceiving again, even though they have previously achieved pregnancy.

The causes of infertility are approximately 50 percent due to male causes and 50 percent due to female causes. It affects about 15 percent of the U.S. population of reproductive age. The incidence increases according to the age of the patient, increasing to 25 percent in women older than the age of 40.

An infertility evaluation will be performed at the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center to determine where the problem in achieving successful pregnancy originates.  There are many reasons why a woman may have trouble conceiving; male infertility can also contribute to a couple’s failure to achieve pregnancy.