Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system that impairs the ability to achieve pregnancy. Primary infertility is the inability to conceive a child after regular intercourse for at least 1 year. Secondary infertility occurs in couples who have previously been pregnant at least once, but are unable to achieve another pregnancy.

Infertility affects men and women equally. About one-third of the cases are due to a male factor, one-third to the female and the remaining to the combination of both partners. Causes of infertility include a wide range of physical as well as emotional factors.

For a woman to be fertile, her reproductive organs must be healthy and functional. To conceive a child, the ovaries must release healthy eggs regularly and her reproductive tract must allow the eggs and sperm to pass into her fallopian tubes for a possible union.