Many couples experience issues with having a baby. With some couples, it is determined that the woman has infertility issues, while in others, it is the man. In other cases, both partners may have problems or there is an unexplained issue. It’s been shown that 1 out of every 8 couples that want to have a child will experience difficulty with becoming pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy.
Age is often a contributing factor with becoming and sustaining a pregnancy. The most fertile time for women to conceive is when they are between the ages of 20 and 24. This period of fertility begins to decline when women are 30, and even more so when they are 35. When women want to have a baby at 40, however, just 2 out of every 5 will be able to become pregnant.
Couples between the ages of 29 to 33 that have normal functioning reproductive systems may even experience issues with conceiving. In any given month, they only have a 20% to 25% chance of doing so. While there are a variety of factors that may contribute to this, as stated above, women’s fertility begins to experience a decline after 30.
When couples seek medical assistance from a fertility expert, 65% have been able to have a child. Drug therapy or surgical procedures have proved effective in 85% to 90% of infertility cases. In addition to artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, or IVF treatments are other infertility procedures that have been effective with some couples.
Many couples may not seek medical intervention because they’re concerned about the potential costs that can be associated with fertility treatments. It’s important to note, however, that 15 states now have laws which require insurance companies to provide some level of coverage. Currently, the following states have these policies:
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- West Virginia
If you’ve been experiencing issues conceiving, then it may be time to consult with a fertility expert. It’s possible that there may be a simple explanation for your current inability to conceive. When the underlying issues are determined to be treatable, your physician will discuss the types of treatments that are available.