For Physicians. By Physicians.
For Physicians. By Physicians.
Patients who fail to achieve a successful pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse should be evaluated with the diagnosis of infertility. Evaluation should be initiated after 6 months for women >35 years. If over 40 years of age, or a condition known to cause infertility is present, evaluation should not be delayed. Evaluation of women for infertility should be timely, cost effective, and initially focused on the most common causes of infertility such as ovulatory dysfunction. If ovulatory function is normal, uterine anatomy and tubal patency should be investigated. Tests for ovarian reserve can not predict failure to conceive and therefore should not be used to deny fertility treatment. Ovarian reserve testing should not be used to predict the likelihood of spontaneous conception or menopause.
ASRM defines infertility as a disease, condition, or status with the following characteristics
The inability to achieve a successful pregnancy based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors
The need for medical intervention, including, but not limited to, the use of donor gametes or donor embryos in order to achieve a successful pregnancy either as an individual or with a partner
In patients having regular, unprotected intercourse and without any known etiology for either partner suggestive of impaired reproductive ability, evaluation should be initiated at 12 months when the female partner is under 35 years of age and at six months when the female partner is 35 years of age or older
Ovulatory Function
Ovarian Reserve
ACOG Committee Opinion 773: The Use of Antimüllerian Hormone in Women Not Seeking Fertility Care
ASRM: Definition Of Infertility
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