Let's break the silence on infertility
1 in 6 people globally experience fertility challenges. Talking openly — for women and men — is the first step to answers, support and hope.
On this page
Facts and Diagnosis
Infertility is usually defined as not being able to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sex (or 6 months if you're over 35). It affects 1 in 6 people worldwide and can involve female factors, male factors, both, or be unexplained.
- When to seek help: under 35 after 1 year of trying; 35+ after 6 months; sooner if you have irregular cycles, known reproductive conditions or a history of miscarriage.
- Initial tests for women often include hormone blood tests (AMH, FSH, LH, TSH, prolactin), pelvic ultrasound and tubal patency tests (HSG or HyCoSy).
- Initial tests for men focus on a semen analysis — looking at count, motility and morphology — plus hormone tests if needed.
- Risk factors include age (especially female age over 35), smoking, alcohol, excess weight, untreated STIs, certain medications and some cancer treatments.
Underlying Causes
Many medical conditions can sit behind a diagnosis of infertility. Identifying the underlying cause is what allows a clinician to recommend the right treatment pathway.
- Female factors: ovulatory disorders, PCOS, endometriosis, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, fibroids, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), age-related decline in egg quality.
- Male factors: low sperm count, poor motility or morphology, azoospermia, varicocele, hormonal imbalance, DNA fragmentation, previous infection or injury.
- Combined factors: in many couples both partners contribute to the difficulty — which is why it's important to test both.
- Unexplained infertility: in around 15–25% of cases, standard tests come back normal. IVF is often offered to bypass unknown barriers.
Common Fertility Acronyms
The fertility world is full of jargon. Here's a quick glossary of the terms you'll see most often as you move through testing and treatment.
- IVF
- In Vitro Fertilisation — eggs and sperm combined in a lab
- IUI
- Intrauterine Insemination — sperm placed directly into the uterus
- ICSI
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection — single sperm injected into an egg
- FET
- Frozen Embryo Transfer
- PGT-A / PGT-M
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing for aneuploidy / monogenic disease
- AMH
- Anti-Müllerian Hormone — a marker of ovarian reserve
- FSH / LH
- Hormones that drive egg and sperm development
- HSG
- Hysterosalpingogram — X-ray of the uterus and tubes
- TTC
- Trying To Conceive
- TWW
- Two-Week Wait — the wait between ovulation/transfer and a pregnancy test
- BFP / BFN
- Big Fat Positive / Negative (pregnancy test)
- OHSS
- Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome — a possible side effect of stimulation
Understanding the Female Reproductive System
A quick map of the female reproductive system helps make sense of test results, treatment steps and any diagnosis you receive.
- Ovaries — store eggs and produce oestrogen and progesterone. Egg supply (ovarian reserve) naturally declines with age.
- Fallopian tubes — where sperm meets egg. Blocked or damaged tubes are a common cause of infertility.
- Uterus — where an embryo implants and grows. Fibroids, polyps or scarring can affect implantation.
- Cervix — the gateway to the uterus. Cervical mucus changes through the cycle to help or block sperm.
- The menstrual cycle — driven by hormones (FSH, LH, oestrogen, progesterone) over roughly 28 days, with ovulation around the midpoint of the cycle.
Understanding the Male Reproductive System
Male factors contribute to around 40–50% of fertility difficulties — so understanding how the male reproductive system works matters just as much.
- Testes — produce sperm and testosterone. Sperm production takes around 72–90 days, so lifestyle changes show up months later.
- Epididymis & vas deferens — where sperm mature and are stored before ejaculation.
- Prostate & seminal vesicles — produce the fluid that mixes with sperm to form semen.
- Key markers in a semen analysis: count (concentration), motility (movement), morphology (shape) and volume.
- Conditions that can affect fertility: varicocele, hormonal imbalance, infection, undescended testes, DNA fragmentation, certain medications.
Optimizing Fertility
Small, consistent lifestyle changes can meaningfully improve your chances — whether you're trying naturally or preparing for treatment.
- Nutrition: a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, fish and lean protein supports egg and sperm quality.
- Movement: regular moderate exercise — but avoid extreme over-exercising, which can disrupt cycles.
- Sleep & stress: aim for 7–9 hours and use tools like mindfulness, therapy or coaching to manage stress.
- Cut back on smoking, vaping, recreational drugs and limit alcohol. Both partners benefit.
- Track your cycle and time intercourse around your fertile window (typically days 10–16 of a 28-day cycle).
- Review medications and supplements with your doctor — folic acid, vitamin D and CoQ10 are commonly discussed.
Ready for the next step?
Whether you want to understand your options, find a trusted clinic or speak to an expert, Babble Connect is here to support you.
Inspired by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association . This page is for general education only and is not medical advice — please speak to a fertility specialist about your individual situation.