The number of people with difficulties to conceive is rising among the population of childbearing age.

Sterility indicates absolute inability to conceive.

The term infertility is defined as the inability of pregnant women to carry a full-term pregnancy. This is associated with recurrent miscarriages or non-viable pregnancies. The term recurrent miscarriage is used to define two or more consecutive pregnancy losses.

A couple should seek medical advice if the woman does not become pregnant after a year of intercourse without birth control (specially the days prior to ovulation which is the most fertile period in a woman´s cycle). However it is recommended to visit the specialist sooner if the woman is above 35 years old.

In Spain 15% of couples in the reproductive age are infertile and it seems that the incidence of fertility problems is becoming higher. This is influenced by the increasing number of women who delay motherhood, by declining sperm quality, etc.

As per the causes of infertility it is believed that a male factor is responsible in 40% of the cases, a female factor in another 40% and in 20% of the cases causes can be detected in both partners.

At the age of 35, female fertility decreases significantly.

Sterility means the inability to achieve pregnancy.