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How common is infertility among couples?
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infertility
Major structures and hormones involved in the initiation of pregnancy. Also seen, at right, is the development of an egg cell (ovum) from follicle to embryo.
At least 10 percent of couples experience infertility.
In these cases, deficiencies in sperm production in the male are the causal factor in approximately one-third of all instances. Female infertility is often related to the faulty production of ova or interferences in their union with spermatozoa, with disordered ovulation accounting for about 25 percent of female-related cases. Other common factors include blockages or scarring of the fallopian tubes, which may result from conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis.1