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How is infertility defined after regular intercourse without contraception?
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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.
In the context of medical disorders, infertility is defined as the failure of a couple to conceive after one year of regular intercourse without the use of contraception. It is also defined by the inability of a woman to carry a pregnancy to a live birth.1
This condition can affect either the male or the female and may result from various factors, including sexually transmitted diseases, alcohol consumption, drug use, or smoking. Because normal fertility relies on a complex series of biological steps—ranging from the production of healthy sperm and eggs to successful implantation in the uterus—a disruption at any stage can lead to infertility.12