Hooray! It’s National Infertility Awareness Week from April 24-30, 2011!
In celebration, we at RSI, one of the Philadelphia area’s most reputable fertility clinics, would like to share some facts about fertility treatments, assisted reproductive techniques and other pertinent tidbits:
- The world’s first IVF birth was in 1978 in England.
- The first American IVF birth was in 1981 (30 years ago!)
- In some countries, fertility clinics will not allow certain couples to go through procedures because of age, sexual orientation and other factors. Thus, a phenomenon called “fertility tourism” has sprung onto the international scene.
- Not all fertility clinics accept patients in same-sex relationships. (RSI does.)
- Fertility clinics aren’t just for those over 35 or 40… many younger people are now seeking fertility treatments, especially if they have been trying to have a child unsuccessfully for six months or more.
- In-vitro fertilization (IVF) may get a lot of press, but it only represents about 5-10% of the procedures handled by fertility clinics.
- About 10% of all couples have trouble with fertility at some point. (This includes secondary infertility.)
- Endometriosis is a large contributing factor for many women; ironically, a good number of females do not realize they have this condition until they go to fertility clinics.
- Men and women have an equal chance of being infertile.
- STDs (especially those which have been undetected) are an increasing problem for those wishing to become pregnant.
- Even if you’ve had a child once, you can experience “secondary infertility.”
- The stigma of fertility treatments has been greatly reduced; consequently, more couples (and singles) are making appointments at fertility clinics in an effort to have children.