In my last post, Fertell: At-home Fertility Screening Test, I mentioned a news release that a reader sent me called Couples Quiet When it Comes to Concerns about Fertility. The news release contains many interesting statistics based upon a survey conducted by Genosis Inc., the company that created Fertell. In my last post, I talked about the product. In this post, I would like to talk about the statistics in the article.

According to the news release, 807 American couples, ranging in age from 25 to 45, completed the on-line survey. Here is an abbreviated recounting of the results:

• 72% of couples underestimated the likelihood of fertility issues
• 90% of couples underestimated the likelihood of both partners having fertility issues
• 39% were concerned about their ability to conceive
• 29% were concerned about their spouse's ability to conceive
• 24% would not feel comfortable talking with their partner about contacting a fertility specialist
• 33% were reluctant to talk to a doctor because they feared the results

This quote was particularly interesting to me:

Women surveyed express considerable concern about their own age impacting fertility but none are aware that female fertility begins to decline at about age 26--in fact, 39 percent of the women surveyed believe there is no decline until age 35. - Couples Quiet When it Comes to Concerns about Fertility

I did not know this! I saw several fertility specialists over a 6-year period, and I was never told that my fertility began to decline at age 26. Considering I was 27 when I started trying to conceive, my age definitely could have been a factor.

Here is another interesting statistic:

Fertility issues affect one in seven couples in the United States and the total number of people with difficulty conceiving is estimated to be more than 6 million nationwide. - Couples Quiet When it Comes to Concerns about Fertility

At least that can help each of us feel less alone, right? There are other statistics quoted, which you can read in the article.

Based upon my own experience, I am not surprised by many of the statistics. For example, I had no expectation of either of us having fertility issues, so it never occurred to me that we might both be infertile. I felt very uncomfortable broaching the subject of seeing a fertility specialist, and my husband definitely feared the results. I am also not surprised by the high incidence of infertility. I know many people who have struggled with becoming pregnant, so the 1 in 7 statistic sounds about right to me.

I hope these statistics can help you to keep a better perspective about your situation. There are many of us out there who struggle with fertility issues. You are not alone.