Learn what a typical Fertility problems prognosis is at Consumer Reports Health.

Fertility problems

What will happen?

What you decide to do about your infertility is a very personal matter. It will depend on how important it is for you to have a child using your own eggs and sperm. And some couples are prepared to have far more tests and treatment than others.

Even without treatment, some couples go on to conceive. Every month, about 1 or 2 in every 100 couples with fertility problems become pregnant without any medical treatment.

Source:
Gleicher N.
Cost-effective infertility care.
Human Reproduction Update. 2000; 6: 190-199.

If you've been trying to get pregnant for a year without success, it may help to know that about half of couples who try for a year get pregnant in the second year of trying. And about a quarter of couples who have been trying for two years conceive in the third year.

Source:
National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
Fertility: Assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems.
August 2003. Available at http://www.nice.org.uk/pdf/CG011niceguideline.pdf (accessed on 13 June 2008).

If you have treatment, your chances of success will depend on several things:

The woman's age. Treatments such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) are less successful in women over 35. IVF is the most common form of assisted reproduction technology (or ART for short). This means that scientists in a lab use human eggs and sperm to help a couple have a baby. If you're a woman over 35, it's important to get help sooner rather than later. The earlier you get treatment, the greater your chances of getting pregnant.

Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.
2000 assisted technology and reproductive success rates. National Summary and Fertility Clinic Reports.
August 2003. Available at http://www.cdc.gov (accessed on 16 June 2008).

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The cause of your infertility
The type of treatment you have
The center where you're treated. Some clinics have better success rates than others. So it's important to do your homework and find one with a good track record. Look for one that helps couples have babies and not just those that have high pregnancy rates.

Before you start having tests, it's useful to think about the different treatments.

What sorts of treatment would you be prepared to try? How long will you try for? You may need to weigh up the strains and side effects of some fertility treatments against the possible benefits.
What will you do if treatment using your own eggs and sperm doesn't work? You and your partner may want to consider other options such as donor eggs or donor sperm, or adoption. Discussing how you feel about these options with your partner will help you prepare for whatever happens in the months to come. Your fertility clinic should be able to give you more information about these options.

Bear in mind that tests and treatments for infertility can be a strain, physically, emotionally and sometimes financially. You'll need support and it may help to talk to a counselor.

For more information, see How infertility can make you feel.

Sources for the information on this page:

Gleicher N.Cost-effective infertility care.Human Reproduction Update. 2000; 6: 190-199.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence.Fertility: Assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems.August 2003. Available at http://www.nice.org.uk/pdf/CG011niceguideline.pdf (accessed on 13 June 2008).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.2000 assisted technology and reproductive success rates. National Summary and Fertility Clinic Reports.August 2003. Available at http://www.cdc.gov (accessed on 16 June 2008).

This information was last updated on Mar 06, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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