What is fertility? What is infertility?

Fertility is the ability to become pregnant and carry the pregnancy to full term. Fertility can be affected by a problem with one or both reproductive systems.

Infertility is when a fertilized egg isn’t able to develop in the uterus (fertilized egg means the sperm reached and entered the egg).

It means not being able to become pregnant after a certain amount of time having unprotected well-timed sex (during the most fertile days).  Age is a factor – as ovaries age they are less likely to successfully mature and release eggs.

About 16% of couples in Canada have fertility problems.