Fertility Statistics and Facts

Pregnancy Statistics

Nearly 6 million pregnancies occur every year in the United States, with more than 4 million ending in live births.

Pregnancy Losses - Of the remaining 2 million pregnancies that do not end in a live birth, the pregnancy loss is due to miscarriage (about 600,000), termination (about 1.2 million), ectopic pregnancy (about 64,000), molar pregnancy (about 6,000), or stillbirth (about 26,000).

Complications - Approximately 875,000 women each year experience complications during pregnancy. Annually there are about 467,000 premature births, 307,000 babies born with low birth weights, and 155,000 born with birth defects. According to the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics, 399 women died due to pregnancy or childbirth in 2001.

Weight Gain and Pregnancy - Data from a 2005 CDC study shows that nearly 67 percent of all pregnant women gain between 16 and 40 pounds during their pregnancy - a range which is considered healthy by most health care professionals. Only 13 percent gained less than 16 pounds, which is considered inadequate for most women, and about 20 percent gained more than 40 pounds, which is considered too much for all women.

Pregnancy Rates and Age - During the 1990s, the pregnancy rate for women ages 30-34 increased 3 percent, for ages 35-39 it increased 9 percent, and for ages 40-44 it increased 21 percent.

Infertility Statistics

NY Department of Health report: in 1995, approximately 7.1 percent of married couples in the U.S. with wives of childbearing age were infertile.  There are several factors involved in infertility for both men and women.

Age and Infertility

A woman's chances of becoming pregnant decrease as she grows older.  Younger couples are more likely to seek infertility treatment, since a healthy 30-year-old woman's chances of becoming pregnant drop from 20 percent to 5 percent by the time she is 40.  According to a CDC report on 422 fertility clinics, in 2005, approximately 40 percent of couples who used ART were under 35 years of age, while only 9.5 percent were over 42 years of age.

Causes of Infertility

According to a report by the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology, of couples who sought infertility treatment in 2006, the causes of their infertility were:

• Male and female factor - 18 percent
• Male factor - 17 percent
• Female factor - 12 percent
  • Diminished ovarian reserve - 12 percent
  • Tubal factor - 9 percent
  • Ovulatory dysfunction - 6 percent
  • Endometriosis - 5 percent
  • Uterine factor - 1 percent
  • Unknown factor - 11 percent

Infertility Treatment Statistics

Fertility statistics demonstrate the success and limitations of infertility treatments, including fertility drugs and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

Fertility Drugs

There are several major classes of fertility drugs with varying success rates for infertility treatment.  These include:

• Progesterone and Injectable Gonadotropins (including GnRH Agonists and GnRH Antagonists), which supplement naturally-occurring hormones.  By stabilizing a woman's menstrual cycle, these can increase her chances of conceiving. 

• Ovulation-inducing drugs include Clomiphene citrate (Clomid®) and Human Menopausal Gonadotropin.  These drugs can increase a woman's chances of ovulation by 70 to 90 percent or more.

ART Success Rates

ART, or IVF, is improving rapidly, as are its success rates.  According to CDC reports, between 1996 and 2005:

• The percentage of live births resulting from embryo transfers increased by 22 percent. 
• The success rate for transfers of two embryos nearly tripled.
• The number of singleton births (as opposed to multiples) increased by 35 percent. 
• The percentage of live births increased for women in all age groups studied:
  • Under 35 years of age - 29 percent increase
  • Age 35 to 37 - 24 percent increase
  • Age 38 to 40 - 18 percent
  • Age 41 to 42 - 30 percent
  • Over 42 years of age - 7 percent increase

Pregnancy Complications

A woman who becomes pregnant through IVF or another fertility treatment is at risk for the same pregnancy complications as a woman who becomes pregnant without infertility treatment.

• One CDC report found that the risk of miscarriage is 15 percent for both groups of women. 
• A woman's chance of carrying multiples (instead of just one fetus) increases with fertility treatment.  A CDC report states that, by 2005, the rate of twin births increased by nearly 70 percent since the 1980's, due in part to the use in fertility treatments.  

Contact an Infertility Expert

If you are considering infertility treatment, you need the support of an experienced infertility specialist.  Locate an infertility expert in your area to find more information on treatment options and success rates.