THE INFERTILE COUPLE

Most adults have life plans that include children. When those who desire children find their efforts unsuccessful, frustration, despair, and helplessness are common and debilitating consequences. In this article we survey the scope of the problem of infertility, its current therapies, and the future prospects. Scope of the Problem In the United States, surveys conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics estimate that in 1988, 8.4 percent of women 15 to 44 years of age, or 4.9 million women, had an impaired ability to have children1. Of these women, 2.2 million had no children (primary infertility), and 2.7… © 1993, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.