| It seems as though infertility is becoming more and | | | | more aware of clinical pregnancies that are then |
| more common. You may have friends or family that | | | | miscarried. A great many such miscarriages, which |
| have had problems getting pregnant, or you may be | | | | usually occur because of a problem with the fetus, |
| wondering if you yourself are infertile. The web is | | | | went unnoticed by women because the pregnancy |
| littered with infertility chat rooms and infertility | | | | was lost before their period was due, or they simply |
| support groups. Surely this means infertility is on the | | | | thought they were "late" that month. |
| rise, doesn't it? | | | | It is heartening that more people are willing to talk |
| Not necessarily. There are a lot of contributing | | | | about infertility now and share their experiences, and |
| factors to the seeming increase in infertility. One | | | | that technology has advanced to increase the |
| factor is that we no longer consider such matters a | | | | chances for a woman diagnosed as infertile to |
| taboo subject. People readily disclose that they have | | | | nonetheless have a healthy child. We're also getting |
| had trouble conceiving, and seek help and support | | | | smarter about the lifestyle choices that can |
| from others either in live groups where people can | | | | contribute to infertility. A couple that is intent on |
| share their infertility stories, or anonymously online. | | | | building a family typically knows that certain steps like |
| Another reason we seem to see more cases of | | | | losing weight, stopping smoking, and reducing alcohol |
| infertility is that older women will have more trouble | | | | consumption will increase their chances of success. |
| conceiving because their eggs are older, and we are | | | | So, is infertility really a new epidemic? I think not. |
| seeing a trend toward starting families later in life. | | | | There is excellent infertility information out there |
| Women trying to get pregnant in their early thirties | | | | now, So if you are planning a family and anxious to |
| these days are very aware that it might not be easy | | | | get an overview of what infertility is and the reasons |
| and are looking for whatever signs of infertility they | | | | for it, do a little research, listen the infertility stories |
| might find. Finally, advances in technology make it | | | | of others, and feel optimistic that we live in an era |
| appear that infertility is on the rise. New treatment | | | | with so many options available to address fertility |
| possibilities get plenty of media attention, and | | | | problems. |
| over-the-counter pregnancy tests can make women | | | | |