The number of women in the US of childbearing age was 60.2 million in 1995.
"Fertility, Family Planning, and Women's Health: New Data From the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth," U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

In 1995, 15% of women of childbearing age had ever sought infertility advice, that includes medical advice, tests, drugs surgery or assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Only 12 percent sought advice in 1988.
"Fertility, Family Planning, and Women's Health: New Data From the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth," U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

In 1995, there were 59,142 cycles of ART. 11,315 women had a live birth delivery through ART.
Type of ART procedures:
90% in vitro fertilization (IVF)
8% gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)
2% zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)
11% of ART procedures involved intracytoplasmic sperm injection to fertilize eggs (ICSI).
1995 ART Report from the Center for Disease Control.

Infertility by Race
7% of Hispanic women are infertile
6.4% of white women are infertile
10.5% of black women are infertile
13.6% of other groups are infertile
"Fertility, Family Planning, and Women's Health: New Data From the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth," U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

Infertility among Married Women, by Education Level
8.5% of women without high school or equivalent
8.1% of women with just high school or the equivalent
6.6% of those who have some college, but no bachelor's
5.6% of women with bachelor's or higher
"Fertility, Family Planning, and Women's Health: New Data From the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth," U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

First births for women 35 and older
Ages 35-39 jumped from 11, 704 in 1970 to 44, 427 in 1986.
Ages 40-44 went from 2,442 in 1970 to 4,419 in 1986.
Women over 35 made up 3.2% of first births in 1986.
"Trends and Variations in First Births to Older Women, 1970-1986," Nat'l Center for Health Statistics.

Infertile Couples
7.1% or about 2.1 million of married couples were infertile in 1995.
2.3 million were infertile in 1988, and 2.4 in 1982.
"Fertility, Family Planning, and Women's Health: New Data From the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth," U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

6.1 million or 10% of married couples in 1995 had impaired fecundity (either infertile or had problems conceiving or carrying a child to term.)
"Fertility, Family Planning, and Women's Health: New Data From the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth," U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.

In 1995, the peak childbearing years were still in the twenties for American women.
"Report of Final Natality Statistics, 1995."

Birthrates for women in their 30s have increased. The birthrate for women aged 40-44 increased 20% from 1990-1995. That's 74% since 1981.
"Report of Final Natality Statistics, 1995."

The National Institutes of Health found that from 1938 to 1996, sperm counts in the United States have fallen annually about 1.5%. European countries have fallen at twice that rate.
"Environmental Health Perspectives," November 1997.

One cycle of IVF costs an average of $7,800. (Includes everything from consultation to transfer)
"American Society for Reproductive Medicine," 1995.

Factors causing infertility
Tubal factor: 31%
Endometriosis: 14%
Uterine Factor: 1%
Male Factor: 18%
Other factors: 18%
Unexplained: 15%
1995 ART Report from the Center for Disease Control.

1995 ART Success Rates
CYCLES using fresh embryos from non-donor eggs:
Live births per stimulation: 19.6%
Live births per retrieval: 22.8%
Live births per transfer: 25.1%
Multiple births per transfer: 9.1%
CYCLES using frozen embryos from nondonor eggs:
Live births per transfer: 15.1% CYCLES using donor eggs:
Live births per transfer: 5.5%
1995 ART Report from the Center for Disease Control.

Singletons vs. Multiple Births in ART
49.8% singletons
23.8% twins
4.5% triplets or higher
1995 ART Report from the Center for Disease Control.

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This page updated December 18, 1997