what does it mean to be infertile

Being infertile means that a person or couple cannot conceive a pregnancy naturally after trying for a significant period. Medically, infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant after at least 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse for most couples. For women over 35, this period may be considered six months. Infertility can be due to problems in either the male or female reproductive system or a combination of both, and there are two main types: primary infertility (never having conceived) and secondary infertility (difficulty conceiving after a previous pregnancy). It affects a notable percentage of couples globally and can have various causes, some of which may be treatable.