According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, infertility is defined as a disease of the reproductive system that impairs the body's ability to perform the basic function of reproduction.  Primary infertility refers to difficulty in achieving a pregnancy via sexual intercourse or assisted reproductive technology.  Secondary infertility refers to having conceived at least once in the past and experiencing difficult conceiving again or sustaining pregnancy.  Studies have indicated that infertility can be as distressing to women as those being treated for cancer. 

Women and their partners are advised to seek medical care if pregnancy has not been achieved after a year of unprotected intercourse.  For women over the age of 35, medical care is suggested after six months of unprotected intercourse without achieving a pregnancy.  Female factor infertility occurs in about 35% of all cases.  Male factor infertility occurs in about 35% of all cases.  In 20% of cases, both female and male factor problems are present.  Unexplained infertility occurs in 10% of all cases.   

A number of new studies suggest that acupuncture and herbal remedies are very helpful in treating fertility problems.  Research has also shown that treating the emotional distress of fertility challenges and their treatment can be very helpful to individuals and couples, generally, and in ultimately conceiving.  At Partners in Healing, we have found that a combination of Western and Eastern approaches have been most successful in achieving and sustaining pregnancy.