Infertility a Problem for About 1 in 6 Couples: Several Factors to Blame

by Elizabeth Renter
March 2nd, 2013
Updated 03/02/2013 at 3:36 am

Infertility is not something that comes up in daily conversation. It’s not like ADHD or obesity—things that are often talked about as people discuss their struggles. But like obesity and ADHD, there is a great possibility that the increasing rates of infertility can be tied to diet and environmental factors.

According to a new study from the National Institutes of Health, around 15 to 16 percent of couples attempting to conceive couldn’t after a year of trying. That’s a rate of about 1 in 6. Other studies have shown similar rates, and what’s perhaps most troubling is that these numbers are on the rise. According to the Canadian census, for example, infertility rose there from 8.5 percent in 1992 to 15 percent in 2009-2010. That’s a dramatic jump. >