In some areas both terms are used as synonyms to define couples who experience a problem having a child, but medically speaking there is a clear distinction:

Sterility is defined as a difficulty in achieving pregnancy after a year of frequent sexual relations near the day of ovulation and without protection. This definition is based on the estimate of an 85% probability of becoming pregnant over one year in normal conditions. It is important to know that the human species does not have a high reproductive capacity. It is said there is a 25% chance of pregnancy during sexual relations maintained when the woman is ovulating. Approximately 1 in 6 couples of fertile age will be affected by sterility (15% - 17%). Primary sterility is when the couple has never achieved gestation, and secondary sterility is when the couple already has a history of one or more pregnancies.

Primary infertility is when the pregnant couple achieves spontaneous pregnancy on one or more occasions, but it is impossible to carry this pregnancy through to its full term and achieve a normal new-born baby. If after a pregnancy and normal birth the couple does not achieve a new gestation that is carried through to a normal new-born baby, this is called secondary infertility. As such, we are talking about couples who suffer repeated miscarriages. It is important to take into account that suffering from an occasional miscarriage is considered normal in a woman’s reproductive medical history.

From the age of 35 onwards reproductive potential starts to decrease, and after the age of 40, the chances of becoming pregnant are less than 10% each month.

At what point do we recommend starting a sterility study?

Starting tests depends on the age of the woman and on her chances of getting pregnant through the treatments that we are able to offer at our Centres.

For a woman who is 35 years old or younger, the best thing to do is to wait for a year. If, on the other hand, the woman is older than 35, we would recommend starting tests after six months. Therefore, if you think that you have a sterility problem or you suspect there is a risk, you should consult a gynaecologist so that your case can be assessed and, if necessary, referred on to a centre specialising in infertility.