ABSTRACT
About one in seven heterosexual couples in the UK have fertility problems, and most are subfertile rather than infertile . The term "subfertility" describes any time of reduced fertility resulting in a prolonged time to conception (usually > 1 year), whilst the term “infertility”is reserved for couples who require assisted fertility techniques to achieve a pregnancy. Examples of conditions causing absolute infertility include azoospermia, blockage of both tubes (in male or female), severe uterine abnormalities or premature menopause – in these situations natural conceptions only occur sporadically.
