There are several different categories under the umbrella term of infertility, and it’s good to know what the differences are:
Infertility is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as not being able to get pregnant after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex. Other definitions also include not being able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of unstimulated intrauterine insemination (IUI).
Sterility is not being able to have children at all. This can happen naturally, for example the menopause means women are no longer able to conceive, as they no longer release eggs to be fertilised. It can also happen with certain medical procedures such as cancer treatment.
Primary infertility is when someone has never been able to conceive.
Secondary infertility is when someone has been able to conceive at least once in the past.
You can read more on this in our article,
Secondary infertility: What is it and what’s the difference between infertility and secondary infertility?