Female infertility may be defined as the inability of a woman to conceive after one full year of continuous unprotected sexual intercourse. This however will be so if there is no problem with the male partner. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the physician's fertility organization, there are four lifestyle factors that affect female fertility or ability to conceive. These factors include the following: Smoking, Body Weight (underweight as well as overweight), Safe Sex, and Aging. Women in their 20's and early 30's are more likely to conceive. Fertility starts declining rapidly at age 35 as opposed to studies suggesting age 40 and above.
According to fertility specialist and book author Dr. Sherman Silber, "Only 1% of women in their early 20's are infertile but by their late 20's, 16% are infertile, and by their mid-30's almost 25% are infertile. By age 40, 60% are infertile and by age 43 it would be a rare woman who is still fertile". Infertility can result from several causes and the following are worth mentioning:
 Hypothalamic-pituitary factors: Dysfunction of the hypothalamus and the pituitary will cause hormonal imbalances since this axis controls hormonal secretion.
 Ovarian factors: These factors include polycystic ovarian syndrome, anovulation, diminished ovarian reserve, premature menopause, menopause, luteal dysfunction, Turner syndrome which means sexual organs are poorly developed, and ovarian cancer.
 Ectopic/peritoneal factors: These factors include endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, pelvic inflammatory disease due to Chlamydia infection, tubal occlusion and tubal dysfunction.
 Uterine factors which include uterine malformations, uterine fibroids, and Asheman's Syndrome.
 Cervical factors which could be stenosis, antisperm antibodies and non-receptive cervical mucus.
 Vaginal factors which include vaginismus and vaginal obstruction.
 Genetic factors.
There are forms of infertility that are considered unexplainable. About 60% of women who have unexplainable infertility eventually give birth three years later or thereafter. There are various ways of treating infertility, but most have to do with eliminating the root cause of the problem. Also, there are fertility drugs which are used to enhance the chances of getting pregnant. These drugs increase the chances of multiple fetuses. Natural ways of enhancing fertility have also been insinuated.