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Marcelle Cedars, Robert B. Jaffe, Infertility and Women, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 90, Issue 4, 1 April 2005, Page E2, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.90.4.9997
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Extract
What is female infertility?
Infertility is the inability of a sexually active couple, not using any birth control, to get pregnant after one year of trying.
Infertility affects more than 3 million couples in the United States. About 40% of cases are due to female factors, 30% are due to male factors, 20% are a combination of both, and in about 10 % the cause is unknown.
For pregnancy to occur several things have to happen:
...
If any of these events does not happen or is disrupted, infertility will result.
What causes female infertility?
About one quarter of female infertility is caused by a problem with ovulation. This can be due to an imbalance of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), an injury to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland (where these hormones are produced), pituitary tumors, or too little or too much body weight.
Other hormonal conditions that can affect fertility include thyroid problems, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure (POF), and occasionally Cushing’s syndrome.