Definition of infertility: a committee opinion
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Infertility is defined. This document replaces the document titled ‘‘Definitions of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss: a committee opinion,’’ last published in 2020 (Fertil Steril®. 2020;113:533-535. PMID: 32115183). (©2023 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)
‘‘Infertility’’ is a disease, condition, or status characterized by any of the following:
Nothing in this definition shall be used to deny or delay treatment to any individual, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation.
Acknowledgments: This report was developed under the direction of the Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as a service to its members and other practicing clinicians. Although this document reflects appropriate management of a problem encountered in the practice of
reproductive medicine, it is not intended to be the only approved standard of practice or to dictate an exclusive course of treatment. Other plans of management may be appropriate, taking into account the needs of the individual patient, available resources, and institutional or clinical practice limitations.
The Practice Committee and the Board of Directors of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine have approved this report.
The following members of the ASRM Practice Committee participated in the development of this document: Clarisa Gracia, M.D., M.S.C.E.; Jacob Anderson; Paula Amato, M.D.; Rebecca Flyckt, M.D.; Karl Hansen, M.D., Ph.D.; Micah Hill, D.O.; Sangita Jindal, Ph.D.; Suleena Kalra, M.D., MSCE; Tarun Jain, M.D.; Bruce Pier, M.D.; Michael Thomas, M.D.; Jared Robins, M.D.; Chevis N Shannon, Dr.Ph., M.B.A., M.P.H.; Anne Steiner, M.D., M.P.H.; Cigdem Tanrikut, M.D.; and Belinda Yauger, M.D. All Committee members disclosed commercial and financial relationships with manufacturers or distributors of goods or services used to treat patients. Members of the committee who were found to have conflicts of interest based on the relationships disclosed did not participate in the discussion or development of this document.
- The inability to achieve a successful pregnancy based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors.
- The need for medical intervention, including, but not limited to, the use of donor gametes or donor embryos in order to achieve a successful pregnancy either as an individual or with a partner.
- In patients having regular, unprotected intercourse and without any known etiology for either partner suggestive of impaired reproductive ability, evaluation should be initiated at 12 months when the female partner is under 35 years of age and at 6 months when the female partner is 35 years of age or older.
Nothing in this definition shall be used to deny or delay treatment to any individual, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation.
Acknowledgments: This report was developed under the direction of the Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as a service to its members and other practicing clinicians. Although this document reflects appropriate management of a problem encountered in the practice of
reproductive medicine, it is not intended to be the only approved standard of practice or to dictate an exclusive course of treatment. Other plans of management may be appropriate, taking into account the needs of the individual patient, available resources, and institutional or clinical practice limitations.
The Practice Committee and the Board of Directors of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine have approved this report.
The following members of the ASRM Practice Committee participated in the development of this document: Clarisa Gracia, M.D., M.S.C.E.; Jacob Anderson; Paula Amato, M.D.; Rebecca Flyckt, M.D.; Karl Hansen, M.D., Ph.D.; Micah Hill, D.O.; Sangita Jindal, Ph.D.; Suleena Kalra, M.D., MSCE; Tarun Jain, M.D.; Bruce Pier, M.D.; Michael Thomas, M.D.; Jared Robins, M.D.; Chevis N Shannon, Dr.Ph., M.B.A., M.P.H.; Anne Steiner, M.D., M.P.H.; Cigdem Tanrikut, M.D.; and Belinda Yauger, M.D. All Committee members disclosed commercial and financial relationships with manufacturers or distributors of goods or services used to treat patients. Members of the committee who were found to have conflicts of interest based on the relationships disclosed did not participate in the discussion or development of this document.
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