Generally the causes can divided as follows: male factor (40%), female factor (40%), male and female factors (10%), and unexplained infertility (10%).
Taking the time and effort to do a thorough evaluation at the beginning of care will often allow for faster treatment and quicker time to pregnancy. The evaluation is based on knowledge of normal human fertility. It will begin with a history and exam, followed by diagnostic tests for both females and males, where applicable. Based on this, the treatment will be geared toward male, female, combined factors, or unexplained infertility (for which there is still treatment).
For more information, see the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) videos Basic Infertility Evaluation and Understanding Fertility. Also see the ASRM booklet Infertility: An Overview.
