§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's estimate of the extent of(a) female and (b) male infertility in the United Kingdom. [16327]
§ Ms JowellA number of studies have suggested that about one in six couples seek specialist help at some time because of difficulty in conceiving.
For those couples who seek specialist help, an estimated 20 per cent. of cases are attributable to conditions affecting the male partner and 40 per cent. to the woman. The remainder involves either a combination of difficulties affecting both partners or unexplained causes.