Female Infertility: Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor or Marker of a Population at Cardiovascular Risk?

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 17.5% of the adult population (1 in every 6 people in the world) suffers from infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. The prevalence varies little between regions, with similar rates in high-, middle-, and low-income countries, constituting a global public health problem.

Approximately 85% of infertile couples have an identifiable cause for infertility, whereas the remaining 15% have unexplained infertility. As shown in the , infertility can be attributed to numerous causes and risk factors, the treatment of which can eventually contribute to the couple’s fertility.

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