What are the two types of infertility?

• A. Primary infertility: couples who have never conceived; Secondary infertility: couples who have previously conceived.
• B. Primary infertility: couples who have previously conceived; Secondary infertility: couples who have never conceived.
• C. Primary infertility: infertility due to male factors; Secondary infertility: infertility due to female factors.
• D. Primary infertility: only after ART; Secondary infertility: after natural conception.

Answer: (A)

Two types of infertility are defined by whether the couple has ever conceived before. Primary infertility means the couple has never conceived despite regular, unprotected intercourse. Secondary infertility means the couple has conceived in the past but is unable to conceive again. This distinction helps describe the couple’s reproductive history and guides initial evaluation, though it doesn’t specify the cause of infertility (which can involve ovulatory issues, tubal factors, male factor, endometriosis, and more). In practice, the time frame used for defining infertility is typically about 12 months of trying (or 6 months if age is a concern), but the primary/secondary classification remains about whether there has been a prior conception.