According to a recent survey of American adults who are married and planning to conceive, the prospect of infertility along with a lack of understanding of key factors affecting fertility leave many feeling uninformed, anxious, and unable to discuss their concerns related to conception.

The survey released by the makers of Fertell, the first at-home fertility screening test for couples, reports that there are numerous misperceptions among couples about fertility. The online survey results were collected from 807 Americans ages 25 to 45 who are married and reported that they are trying to have a child now or planning to try in the near future.

According to the survey, a majority of couples (72 percent) underestimate the likelihood that they could experience fertility problems and almost all couples (90 percent) underestimate the likelihood of both partners having fertility problems. Despite this knowledge gap, many people (39 percent) report concern over their own ability to conceive and 29 percent report concern over their spouse's ability to conceive. However, regardless of their concern 24 percent of those surveyed say they would not feel comfortable discussing with their partner the option of seeking professional fertility assistance. 33 percent of respondents report a reluctance to start the conversation with a physician, stating that they would be afraid to pursue professional assistance for fear of what they might find out.

A majority of the couples surveyed (55 percent) say they would become significantly concerned if they were unable to conceive within seven months of trying, yet current clinical guidelines state that a couple with a female partner under the age of 35 should try for a full year before pursuing further evaluation.

"It is clear that many couples planning to have a baby are misinformed about both the difficulties associated with getting pregnant and the resources available to them," said Brad Imler, President of the American Pregnancy Association. "This lack of education can contribute not only to delays in pursuing medical intervention when it is necessary, but also in elevating anxiety for those who are unaware that getting pregnant can often take more than a few months of trying."

Men and Women Think Differently When it Comes to Fertility

In the survey, a clear disparity was found between men and women in both their concerns as well as their understanding of factors that could negatively impact their ability to conceive. While both men and women are aware that advanced maternal age can affect their chances of conceiving, many men (44 percent) are unaware that their fertility also declines with age . Women surveyed express considerable concern about their own age impacting fertility but none are aware that female fertility begins to decline at about age 26--in fact, 39 percent of the women surveyed believe there is no decline until age 35.

Lifestyle factors and their impact on the ability to conceive were also viewed differently between the sexes. 44 percent of men are unaware that heavy exposure to saunas and hot tubs could negatively impact their fertility, while most women are well aware of this particular risk. Alternatively, 48 percent of women surveyed believe that moderate alcohol consumption could affect their fertility and while it is not considered beneficial studies show it has no bearing on their fertility.

When it comes to understanding which partner is most likely contributing to difficulties conceiving, both men and women appear to be equally misinformed. In fact, while 65 percent of those surveyed believe that men and women are about equally likely to experience fertility problems most (90 percent) are unaware that in many cases both partners could have factors contributing to their difficulty conceiving. In addition, both male and female partners are more concerned about the woman's fertility and her ability to conceive than the male partner's and may be limiting their conversations related to these misperceptions. In fact, underestimating the role that both partners play in understanding fertility and their own status is often a key obstacle in many couples' efforts to conceive and an important factor in their ability to discuss concerns surrounding conception.

"Fertility is as much a couple's issue as conception and child-rearing itself," said Robert Thompson, President of Genosis Inc, the makers of Fertell. "It is here that so many couples miss the boat and end up suffering a tremendous amount of needless anxiety down the road."

Closing the Knowledge Gap

With widespread anxieties and a lack of knowledge and discussion surrounding fertility issues indicated in the survey, there is an obvious need to offer couples simple, informative resources for understanding their fertility. A new innovation, Fertell, is enabling couples to initiate this important dialogue about their fertility. Fertell is the first at-home fertility screening test for men and women. It not only allows couples to begin discussing fertility and their concerns surrounding conception, but most importantly, Fertell offers them the opportunity to assess their fertility status in the comfort and privacy of their own home. In addition, couples gain valuable insight through a reliable screening method based on the same procedures conducted in the doctor's office. More information about Fertell is available online at http://www.fertell.com and it is available in the family planning section at major retailers including CVS/pharmacy and Long's Drugs Stores.

About Fertility

Fertility issues affect one in seven couples in the United States and the total number of people with difficulty conceiving is estimated to be more than 6 million nationwide. While men and women are about equally likely to have factors contributing to their difficulty conceiving, in approximately 30 percent of cases both partners have contributing fertility issues. Because of this it is essential to test both partners. With fertility problems attributed to a number of factors and affecting couples of varying ages, early detection of fertility issues can significantly increase a couple's chances of becoming pregnant.

About Genosis

Genosis Inc., based in Needham, Massachusetts, distributes Fertell, the first at-home fertility screening test for couples. Fertell's patented, clinically-proven technology combines electronics and biomedical components to provide an accurate evaluation of fertility status for couples who want to accelerate the path towards conception. Fertell is FDA cleared and tests key elements of both male and female fertility. These fertility tests can be taken in the comfort of a couple's home, with results in under 90 minutes. For more information about fertility, conception planning and Fertell, visit http://www.fertell.com.