The ability to reproduce, which differs from fecundability, which is the ability of a woman to become pregnant.
The capacity to conceive or induce conception.
The fact of being fertile.
The biological capacity to reproduce. Human fertility varies with age. A woman’s fertility begins with the onset of menstruation, peaks when she reaches her 20s, then declines gradually as she approaches menopause, the phase when a woman stops menstruating and ovulating. There are many conditions that may diminish a person’s fertility. These include diseases of the reproductive system, failure of ovulation, severe medical conditions, medications, heredity, exposure to toxins, and harmful lifestyle habits.
Fertility refers to the capability of producing children without significant difficulty. It relies on both the male and female partners’ reproductive abilities.
A man’s fertility is determined by the production of sufficient healthy sperm in the testes (see testis). This process relies on the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, producing an adequate amount of gonadotropin hormones. Additionally, male fertility is dependent on the ability to achieve an erection and ejaculate semen into the vagina during sexual intercourse.
Puberty marks the onset of fertility in males, and typically, they maintain this ability, albeit to a lesser extent, well into their old age.
A woman’s capability to conceive relies on several factors. These include regular ovulation, which involves the monthly production of a healthy egg by the ovary, and the unobstructed movement of the egg through a fallopian tube toward the uterus. Additionally, the thinning of the mucus around the cervix is essential to facilitate sperm penetration. Moreover, changes in the lining of the uterus prepare it for the implantation of a fertilized egg. All these factors play a crucial role in a woman’s ability to conceive.
These processes, in turn, rely on the pituitary gland’s normal production of gonadotropins and the ovaries’ secretion of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Women become fertile during puberty and maintain this fertility until they reach menopause, which typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. However, as they age, their fertility gradually decreases.