fertility
Meaning of fertility: Fertility is the biological capacity to conceive, shaped by hormonal balance, reproductive organ function, and the quality of eggs or sperm.
Definition of fertility
Fertility is the ability to conceive a pregnancy, depending on the coordinated function of multiple body systems, including hormone regulation, the production of viable eggs or sperm, and the structural integrity of the reproductive organs. Fertility can be assessed in an individual or, when a couple is trying to conceive, considered as the combined potential of both partners.
Fertility naturally changes over the course of life, generally declining with age, particularly for egg-related fertility, and can also be affected by certain medical conditions, prior surgeries or treatments, and other factors. Evaluating fertility typically involves a combination of history, physical examination, hormone testing, and, depending on the situation, additional specialized testing for either partner.
Fertility is distinct from the ability to sustain a pregnancy once conception has occurred, which depends on a separate set of physiological processes.
Used in a sentence
Hormone testing was performed as part of the couple's fertility evaluation.
Good to know
Fertility describes the capacity to conceive and is distinct from the capacity to carry a pregnancy to term, since the two involve different physiological processes that can be affected independently.