Fecundity Status

Fecundity Status is the physical ability of a woman or couple to have a child.  It is determined by responses to questions asked in the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) interview, not by a medical examination.  Fecundity status has three main categories: surgically sterile, impaired fecundity, and fecund.

Surgically Sterile -- A woman is classified as surgically sterile if, at the time of interview, she had an unreversed sterilizing operation (for example, tubal ligation or hysterectomy) or her husband or cohabitating partner had an unreversed sterilizing operation (vasectomy).  "Surgically sterile" is divided into "contraceptive" and "noncontraceptive" subcategories, based on the reasons reported for sterilizing operation.

Impaired Fecundity -- A woman is classified as having "impaired fecundity" if she reported that

it is impossible for her (or her husband or cohabitating partner) to have a baby for any reason other than a sterilizing operation;

it is difficult or dangerous to carry a baby to term; or

she and her husband/partner have been continuously married or cohabitating, have not used contraception, and have not had a pregnancy for 3 years or longer.

Fecund -- This group is a residual category and means that the woman (or couple) was not surgically sterile and did not have impaired fecundity.  The percent of currently married couples with impaired fecundity is higher than the percent infertile because impaired fecundity includes problems carrying babies to term in addition to problems conceiving, whereas infertility includes only problems conceiving.

SOURCE: National Survey of Family Growth

Related Links
Infertility Status
Fertility
Fertility/Infertility FASTATS

This page last reviewed January 11, 2007