About 1 in 8 women aged 15–49 worldwide report difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant, translating to roughly 48 million couples living with infertility. Yet the path after stopping birth control is far from uniform, with ovulation markers often returning within weeks for many, while conception can still take beyond 9 months for others, especially after long-term use. Add to that shifting patterns in contraception adoption, ART use, and spending on fertility treatments, and the full picture becomes much more nuanced than infertility prevalence alone.
Key Takeaways
- 12% of women aged 15–49 worldwide (about 1 in 8) have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant, indicating infertility prevalence
- 48.5 million couples worldwide experience infertility, according to an estimate compiled in 2012
- 10%–15% of couples worldwide are affected by infertility
- 44% of women who stopped using hormonal contraception reported having resumed ovulation-related fertility markers within 12 weeks in a systematic review of observational studies
- median time to return to ovulation after discontinuing combined oral contraceptives was 15 days in a systematic review of hormonal contraception discontinuation
- in a cohort study, 6 months after stopping the levonorgestrel IUD, 87% of women had resumed normal fertility markers (ovarian activity) when followed prospectively
- USD 4.2 billion was the global value of the female contraception market in 2019 (a benchmark used in industry analyses that includes hormonal and non-hormonal contraception)
- USD 1.8 billion global value was reported for the assisted reproductive technology (ART) market segment in 2019 in an industry report (clinics and treatment services)
- USD 19.0 billion global infertility treatment market size in 2022 (forecast base year) from a market intelligence report
- In 2021, there were 2.1 million cycles of IVF performed in the EU (estimate from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, ESHRE)
- In the US, 39% of women aged 15–49 who are trying to conceive but have infertility used reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialists (survey estimate)
- In the same cohort evidence, pregnancy rates within 12 months after stopping DMPA were 49% (observational follow-up)
- In a pooled analysis of observational studies, women discontinuing LNG-IUD had a 1-year pregnancy rate of 83% after removal (fertility resumption measure)
- 12% of women aged 20–24 worldwide have given birth by age 18 (2019 global estimate).
- 47% of women in the world do not receive the minimum required level of sexual and reproductive health services (2022–2023 gap estimate used in the Lancet Global Health summary evidence).
About 12% of women worldwide face infertility, and fertility often returns within months after stopping contraception.
Epidemiology
112% of women aged 15–49 worldwide (about 1 in 8) have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant, indicating infertility prevalence[1]
Single source
248.5 million couples worldwide experience infertility, according to an estimate compiled in 2012[2]
Verified
310%–15% of couples worldwide are affected by infertility[3]
Directional
420%–35% of infertility cases are attributed to female factors (as commonly cited in WHO-referenced reproductive health reviews)[4]
Verified
5Nowcasts from the 2019 study estimate that infertility affects 48 million couples globally, with a modeled increase from 1990 estimates[5]
Verified
Epidemiology Interpretation
From an epidemiology perspective, infertility is widespread worldwide affecting about 12% of women aged 15 to 49 and an estimated 48 million couples globally, with nowcasts suggesting it has continued to rise from 1990 levels.
Contraceptive Effects
144% of women who stopped using hormonal contraception reported having resumed ovulation-related fertility markers within 12 weeks in a systematic review of observational studies[6]
Directional
2median time to return to ovulation after discontinuing combined oral contraceptives was 15 days in a systematic review of hormonal contraception discontinuation[7]
Verified
3in a cohort study, 6 months after stopping the levonorgestrel IUD, 87% of women had resumed normal fertility markers (ovarian activity) when followed prospectively[8]
Single source
4after discontinuing depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), median time to conception can extend beyond 9 months, especially after long-term use, based on large cohort follow-up[9]
Verified
51 in 5 women experience difficulty conceiving within 1 year of trying when fertility issues exist, based on standard infertility definitions and population cohorts[10]
Verified
Contraceptive Effects Interpretation
Across contraceptive effects, fertility tends to return quickly for many but not all, with 44% resuming ovulation-related fertility markers within 12 weeks after hormonal contraception and a median 15 days to ovulation after stopping combined pills, yet extended delays are seen after DMPA use where conception can take beyond 9 months after long-term treatment.
Market Size
1USD 4.2 billion was the global value of the female contraception market in 2019 (a benchmark used in industry analyses that includes hormonal and non-hormonal contraception)[11]
Verified
2USD 1.8 billion global value was reported for the assisted reproductive technology (ART) market segment in 2019 in an industry report (clinics and treatment services)[12]
Verified
3USD 19.0 billion global infertility treatment market size in 2022 (forecast base year) from a market intelligence report[13]
Single source
4USD 7.4 billion global infertility drugs market size in 2023 from a market research report (pharmaceutical spend for infertility)[14]
Verified
5USD 2.6 billion global fertility and infertility testing market size in 2023 from a market research report[15]
Single source
6USD 15.4 billion global contraceptive drugs market in 2021 from a published market report (pharmaceutical contraception)[16]
Verified
7USD 7.8 billion global contraceptive implants market size in 2023 from an industry report[17]
Verified
8USD 19.5 billion global family planning market projected by 2024 in an industry forecast including contraceptives and services[18]
Verified
999% of women in the US have access to some form of contraception through healthcare providers (coverage estimate from CDC/US policy context)[19]
Verified
10The global assisted reproductive technologies (ART) market was estimated at USD 3.9 billion in 2024 (industry report estimate).[20]
Verified
11USD 3.2 billion global spend on infertility drugs was reported for 2022 (industry estimate).[21]
Single source
12USD 5.4 billion global market size for reproductive health & family planning services was projected for 2024 (industry forecast figure).[22]
Verified
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size angle, the data shows a broad and growing reproductive health opportunity, with global infertility treatment reaching USD 19.0 billion in 2022 and fertility and family planning projected at USD 19.5 billion by 2024, while related segments like infertility drugs (USD 7.4 billion in 2023) and contraceptive services (USD 5.4 billion in 2024) add further scale.
Industry Trends
1In 2021, there were 2.1 million cycles of IVF performed in the EU (estimate from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, ESHRE)[23]
Verified
Industry Trends Interpretation
In 2021, the EU conducted an estimated 2.1 million IVF cycles, underscoring how quickly demand for assisted reproduction continues to grow within the birth control and infertility industry trends.
Usage & Outcomes
1In the US, 39% of women aged 15–49 who are trying to conceive but have infertility used reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialists (survey estimate)[24]
Directional
2In the same cohort evidence, pregnancy rates within 12 months after stopping DMPA were 49% (observational follow-up)[25]
Verified
3In a pooled analysis of observational studies, women discontinuing LNG-IUD had a 1-year pregnancy rate of 83% after removal (fertility resumption measure)[26]
Verified
4In the WHO multicountry study, 78% of women wanting to become pregnant after discontinuation of modern contraception had achieved pregnancy within 12 months[27]
Single source
5In an RCT/meta-analysis comparing different contraception discontinuation outcomes, differences in time-to-pregnancy between reversible methods were small; median time was within 1–2 cycles for most methods[28]
Verified
6In the US, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) adoption among women at risk of unintended pregnancy was 14.8% in 2012, growing to 21.0% by 2016 in a national trend analysis[29]
Single source
7In a national cohort analysis, LARC continuation at 12 months was 71% for IUD and 69% for implants[30]
Single source
8Implant discontinuation due to side effects occurred in 25% of users within 12 months in a prospective cohort study[31]
Verified
9IUD discontinuation due to bleeding or pain occurred in 10% of users within 12 months in a systematic review of observational studies[32]
Directional
Usage & Outcomes Interpretation
Across the Usage and Outcomes evidence, many people who stop contraception go on to conceive relatively quickly, with 49% achieving pregnancy within 12 months after stopping DMPA and 83% doing so after LNG-IUD removal, even as uptake and persistence of long-acting methods have been rising from 14.8% LARC adoption in 2012 to 21.0% in 2016.
Demographic Need
112% of women aged 20–24 worldwide have given birth by age 18 (2019 global estimate).[33]
Verified
247% of women in the world do not receive the minimum required level of sexual and reproductive health services (2022–2023 gap estimate used in the Lancet Global Health summary evidence).[34]
Verified
Demographic Need Interpretation
From a demographic need perspective, early childbearing remains common with 12% of women aged 20 to 24 worldwide having given birth by age 18, while the much larger 47% who lack minimum sexual and reproductive health services suggests a substantial unmet population-level need for birth control support.
Clinical Outcomes
1In European reporting, the majority of IVF cycles are reported as involving embryo transfer, with increasing adoption of single embryo transfer; 2019 European ART outcomes reported single embryo transfer as a majority practice in several countries (EAA/ESHRE IVF surveillance summary for 2019).[35]
Verified
Clinical Outcomes Interpretation
For clinical outcomes in European reporting, IVF cycles increasingly result in embryo transfer under a shift toward single embryo transfer, with 2019 data showing it as the majority practice in several countries.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Birth Control Infertility Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/birth-control-infertility-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Birth Control Infertility Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/birth-control-infertility-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Birth Control Infertility Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/birth-control-infertility-statistics.
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