infertile

this term is used for both men and women, although most often it modifies "couple" ("an infertile couple"). "Infertile" refers to the lack of offspring in people who have been having unprotected intercourse for a certain length of time. "Sterile" usually indicates that a cause for the infertility has been found. Infertile people are not necessarily sterile. Sterile people are always infertile. Infertility is often treatable; sterility generally is not (unless, for example, a tubal ligation or vasectomy can be reversed). Do not confuse "sterile" with "impotent" or "frigid." See also barren (referring to a woman), frigid (referring to a woman's sexual response), impotent, sterile.