Infertility is defined as one year of unsuccessful conception for women under 35, and this declines to six months of unsuccessful conception for women over 35. Women who experience irregular menstrual cycles, implying an issue with ovulation, are advised to consider evaluation and treatment as soon as this problem is identified.
Infertility can be a challenging experience for everyone involved, but there is hope for individuals and couples in this situation. The good news is that infertility can be treated.
Venus Womens Clinic & IVF Centre offers treatments for a wide range of infertility conditions, giving women and men the opportunity to successfully have a baby.
Investigations
At your first consultation, your specialist will take a thorough medical history from you and your partner and perform any relevant examinations. The specialist will use this information to provide you with the best options to maximise your chance of conceiving a baby.
Your specialist will want to discuss things such as your menstrual cycle, how long you have been trying to conceive, lifestyle factors, and whether you have had any previous fertility treatment. Both partners are encouraged to attend this appointment.
If you have had previous investigations done, it is important to make it known to your specialist before the first consultation so that these can be accessed. Most of these do not need to be repeated. Some tests are ordered to ensure you are ready for pregnancy, while others assess the specific cause of your fertility problem. These tests may include:
Female fertility tests
Common blood tests include follicular phase (early cycle) sex hormones (estrogen, luteinising hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin.
There is another blood test which predicts ovarian reserve, called the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), which is often done with an antral follicle count (AFC), via an ultrasound scan. AMH is a hormone produced by ovarian follicles that contain eggs. The level of AMH gives an indication of the ovarian activity in a month, or the number of eggs being produced (ovarian reserve).
A pelvic ultrasound scan is performed to check the pelvic anatomy and exclude ovarian cysts. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is an X-ray dye study that will check the uterine cavity and exclude blockage of the fallopian tubes.
Male fertility tests
A “sperm count” is also known as a semen assessment. It looks at the sperm concentration, motility (ability to swim) and morphology (shape).
An abnormal sperm count may require blood tests such as FSH, LH and testosterone.
Depending on your history and the results of the initial tests, your treating doctor may request a sperm DNA fragmentation test or a testicular biopsy.
When to seek advice
We recommend you seek medical advice from your specialist if you have not conceived after 12 months of trying, or after six months of trying if you are over the age of 35.
There are also other instances where you might want to seek earlier fertility advice. These include: early menopause; polycystic ovaries; irregular or non-existent menstruation; history of endometriosis; when either you are or your partner is a current or past cancer patient; or when the male partner has had a vasectomy.
Our friendly, caring staff at Venus Womens Clinic & IVF Centre, share the same goal – to maximise your chance of conceiving a baby.
Fertility treatments include:
Medical treatment for lack of regular ovulation (Ovulation Induction)
Fertility enhancing procedures such as laparoscopy, treatment for endometriosis, repair of the fallopian tubes, or removal of scarring (adhesions) within the womb or abdominal cavity
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
In-vitro fertilization (IVF)
There are many possible causes of infertility, and fertility problems can affect either partner. But in a quarter of cases, it is not possible to identify the cause. The treatment offered will depend on what’s causing the fertility problems.
It is important to choose a good & reputed infertility clinic that is licensed by the National ART & Surrogacy Registry. We take pride in being a registered IVF clinic dedicated to helping families achieve their dreams of parenthood.
