One in six Australian couples will experience infertility.
Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve conception after a year of unprotected intercourse, or the inability to carry pregnancies to a live birth.
Infertility is shared equally among men and women, and in many cases a physical problem can be diagnosed. It is vitally important that infertility is viewed as a condition affecting the couple and the couple should always be consulted, investigated and managed together.
Obesity, cigarette smoking and marijuana consumption all have significant negative effects on both male and female fertility.
Blocked or damaged tubes. May be related to past pelvic infection, pelvic surgery or endometriosis.
Related to hormone imbalance – eg polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid conditions, being under or over-weight.
Reduced numbers of normal sperm or reduced motility can be picked up on a semen test. Cigarette smoking and other lifestyle factors can damage the DNA inside the sperm.
Severe endometriosis may distort the normal anatomy or block the tubes. Mild or moderate endometriosis may also reduce female fertility by affecting egg quality.
In 10-20% of couples no cause will be found.
Fertility decreases with age for both the female and male. The effect of increasing age is more dramatic for females with the average woman becoming unable to conceive using her own eggs after age 41.
Female Infertility Tests
Male Infertility Tests
At least 30% of infertility is due to a combination of male and female factors and up to 10% of infertility remains unexplained.
Many couples suffering fertility problems can be successfully treated with medical or surgical techniques or by addressing lifestyle issues – for more information on lifestyle visit http://yourfertility.org.au
The initial work-up for subfertility should be undertaken by a general gynaecologist who can investigate and manage many of the common problems.
If initial treatments are not successful some couples may require more advanced fertility treatments such as IVF. For more information about IVF visit www.fertilitysa.com.au.