Difficulty getting pregnant
How long do couples usually take to get pregnant?
80-90% of normal fertile couples will conceive within a year of regular unprotected
intercourse. This rises to 95% after 2 years of unprotected intercourse. Infertility
is usually defined as an inability to conceive after a minimum of 12 months
of unprotected intercourse. Doctors would not usually investigate for a fertility
problem unless you had been trying unsuccessfully for at least a year. This
is because many normal couples take at least this long to conceive.
How many couples have difficulty conceiving?
Fertility problems affect around 1 in every 6 couples.
Why do some couples have difficulty conceiving?
The main problems that underlie difficulty conceiving can be due to problems
in producing eggs (25%), problems with the fallopian tubes preventing transport
of the egg (20%), or problems with the quantity or quality of the sperm (30%).
Sometimes, in around 15% of couples, there may be more than one factor. In most
other cases no obvious reason is found and this is termed "unexplained"
infertility (25%). When investigating infertility it is essential to assess
the couple together. Other factors associated with fertility problems include
Being underweight or overweight, rapid weight loss and smoking.
Is age important?
Age of the woman is important as fertility wanes especially after 40 years of
age, but age has much less of an effect with regard to male fertility. Women
over 40 are likely to produce fewer eggs. In addition, the eggs she produces
may not have as good ability to implant into the womb as they did at a younger
age. Miscarriage is also increased in women over 40 and there is also an increased
risk of other pregnancy complications including the baby being affected by Down’s
syndrome (cross ref to antenatal tests).
We have been trying for a baby for more than a year, what should we do?
You should seek medical advice and ideally you should be seen together. Remember
it is common for causes of infertility to be found in both partners. The doctor
will take a detailed history from you both. The information which the doctor
will want to find out will include age, how long you have been trying to conceive,
how often you have intercourse, previous contraception, whether you have any
problems with intercourse, smoking and alcohol use, the presence of chronic
medical conditions or long term medication, and details of previous pregnancies
for you both. You will be asked about menstrual problems and any history of
pelvic infection or abdominal surgery. Your partner will be asked about his
occupation, any past medical problems, surgical operations or trauma to the
testicles and any infections affecting the genitals including mumps. He will
also be asked about any regular medication as this can sometimes upset sperm
function and about any sexual difficulty. The Doctor will also want to know
about smoking and alcohol consumption. You both may be examined.
What will the doctor tell us to do?
The doctor will tell you if there are any obvious problems and whether a specialist
referral is required. He/She will give general advice such as the need to take
folic acid, stop smoking, cut down or stop drinking alcohol, and check if you
are immune to Rubella. It may be worth checking whether you are anaemic. It
may also be useful to check if you carry hepatitis or HIV, as these tests are
needed prior to assisted conception as these conditions may have implications
for the baby. If you are overweight the doctor will advise about the need to
reduce weight or limit weight gain. It is not usually routine to advise you
to use temperature charts or ovulation prediction kits in the first instance
as<
The information was not saved correctly.
|