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Problems becoming pregnant

2-minute read

If you’ve tried unsuccessfully to get pregnant for 12 months or more through regular unprotected sex, it’s time to see your doctor. If you’re a woman over 35, or if you think that either you or your partner may have a fertility problem, see your doctor after 6 months of trying.

A fertility problem could be because you've had surgery that may have affected your reproductive organs, or because you've had a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia, that may have damaged your fertility.

Many couples with fertility problems go on to conceive, with or without fertility treatment.

If you make an appointment to see your doctor because you're having trouble becoming pregnant, they will ask how long you've been trying.

If it's been less than a year or you haven't been having unprotected sex regularly, and there is no reason to suspect you may have a fertility problem, your doctor may recommend you keep trying for a while to see if you conceive naturally.

Having regular sex means having sex every 2 or 3 days throughout the month. You should learn more about the signs of ovulation so you know when you are most fertile.

If you’ve been having regular unprotected sex for more than 12 months, your doctor may recommend a range of tests to determine what's stopping you from conceiving.

If the tests determine that either you or your partner are infertile, there are a number of fertility treatments that are available to you, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

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Last reviewed: September 2019

Need more information?

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Infertility

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Female infertility - MyDr.com.au

There are several factors that can affect a woman's fertility. Treatments are available for many of the causes of female infertility and assisted reproductive technology such as IVF can help some women get pregnant.

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Male infertility - Symptoms & Causes | Healthy Male

Male infertility What is male infertility? How common is it? What are the symptoms? What are the causes? What are the genetic causes? What can I do? How is it diagnosed? What are the treatment options? Can I do anything to prevent male infertility? Can older age cause male fertility problems? How to cope with infertility Your doctor’s appointment Resources and videos Resources Filter resources Type: Fact sheet Information guide Fact sheet Clinical summary guide Video Video Video Video RESET Fact sheet Genetic causes of male infertility fact sheet Download PDF Information guide Male infertility information guide Download PDF Fact sheet Male infertility fact sheet Download PDF Clinical summary guide Male infertility clinical summary guide (#5) Download PDF Video Men, sperm and healthy babies WATCH VIDEO Video What are the causes and consequences of male infertility? WATCH VIDEO Video Male infertility - Diagnosis, treatment and prevention WATCH VIDEO Video Male infertility - Symptoms and causes WATCH VIDEO SEE ALL RESOURCES

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Male infertility is a major factor in 30-50 per cent of difficulties conceiving. It usually results from low numbers of, or poor quality, sperm.

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Sperm health How important is my health when I’m trying for a baby? How does being overweight affect fertility? How does smoking affect fertility? How does drinking alcohol affect fertility? How does age affect fertility? How can STIs affect fertility? How does the use of certain drugs or medications affect fertility? How do environmental and occupational chemicals affect fertility? Resources and videos Resources Filter resources Type: Fact sheet Booklet Video RESET Fact sheet Sperm health fact sheet Download PDF Booklet Your sperm and how to look after them Download PDF Video Sperm health and having a baby WATCH VIDEO SEE ALL RESOURCES

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Suspecting infertility | VARTA

What are the causes? Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months or more of unprotected sex. If you have been trying to have a baby for a year or more, it is time to speak to your GP. If you are over 35, you should see a doctor if you have been trying to conceive for six months or more. About one in six Australian couples experience fertility difficulties. There are many reasons for this, some relating to the male partner, some to the female partner, and sometimes both. For many people, there is no medical explanation as to why they can’t conceive. This is referred to as unexplained infertility. A diagnosis of infertility often comes as a shock and can be emotionally challenging. Unlike other adverse life events, which may have a clear resolution, infertility is uniquely distressing because it can last for many years and the outcome is uncertain. If you suspect a fertility problem, talk to your GP who will guide you through the steps of an infertility investigation. There are many reasons why pregnancy does not occur. About 20 per cent of infertility cases are due to male factors and 30 per cent are due to female factors. Sometimes both partners have a fertility problem, and in about 20 per cent of cases, there is no apparent cause of infertility (idiopathic or unexplained infertility). Many people are delaying starting a family beyond their most fertile years. If you are unable to conceive due to social circumstances, such as relationship, age, financial or practical reasons, and are concerned about your fertility declining, you might want to consider fertility preservation (e.g. freezing eggs or sperm for future use). The Better Health Channel has helpful information on infertility in men and infertility in women. Getting help Speak to a GP The first point of contact should be your GP who will start an infertility investigation. This involves a detailed medical history and a physical examination of both partners and some basic tests to make sure that the woman is ovulating and that the man produces sperm. If everything seems in order, your GP may advise you to keep trying for a little longer before consulting a fertility specialist. However, if your test results indicate a problem, your doctor will refer you to a fertility specialist straight away. The fertility specialist will do more tests to establish the cause of infertility and determine the type of fertility treatment you may need. The chance of fertility treatment working has greatly improved since the late seventies when the first IVF baby was born. Although your chance of having a baby with fertility treatment depends largely on factors that are beyond your control, there are some things that you can do to improve the odds. The lifestyle factors that influence the chance of natural conception for both men and women also affect your chance of success through fertility treatment. Finding a fertility specialist Fertility treatment is physically and emotionally demanding, and depending on your needs it can be expensive, so it is important to find a clinic and doctor that is right for you. You can ask your GP for advice about choosing a fertility specialist, but you can also do your own research before committing to a doctor and clinic. You can find out more about choosing a fertility clinic here. Finding a fertility counsellor If you want to speak to a private counsellor specialising in infertility, the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA) has a list of independent counsellors. You can also ask your fertility clinic about the counselling sessions included as part of your treatment.

Read more on Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority website

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