Infertility

Infertility is the inability to become pregnant after a year of trying to conceive; it also refers to the problem of repeated miscarriages. It is much more common than most people believe - roughly 1 in 6 couples in the Western world are infertile. Many fertility specialists believe that infertility is on the rise, and some predict that as many as 1 in 3 couples will be infertile within ten years. This increase in infertility is due to many causes, including delayed parenthood, the increased prevalence of obesity and STDs, and general changes in lifestyle, food, environment etc. A study conducted by the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) showed that in 1980, 30% of all cases of infertility were due to female infertility, 20% were due to male infertility, 40% involved both partners and 10% of cases were due to unexplained infertility.

It is very important to distinguish between infertility and sterility. Unlike infertile couples, couples who are sterile are unable to conceive without medical intervention (using medication such as clomid or procedures like IVF or ovulation induction).

In most cases, couples who are infertile are still able to conceive – carefully timing intercourse so that it occurs when you are most fertile will dramatically increase your chances of getting pregnant. Using a fertility monitor can also significantly increase your chances of conception. The technology used in DuoFertility lets you identify when you are most fertile with an accuracy of 99% without having to wake up early to take manual temperature measurements or urine samples.

Please note that different patients have different levels of fertility, so it is impossible to make generalisations. However, we will try to provide you with specific information on the majority of infertility conditions, fertility tests and infertility treatments, as well as some general information that can be applied to most people. There are a number of infertility support groups and infertility counselling networks available for people with infertility, and information on infertility clinics and infertility treatments can be found by visiting the HFEA's website (http://www.hfea.gov.uk). Please contact our team of fertility experts if you would like further information.