It’s Women’s Health Week, and at First Step Fertility, we’d like to touch base on a common concern: female infertility.
Trying for a baby can bring some unexpected challenges to your journey towards parenthood. By being aware of the common symptoms and treatments available, you can take the right steps that will help you be more proactive during the process.
To put your mind at ease and help you rest assured that you are doing all you can to optimise your fertility health we have broken down the essentials, from initial symptoms to infertility treatments, so you can take the reins of your fertility journey.
So, what are the signs and symptoms of infertility?
As a general rule, if you are under 35 years of age and have been unable to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse, or after 6 months if over 35, you should seek advice from your GP or a specialist.
According to the Australian Department of Health, fertility problems affect around 1 in 6 Australian couples. And, with this statistic, the number of couples that require fertility treatments to become pregnant is increasing.
Common signs and symptoms of infertility include:
- Trying to become pregnant for six to twelve months
- Irregular or absent menstrual periods
- History of pelvic infection
- Two or more miscarriages
- History of using an IUD for birth control
- Sterilisation reversal
- Difficulties with sexual intercourse
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Breast discharge
- History of sexually transmitted disease
- Excessive acne or facial hair
- PCOS diagnosis
- Endometriosis diagnosis
Causes of female infertility
While there are several causes of infertility, a large quantity is attributed to issues with ovulation. And, without ovulation there are no eggs to be fertilised, impeding on your ability to get pregnant.
Some signs that a person is not ovulating normally may include irregular or absent menstrual periods. Ovulation problems are often caused by PCOS, a hormone imbalance problem that can interfere with normal ovulation.
Other causes of infertility include:
- Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy
- Physical problems with the uterus
- Uterine fibroids
Navigating an infertility diagnosis
Reaching a diagnosis can be a difficult but important milestone in your journey to achieving fertility wellness and, importantly, pregnancy.
It’s important to remind yourself that you are doing the best you can to help you on your way to conceiving and our team of nurses, specialists and counsellors are here to support you during this time.
Through testing and investigation, a diagnosis can often be found to contribute to your infertility.
Common diagnoses include:
- Amenorrhea
- Anovulation
- Endometriosis
- Fibroid tumour
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Immunological infertility
- Luteal Phase Defect (LPD)
- Occlusion
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Premature ovarian failure (POF)
- Uterine/Vaginal birth defects
When should you seek help?
Determining when you should seek professional advice for your fertility may seem daunting. At First Step Fertility, we pride ourselves on our ability to offer highly accessible and world-class fertility care without the price tag that so often creates a barrier between you and fertility treatment.
Some indicators that you may be ready to engage with a fertility specialist may include:
- When you’ve tried to fall pregnant but haven’t been successful yet.
- <35 yo, 12 months
- >35 yo, 6 months
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Medical conditions
- Recurrent miscarriages
- When you notice any of the other signs and symptoms of infertility mentioned above
If you have any questions about your circumstances, we welcome you to contact our friendly team to discuss the best course of action for your needs.
Fertility treatment options
At First Step Fertility, we offer a wide range of high-quality, low-cost fertility treatments to give all people the opportunity to create a family.
Our treatment involves a Fully Stimulated IVF Cycle to maximise the number of embryos from your cycle. This may not be the case with a mild stimulated cycle (low drug dosage) offered at other clinics.
- In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a procedure whereby an egg and sperm are placed together in the laboratory for fertilisation outside the body.
For more information, download our FREE guides on bulk-billed IVF:
- Your Ultimate Guide to Bulk-Billed IVF
- IVF Fact Sheet
- IVF Treatment Flow
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). As its name suggests, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is similar to a standard IVF procedure but involves a scientist injecting a single sperm directly into a mature egg to achieve fertilisation. After fertilisation, the embryo is transferred to the uterus. For more information, please download our ICSI Fact Sheet.
- Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET). An IVF cycle may result in several good-quality embryos being produced. However, as only one embryo is usually transferred into the uterus, the remaining ones can be frozen and used at a later date. The actual embryo transfer process on the day is the same as a fresh transfer, without any need for patients to be sedated.
If you are ready to take the next steps on your journey, our team is here to support you. Feel encouraged to call us on 1800 111 373 or book an appointment at your leisure.
