Conception: assess your options and chances

Taking your chance

Becoming pregnant requires a complex combination of factors and events. For some couples, time, lifestyle changes or medical assistance may be necessary to achieve their dream. The good news is that most eventually do. These statistics may give you further insight:

A 30-year-old woman, whose partner is also healthy, has about a 20% chance of conceiving during any given month.¹ Excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine, smoking or being overweight may reduce the odds and extend the time needed to conceive.²

Use the Fertility Compass to build your own personal conception plan and learn how to maximize your chances of becoming pregnant.

After the age of 35, women experience physiological changes, which contribute to a significant decline in fertility.³ By the age of 40, chances of conception decrease to around 5% each month^.1

Some medical conditions and known to impair fertility. Find out more about the kinds of medical conditions that might affect fertility and warrant a consultation with a doctor.

About one in ten couples will have trouble getting pregnant despite12 months of trying.⁴ Their condition can be defined as infertility.⁵ While many people associate infertility with women, it actually occurs both among women and men. Male infertility is the primary diagnosis in approximately 25% of cases and contributes to a further 15–25% of the remaining cases.⁶ It is important that both partners are thoroughly investigated to determine the right course of action.

Modern medicine offers a range of treatments to help resolve fertility problems. Take a look at the fertility pathway and learn about treatment options. With patience, a positive attitude and appropriate treatment, most couples eventually achieve their goal. In a large UK survey only 2.4% of women aged 40–55 years reported unresolved infertility with no pregnancies over their reproductive years. A further 1.9% never gave birth despite achieving pregnancy.⁷

^{1. Age and Fertility. A Guide for Patients. ASRM 2003; 2. Hassan MA, Killick SR. Negative lifestyle is associated with a significant reduction in fecundity. Fertil Steril 2004 ;81; 384-92. 3. Practice Committee Report. Aging and infertility in women: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril 2002;78:215-219. 4. Boivin J et al, International estimates of infertility prevalence and treatment seeking: potential need and demand for infertility medical care. Hum Reprod. 2007;22: 1506-1512. 5. Definitions of fertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. Fertil Steril 2008;90:S60 6. Collins J.A. Evidence-based infertility: evaluation of the female partner. International Congress Series 2004;1266: 57–62. 7. Oakley L et al. Lifetime prevalence of infertility and infertility treatment in the UK: results from a population-based survey of reproduction. Hum Reprod 2008;23(2):447-450.}

Cervical mucus

A natural lubricant produced by the female body that aids the transportation of sperm and helps protect against infection.

Cervix

The cervix or neck of the uterus is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina.

Chlamydia

A sexually-transmitted infection, which may be asymptomatic or cause genital inflammation and discharge, pelvic pain and fever. Untreated, chlamydia can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and fertility problems.

Chromosomes

Structures found in the nucleus of cells that contain genes and carry heredity information, such as eye colour, blood type and vulnerability to disease. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. One set of 23 chromosomes is inherited from the biological mother via her egg and the other from the biological father, via his sperm. Each sperm cell contains either male or female sex chromosomes. As such, it determines the gender of the foetus. Genetic abnormalities occur when an individual is born missing a chromosome or has more copies of a chromosomal pair.

Clomiphene citrate

A prescription drug used to bring on ovulation. It comes as a tablet and is often used as an initial treatment for women with ovulation problems. Clomiphene citrate induces ovulation in 80% of women who have trouble ovulating on their own.

Conception

The moment of fertilization when the sperm meets and penetrates the egg.

Congenital abnormalities

Physical abnormalities present at birth.

Corpus luteum

A hormone-secreting mass within the ovary that forms from the remains of a follicle each time an egg is released. The hormones it produces prepare the uterus for embryo implantation. If pregnancy does not occur, the mass is shed during menstruation.

Cryopreservation

A technique used to store human tissue at very low temperatures. Embryos that are not used in an ART cycle may be preserved in this way for future use. Also known as “Freezing”.

Cryptorchidism

A condition usually detected at birth or childhood whereby the testicles fail to descend. When a male foetus develops in the uterus, his testicles normally form inside his abdomen and descend into the scrotum shortly before birth. Undescended testicles usually descend themselves by the sixth month of life, but are unlikely to descend after this period of their own accord.