Getting pregnant: more about fertility and conception
You and your partner should discuss your desire to have a family at each new stage of treatment. Successful treatment involves a shared commitment. It also requires an understanding that pregnancy is a result of a complex combination of factors and events.
Tests and treatments in a fertility clinic
Specialized fertility clinics offer a wide range of fertility treatments from simple low complexity procedures to Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Many couples have been in your position and found new hope for pregnancy: there is cause for optimism.
Fertility myths: separating fact from fiction
Pregnancy is a result of a complex combination of factors and events. Many people will have stories to tell you, involving reproductive health issues and pregnancy facts: and a lot of them are wrong! Here are some fertility myths you may want to know the truth about.
Is infertility on the rise? The high chances of having a baby
Complete infertility is rare. More common is reduced or subfertility, which describes a delay or difficulty in getting pregnant. The treatment journey may be long. But most couples with fertility issues go on to have a baby.
Female reproductive system: conception, anatomy & function
Check your facts about the key organs involved in reproduction.
Male reproduction: anatomy, function & conception problems
Before looking at possible causes of infertility, you may like to check some facts about the key organs involved in reproduction.
Parenthood: steps to getting pregnant
You know where you want to be: you are trying for parenthood but you’re not pregnant. Be reassured. Your expectations are likely to be realised even if some help is needed. This article will show you some of the help you can get in getting pregnant.
Emotional connection: male and female coping strategies
Questions about your fertility, either individually or as a couple can be a highly charged subject. It can affect nearly every aspect of your life – self-esteem, your dreams, your relationships. Men and women communicate their reactions and emotions differently.
How can I support a friend going through infertility treatment?
For someone trying to conceive, facing uncertainty about fertility can be traumatic. If you are supporting a friend in this position, your instinct may be to quiz her about her feelings. But it’s important first to read her state of mind and wait for her cue.
Support network: surround yourself with people who care
Discussing fertility issues may be uncomfortable, but it’s important that you reach out for support.
A clinic who’s who: the professionals in testing & treatment
Over the next few months, you’ll come into contact with a multitude of new faces.
Communicating with doctors and fertility professionals
It’s important to feel confident about the medical care you’re receiving and that you’re able to raise any concerns if they arise.
How did other people deal with infertility treatment?
When you find yourself thinking ‘nobody knows what we’re going through,’ it can be a comfort to hear from people who have been there.
How can we cope with emotional stress of infertility treatment?
Sometimes, couples give up their dreams of a baby before allowing enough time for their fertility treatment to work. The emotional stress of coping with their conception difficulties can become too great.
Waiting for the pregnancy test: what can I do?
Often, the most stressful stage of the treatment cycle is the waiting time – the period between the embryo transfer and the pregnancy test.
ART: how long should we try?
If your fertility clinic has recommended you undergo one or more Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), you may wonder how many treatment cycles you may need to plan for. The overall success rate is high, so discuss your circumstances with a specialist.
Planning your life during treatment
It’s normal for couples to feel they’re on an emotional rollercoaster during a cycle of fertility treatment. The hope they feel at the outset may be replaced by grief if a cycle fails. Taking a long-term view can help.
What is my partner feeling? How can I give support?
Infertility is a shared problem best approached with positive thinking as a team. At times you may struggle to know how best to support your partner. Whether it’s a treatment cycle or a pregnancy test, you can best work together through each stressful stage.
