FAQ

As far as statistics go, one in six couples in Australia need help to conceive and on average, one child in every Australian classroom is now conceived through assisted reproductive technology. Here are a few key facts about both female and male fertility problems. Book a consultation with Dr. Persson’s now to understand your situation better.

Female Fertility Problems

  • Ovulation

    They are the most common causes of fertility issues for women. Poor egg quality, failure to ovulate through hormonal deficiency or imbalance, irregular ovulation and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are all extremely common. They are often related to age especially since egg quality is known to deteriorate quite dramatically from late thirties onward. After a full assessment, treatment can include IVF, donor eggs and fertility drugs.

  • Womb & Fallopian Tubes

    The Fallopian tubes carry eggs from your ovaries to the womb and can be blocked or damaged preventing any chance of eggs meeting sperm. Treatment here is usually by IVF, but if the problem is a blockage, and it is very localised, then it can be cleared by keyhole surgery.

  • Overall Health & Medication

    Being overweight, smoking, and high alcohol consumption can all have a negative impact on your fertility. Most drugs involved with any type of chemotherapy therapy can cause permanent ovarian failure. Egg freezing is now a widely used preventative measure before undertaking any course of intrusive therapies like chemotherapy.

Male Fertility Problems

  • Sperm

    Abnormal or insufficient sperm is the most common cause of male infertility. A normal sample will have approx. 20 million sperm per millilitre with at least half being active. Any count below this could be the cause of the overall problem. Problems with sperm can be difficult to solve but we are seeing an increase in success levels using fertility drugs, particularly in increasing volume.

  • Blocked Tubes

    Either the tubes which store and carry your sperm from your testicles, or the ducts which lead from them and carry sperm can be blocked. If everything else is healthy then a simple procedure to retrieve sperm may be the recommended way forward.

  • Testicles

    The testicles produce and store your sperm. Should they be damaged at any point, this will affect the quality and quantity of the sperm. The causes could be anything from an infection, any testicular operation or even cancer. In this case, it may still be possible to retrieve sperm surgically.