Infertility

There are a range of factors that can affect a women’s ability to conceive, and several treatment options are available.

Overview

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What causes infertility?

The commonest causes for delay in conception are summarised below and as many as 1 in 6 couples are affected.

However there are some cases in which infertility is unexplained. Couples having regular intercourse where the woman has regular periods and no obvious risk factors should be reassured that it is normal to take up to a year to conceive. This advice is clearly not appropriate for older women or for those with symptoms and this group should consider tests to investigate potential problems.

A fertility check up includes taking a detailed medical history and examination where appropriate.

Symptoms of fertility issues

If you present with any of the following symptoms whilst trying to conceive, we advise that you book to see a specialist who will carry out tests.

  • Irregular, infrequent or absent periods
  • Pelvic pain and/or pain during intercourse
  • History of pelvic infection or pelvic surgery eg for appendicitis

Tests for fertility issues

Tests to understand the cause of complications with conceiving include:

  • Hormone profile (timed for the correct time in your menstrual cycle)
  • Pelvic ultrasound scan to check for fibroids, endometriosis
  • Sexual health screen
  • Test of fallopian tube function
  • Semen analysis
  • Laparoscopy where appropriate (eg in women with pelvic pain or an abnormality suggestive of pelvic disease on ultrasound). The advantage of laparoscopy in this setting is that it allows both comprehensive assessment of the pelvis but also treatment that may improve the chance of conceiving.

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Condition overview
Infertility

Causes

Ovulatory causes, male factor, tubal disease

Symptoms

Pelvic pain, irregular periods

Tests

Hormone profile, pelvic ultrasound