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Fertility Associates - Auckland Specialists
A typical fertile couple in their mid-to-late 20s having regular sex has about a 20-25% chance of conceiving each month. After 6 months at least three-quarters of such couples will be pregnant, and after a year at least 90%.
Infertility is usually defined as not becoming pregnant after a year of trying, but some couples know or suspect they are infertile well before a year is up. For instance, the woman might have irregular periods or not ovulate at all. Studies from various European countries show 15-20% of couples experience infertility some time in their reproductive life, so it is a very common problem. For many people infertility is not absolute. The chance of conception may be lower than normal, say only 1-5% a month, so it takes longer to get pregnant.
For some people infertility is absolute - there may be no sperm, or the woman's fallopian tubes may be blocked. This used to be called sterility, but this is a misleading term because modern treatment gives most couples with absolute infertility a good chance of having a child. Very broadly about half of infertility is male based and about half female based. Whatever the cause of the infertility it is a couple's problem and requires the couple to work together towards a solution.
www.fertilityassociates.co.nz
Level 2, Ascot Integrated Hospital 90 Greenlane Road East Private Bag 28910, Remuera Telephone: 09 520 9520 Facsimile: 09 520 9521
IVF Auckland - Sometimes dreams need a little help.
No one can be blamed for infertility any more than anyone is to blame for other medical conditions. In approximate terms, about half of infertility cases involve male factors and half factors that affect women, with a significant proportion being a combination of both male and female factors. However, for up to 10% of couples, infertility remains unexplained.
The most common male infertility factors include azoospermia (no sperm cells are produced) and oligospermia (few sperm cells are produced). Sometimes, sperm cells are malformed or they die before they can reach the egg. In rare cases, infertility in men is caused by a genetic disease such as cystic fibrosis or a chromosomal abnormality.
www.ivfauckland.co.nz
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