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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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