Wanting to start a family of your own and not conceiving as quickly, or naturally, as you might have expected, can for some couples, be the start of a long road to achieving the dream of starting a family. These days, however, with the help of assisted conception, many couples are successful in achieving that goal. For some, all that is needed is advice for a simple approach such as Ovulation Induction or IUI; for others high-level technology, such as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), may be needed.

The average age of Australian women having their first baby today is 30 years. This trend to start families later in life is usually dictated by circumstance than by a planned choice. Many people are just not in a situation to have children until their fertility has already started to decline.
 
A 2006 study by the Fertility Society of Australia dispelled the myth that women delay childbearing to pursue careers. In fact, the number one prerequisite for couples to have children is a stable relationship and financial stability.

If you have been trying to conceive for 12 months or more (6 months if you are 35 years and over), we encourage you to seek advice from a fertility specialist.

There are many reasons why a couple may not be able to conceive naturally. After a woman’s age, male infertility is the biggest single factor.   

Other causes of infertility might be:

• Ovulation disorders
• Tubal disease
• Endometriosis
• Combination of male and female reproductive issues