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25 May 2023

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When to seek help if you’re struggling to get pregnant

Dr Albert Jung

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Dr Albert Jung

Queensland Fertility Group

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A great way to get an indication of your fertility is to take our female fertility quick self-assessment, an online tool that goes through known factors that might impact your fertility.

Take the quick assessment here.

P.S. We have a male fertility assessment here, too.

If you’ve already been trying to get pregnant for more than 12 months – or more than six months if you’re over the age of 35 – without success, it’s a good idea to book a fertility health check. Here’s a quick overview of the kinds of tests available to help determine what’s going on.

What does a fertility check up involve?

AMH test

This tests your levels of the anti-mullerian hormone, indicating your ovarian reserve. Although the test doesn’t reveal the quality of your eggs, it will give a good indication of the quantity of your eggs remaining and compare that to others in your age group.

If you have a low AMH result, it's easy to think “Oh dear, I’m infertile”. But the reality is, women who have a low ovarian reserve and women who have a high ovarian reserve fall pregnant naturally at exactly the same rate – age is still the primary factor. It sounds confusing, but both women are releasing one egg per month. The AMH test doesn’t tell us what the quality of that egg is. What it does tell us though, is whether you might want to consider your reproductive options sooner rather than later.

Semen analysis

The most important male fertility test is the semen analysis, which measures the quality and quantity of sperm.

Fertility Fact – did you know that the lifecycle of sperm is only 72 days? In other words, those lifestyle changes we recommended in the last issue could improve the quality of sperm within just a few months!

Pelvic ultrasound

A check of your uterus to detect conditions such as fibroids or ovarian cysts. It also provides a glimpse into the lining of your womb and can detect signs of blocked fallopian tubes.

Ovulation test

This is a simple blood test to check if ovulation is occurring each month.

A fertility health check can provide a clear picture of your overall reproductive health and take into consideration both you and your partner’s past medical history.

Knowledge is powerful. If you’ve been trying to conceive for some time and you're searching for answers - or you simply want to know what you’re working with - we can help make that happen.

Call 1800 111 483 or fill out the form below to book a check-up with one of our leading fertility specialists.

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1800 111 483