Infertility is the commonest reason for women aged 20 – 45 to see their GP, after pregnancy itself.

Current National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines define infertility as :

‘failure to conceive after frequent unprotected sexual intercourse for one to two years in couples of the reproductive age group’

Therefore infertility tests are not routinely carried out on the NHS on women under the age of 35 unless the couple know they are likely to have a problem for example pelvic inflammatory disease.

Infertility can be caused by problems affecting either the female or male or a combination of both. Minor problems may only have a slight effect, for example mild endometriosis in the female, but several minor problems added together may have a more striking effect.

Infertility tests can check for some of the most common causes of infertility, for example:

• Disorders of ovulation - the ability to release an egg, the most common are:
  -  weight changes (up or down)
  - stress
  -  increased production of a hormone called Prolactin
  - failure or disturbance in the hormones that stimulate ovulation (FSH)
  - Polycystic ovaries (PCO)
  - failure of the ovaries to respond to stimulation (menopause)
  
   
• Sperm of insufficient quality or quantity to reach the Fallopian tube or achieve fertilisation. There are many possible causes but they broadly fall into three categories:
  - complete absence of sperm
  - sperm of reduced number and / or quality
  - sexual difficulties (impotence)
  
  
• Damage to the fallopian tubes preventing the egg and sperm coming together
  
  
• Other factors affecting fertility that account for 20 - 25% of couples:
  - endometriosis
  - sexual problems
  - anti sperm antibodies
  - failure of implantation
  - fibroids
  - congenital abnormalities of the uterus

Please note that you do not need a GP referral. We have a dedicated team of support staff ready to help you.

For further information or make an appointment please call

0121 454 7779