Your Fertility & IVF Questions, Answered
Support begins with understanding. Here are the questions our patients ask most — answered honestly, in plain language, without medical jargon.
Fertility Questions
Common questions about fertility, treatment options, and what to realistically expect at each stage of your journey.
Infertility can stem from issues in the woman (PCOS, endometriosis, ovulation disorders, tubal blockage), the man (low sperm count, motility or morphology), or remain unexplained in around 1 in 5 cases. A complete fertility evaluation pinpoints the specific cause and rules out treatable factors.
It depends on your age, diagnosis, duration of infertility and any prior treatments. Options range from ovulation induction with medication, to IUI, IVF and ICSI for more severe issues. We always guide you toward the least invasive treatment that gives you the best realistic chance of success.
Ask about your specific diagnosis, the evidence behind each recommended treatment, honest success rates for your age and condition, the total expected cost, the time commitment, and what happens if the first attempt doesn't work. A good doctor welcomes every one of these questions.
Optimise sleep, eat well (folate, iron, vitamin D), maintain a healthy BMI, limit alcohol and caffeine, stop smoking, and reduce stress where possible. Both partners should ideally start preparing 2–3 months ahead — egg and sperm quality respond meaningfully to lifestyle change.
If you've been trying to conceive for over 12 months — or 6 months if you're 35 or older — or have known conditions like PCOS, endometriosis or irregular cycles, it's time to consult. Earlier evaluation is always better than later, and rarely a waste.
Modern IVF is generally well tolerated. You may feel mild bloating or cramping during ovarian stimulation; egg retrieval is performed under brief anaesthesia. Serious risks like OHSS or infection are uncommon in experienced hands. We explain every potential side effect honestly before you begin.
Success depends primarily on age, diagnosis and clinic quality. For women under 35 without major issues, per-cycle live birth rates of 40–50% are realistic; rates decline gradually with age. We discuss your individual realistic chances honestly — no ethical clinic should ever promise an outcome.
Family Planning Questions
Decisions about when, how, and how many — and the support to make them well.
Family planning is the conscious decision-making about if, when and how many children to have — supported by the tools, education and counselling that make those choices possible. It covers contraception, fertility, pre-conception health, and reproductive wellbeing across life.
Planned pregnancies tend to be healthier — for both mother and baby. Family planning lets couples optimise timing, address health concerns early, build financial readiness, and approach parenthood physically, emotionally and practically prepared.
No, modern contraception does not cause infertility. Fertility typically returns within weeks to a few months after stopping most methods. If you've had trouble conceiving 12 months after stopping, the reason is almost always unrelated to the contraception — but it's worth evaluating.
Yes, if you're over 35, have irregular periods, known conditions like PCOS or endometriosis, a history of pelvic infection or surgery, or a partner with concerns. A simple pre-conception screening can save years of uncertainty later.
Male Fertility Questions
Male factor is involved in nearly half of all infertility cases — and is highly treatable when properly diagnosed.
Male factor contributes to about 40–50% of infertility cases — either alone or alongside female factors. It is just as common as female-only causes, yet often the last to be evaluated. We assess both partners from day one.
Low sperm count, poor motility, abnormal morphology, hormonal imbalances, varicocele, genetic factors, infections, or lifestyle factors like smoking, heat exposure, obesity and chronic stress. Most causes are identifiable through a simple semen analysis and basic hormonal panel.
Yes, in most cases. Options range from lifestyle modification and medication to surgical correction of varicocele, hormonal therapy, IUI with prepared sperm, or ICSI for severe sperm issues. Even men with very low sperm counts often achieve biological fatherhood with the right treatment.
Yes, though more gradually than female fertility. Sperm quality and DNA integrity decline noticeably after age 40–45, and older paternal age is associated with slightly increased risks of certain conditions in offspring. Active reproduction remains possible well into later life with a healthy lifestyle.
Lifestyle Questions
What you do every day matters more than you might think — for your fertility and your treatment success.
Yes — significantly. Diet, weight, sleep, smoking, alcohol, exercise, stress and exposure to toxins all influence egg quality, sperm quality, hormonal balance and the success of fertility treatments. Lifestyle change is often the highest-leverage first intervention we recommend.
Chronic stress disrupts the hormones (cortisol, prolactin, GnRH) that regulate ovulation and sperm production. It also affects sleep, libido and treatment outcomes. Managing stress isn't a guarantee of conception, but it improves your odds — and protects your wellbeing while you try.
Yes. A BMI well above or below the healthy range disrupts ovulation, sperm quality and pregnancy outcomes. A modest 5–10% weight change in either direction often restores fertility in patients with BMI-related infertility — sometimes without needing any further medical intervention.
Together: maintain a healthy weight, eat a Mediterranean-style diet, take folic acid and vitamin D, sleep 7–8 hours, quit smoking, limit alcohol, manage stress, and time intercourse to your fertile window. These don't replace medical treatment when needed — but they amplify every clinical effort.
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