Planning for Pregnancy

One in six Australian couples of reproductive age experience difficulties conceiving a child. If you have been trying to become pregnant for more than six months then you may want to seek medical advice.

It helps to firstly understand how your reproductive system works, what factors may affect your fertility, and what you can do to maximise your chances of conceiving.  

Fertility Insights Program

Starting out on your journey to parenthood can be an exciting time, and there are a number of ways you can improve your chances of falling pregnant naturally.  Our Fertility Insights Program will help you to understand the factors affecting your fertility, and set you on a fast track path to pregnancy in six simple to follow steps.

STEP 1: UNDERSTAND YOUR FERTILE WINDOW

The timing of intercourse plays a critical role in conception.  Having sex 24-48 hours prior to ovulation gives a woman the best chance of falling pregnant because it is at this time that she is at her most fertile. Based on the length of a female’s menstrual cycle, our online fertile window calculator will tell you when your ‘fertile window’ is, and you can download the results to your Smartphone calendar. Why not give it a try now?

If you have trouble determining your fertile window, have irregular cycles or your cycle varies month to month - bulk billed ovulation cycle tracking can help you confidently understand when ovulation takes place so you can plan when to have intercourse to give you the best chance of conception. Conducted at all our fertility clinics, there is no out-of-pocket cost for Medicare Card Holders to access this service at IVF Australia.

STEP 2: OPTIMISE YOUR HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE

As a couple, there are a number of ways you can best prepare for pregnancy from a health and lifestyle perspective. 

These include:

  • Stopping smoking, as it reduces fertility by around 40%, and also increases the risk of miscarriage

  • Reducing alcohol and caffeine intake

  • Optimising weight by following a healthy diet and exercise routine

  • For a female, taking folic acid, ideally for three months prior to trying to conceive, as it is one of the few nutrients known to prevent neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida

  • Managing known conditions, such as diabetes. This improves the chances of a healthy baby, and reduces the risk of miscarriage

  • Visiting the GP for antenatal blood tests, including checks for rubella and chicken pox status, blood group, Rh factor, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C

  • Reviewing current medications and any implications for pregnancy with a GP

  • Understanding your menstrual cycle

STEP 3: GET ADVICE ON OUR FERTILITY HOTLINE

Our friendly and experienced patient liaison team is on hand to give you confidential advice and guidance. You can reach them by calling 1800 111 483, or by filling out an online contact us form. They work closely with our clinical team, and are happy to talk at a time convenient to you.

STEP 4: ATTEND A FREE INFORMATION EVENING

We hold a number of free fertility information evenings throughout the year in various locations across NSW and the ACT.  At these friendly and informative sessions, you can meet our Fertility Specialists and hear them explain more about the factors which can affect fertility, and the options available to help you fall pregnant. You’ll also have the opportunity to talk with them one on one, and have your questions answered in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

STEP 5: HAVE AN INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH A FERTILITY SPECIALIST

If you’ve tried steps one to four, and are not falling pregnant as quickly as you’d hoped, we recommend you have a consultation with one of our Fertility Specialists. This is especially important if you are under 35 and have been trying for 12 months or more, or if you are over 35 and haven’t fallen pregnant after six months of trying.

At this consultation, your Fertility Specialist will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your fertility, which will help your understand your potential to fall pregnant and all your available options. This will include initial blood tests for her, to understand ovulation and the number of eggs available, and for him a semen analysis to understand quality and volume of sperm.

STEP 6: START YOUR PERSONALISED PREGNANCY PLAN

Your test results will be returned promptly and your leading Fertility Specialist will guide you through them, recommending the best approach to help you achieve pregnancy and get your plans for a family underway.

Based on your individual circumstances, we will help you on a journey to parenthood that is highly personalised and right for you. For some couples, non or minimally invasive procedures such as timed conception and ovulation induction are a first line treatment option to increase fertility. For others, IVF or ICSI treatment may be recommended. 

Want more information?

To find out more information about our fertility insights program please call 1800 111 483 or book an appointment with a fertility specialist. Appointments are available in the next couple of weeks and will cost approximately $150 for a couple after the Medicare rebate.

Can Complementary Therapies support fertility?

Many people use complementary or alternative therapies to improve their overall physical and emotional health.