Female Infertility

For many Australians, the journey to parenthood does not always happen as quickly as expected. As many as one in six couples experience difficulty conceiving.

We are focused on helping you make the best decision based on your individual needs and are here to guide you from diagnosis to treatment, no matter where your fertility journey takes you.

Subfertility and infertility are often used interchangeably, and they have common causes but infertility is defined as the inability to conceive naturally after one year of trying and subfertility is where the possibility of conceiving naturally exists, but it takes longer than average. The most common causes are:

Ovulation disorders – disorders in which an egg is not regularly released from the ovary. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects around 12-18% of women in their childbearing years. Women with PCOS commonly do not ovulate naturally.

Tubal factors – such as blockage or damage to the fallopian tubes caused by various factors such as previous surgery or infection.

Endometriosis – a common condition where the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis may interfere with all parameters of fertility including egg quality, tubal function, and the ability of the embryo to implant in the uterus. For more information about endometriosis, click here.

Premature ovarian insufficiency – low ovarian reserve (i.e. reduced number of eggs available in the ovaries) in those under 40 years of age may result in premature ovarian insufficiency/premature menopause. For more information about premature ovarian insufficiency, click here.

Uterine anomalies – abnormalities can be present in the uterus that can affect fertility.

General diseases – obesity, thyroid or other endocrine problems, and general or metabolic disorders can all affect fertility.

Unexplained infertility is when a couple has been trying to conceive for at least 12 months with no success and all conventional tests have come back as normal. Unexplained infertility accounts for approximately 10% of all cases of infertility.