Problems with fertility and help

If you are under 40 and have regular sex without using contraception, there is an 8 in 10 chance you will get pregnant within a year.

Talk to a doctor if:

Infertility can be one of the reasons that you are not getting pregnant after 12 months of regular unprotected sex. Many things can affect fertility, including smoking, weight, medical conditions and age. If you haven’t conceived after 12 months, talk to your doctor.

If you are having fertility problems treatment is available to help you conceive, depending on what is causing the problem and what is available in your local area.

One of these options could be taking medicines that encourage ovulation. This can be beneficial for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is not recommended for women with unexplained infertility.

Sometimes surgery can help to investigate the causes of infertility and help with any problems. Assisted conception, like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF), are usually recommended for couples who are having difficulty getting pregnant.

IUI can help if you need to use donor sperm to get pregnant – for example if you’re in a same-sex couple, are single, or you cannot have vaginal sex to get pregnant. Sperms are put directly into your womb (uterus) when you’re ovulating. It’s also known as artificial insemination.

During IVF an egg is removed from your ovaries and fertilised by a sperm in a laboratory. This new embryo is then returned to your womb so it can develop.

Not everyone can access IVF through the NHS, so it’s good to have a chat with your doctor about your options and whether you can meet the criteria.

To receive one round of NHS funded IVF (assisted conception) in Dorset, you must apply as a couple where one of you has no children already and be less than 42 years old. If you are a female same sex couple, then you must have tried six rounds of self-funded artificial insemination.

The Dorset Wide Assisted Conception Criteria contains the current full assisted conception criteria for Dorset, but may change. It is important that you discuss assisted conception with your doctor or specialist doctor.

Living with a long-term condition can make becoming pregnant more difficult.

Research into the effects of epilepsy on fertility are limited, and studies into whether there is an increased risk of infertility with epilepsy often have different results.

If you take medicine for epilepsy, it’s recommended that you take a much larger dose of folic acid when preparing for pregnancy. This will need to be prescribed by your doctor.

Folic acid can affect how well certain epilepsy medicines work, so it’s important to discuss this with your doctor first.

Diabetes can be associated with lower fertility. These risks can be reduced through good control of blood glucose levels and through maintaining a healthy body weight.

Having PCOS can lead to difficulty getting pregnant, however most people with PCOS can conceive when using fertility treatment. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor if you have PCOS and are trying to conceive, to discuss the options available to you.

Talk to your doctor about your fertility before your cancer treatment. Your team is there to help you find a balance between treating your cancer and wanting to have children. National guidelines for doctors say that they should discuss how your cancer and its treatment might affect your fertility at diagnosis.