Fertility
Judith is part of the Number 1 Fertility team across Melbourne and Geelong with Dr Lynn Burmeister. Click on the logo below to visit the Number 1 Fertility site to find out more information on the Fertility work they do and book an appointment:
Conceiving a baby can be a fine balance of variables. If you find conceiving naturally isn’t working, we can perform some tests and make some changes to increase your fertility and your chance of falling pregnant.
Making babies requires several factors to be in alignment. Good eggs need to be released, good sperm needs to be delivered, the timing must be right and the tubes need to be open to allow the best meeting of sperm and egg – all of this needs to happen in a uterus that is receptive to developing an embryo and grow a baby.
To begin our journey, an initial investigation into your fertility will involve a blood test to assess your hormone levels, which will indicate if an egg has been released. This process is best practiced on a certain day in your unique menstrual cycle. It is best to test if an egg has been released seven days before your next period, or seven days after your last ovulation. Which could be day 21 in a 28 day cycle, or day 28 in a 35 day cycle, for example. If required, tube testing can be conducted through a detailed ultrasound scan (performed at Gynaecology labs) or though a Laparoscopy procedure. Both involve flushing the tubes with either a foam or dye solution. Generally, simple mucous plugs or fine adhesions can be cleared, improving fertility by 25%. If a more serious blockage is discovered, the options for conceiving naturally reduce, leaving IVF as the best course of action.
For the males, a semen abnormality test is conducted. For best results, this test should be done within specific time frames of collection, delivery and testing.
Figuring out your most fertile time according to your cycle can often be identified by using a phone app where you can log your cycle (several months of data will be required). This will help you identify when the ideal time to conceive is, for you. Another option are ovulation prediction kits, which will notify you when a hormone surge occurs, usually initiating ovulation.
Once the female releases an egg, it lasts for 12 hours. Male sperm can live for up to 72 hours after being released into the female, so timing sex around a hormone surge is the best, most fertile, time to conceive. It is also recommended to stay in bed for at least 30 minutes after having sex.
If you would like to make an appointment with me, you can find the details for phone, email or faxing through your referral on our Contact page.
Why can’t we conceive?
Below is some information on the potential reasons for conception barriers: