Fertility challenges

Trying for a baby can be a challenge for many people, but what if there are added complications? Arlene Harris looks into possible treatments for boosting a couple’s chance of conceiving.

While many women take measures to ensure they don’t become pregnant, others would give their right arm to discover they have created a new life. It is estimated that one in ten couples have problems conceiving, with a woman’s age being one of the main factors influencing her chance of conception. But some women have added complications, which make conception even more difficult.

Added challenges

Anna McCarthy (34) has been living with endometriosis (a condition where tissue resembling the lining of the womb grows outside the uterus) for most of her adult life. Up to 10% of women suffer from this condition, which is characterised by painful and irregular periods, pain during intercourse and infertility.

She has had hormone treatment to treat the symptoms but believes this impacted on her chances of conceiving as for the past year, she and her husband John have been trying for a baby to no avail. “I got married two years ago and we decided to try for a baby about six months later,” she says. “I wasn’t worried initially, but when our first anniversary came and still no sign of a pregnancy, I started to panic.”

“My doctor said the first step I had to take was to stop worrying,” says the Dublin woman. “It is early days yet, but I have been told that I can have surgery to remove any traces of endometriosis and if this doesn’t improve my fertility rating, I can go down the IVF route.

“I obviously would have preferred to be able to conceive naturally but if this isn’t an option, I am happy to get help from a clinic. So I have just been referred to a fertility specialist who is very positive – and John and I have started putting money aside to pay for treatment so I am hopeful about my chances of becoming a mum.”

Endometriosis isn’t the only condition, which affects fertility as uterine fibroids; polycystic ovaries and pelvic inflammatory disease also have a detrimental effect.

Age is still a factor

But Ciara O’Keeffe from Cork Fertility Centre says age is still the biggest factor when it comes to fertility issues. “As a woman gets older, the number of eggs in her ovaries decreases rapidly and those remaining are of a poorer quality,” she explains. “So a woman’s fertility swiftly declines and once she enters her 30s she has a 20% chance per month of successfully getting pregnant when not using contraception but by 40, this reduces to about 5%.

“However, our team has a wealth of experience resulting in world class success rates and our live birth rate for elective single embryo transfer for patients undergoing their first IVF/ICSI treatment cycle is 62% for patients of 40 years and younger.”

Treasa Meehan of the Beacon Care fertility Clinic in Dublin says a successful outcome from treatment is dependent on the individuals involved. “Fertility is very different for each person,” she says. “Age is a big factor as is medical history (for those conditions such as endometriosis and other issues involving the reproductive system) – so it very much depends on the individual. But if the woman is aged around 30, a rule of thumb would be to wait a year before seeking advice from the GP who will then refer to a fertility clinic if necessary.

“Once someone has been referred, treatment and success rate will vary dramatically depending on each couple or individual involved as each case is decided individually by the consultant.”

Options

Not all is lost when you’re experiencing infertility. The IVF treatment might increase your chances of conceiving. If you’re are considering this type of hormonal treatment, read our article about going through IVF alone to find out more about the process.

In this next article about IVF, fertility expert Emma Cannon give advice to help couples get through their IVF journey.

If you’re trying to get pregnant, understanding the timing of your ovulation cycle can be critical. Here’s our ovulation guide to help.