Infertility

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Singapore Male & Female Infertility Centre

Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after 1 year of actively trying i.e. having sexual intercourse 2-3 times a week.

After 1 year of trying, 80-90% of couples would have been successful in conceiving. It is therefore advisable to seek help at this point.

Fertility does decline with age. Studies have found that the probability of conception over a month falls from 25% in women in their early twenties to 8% in their late thirties. Similarly, the probability of conception within a year falls from 97% in women in their early twenties to 65% in their late thirties.

It is therefore important to start planning for a pregnancy as early as possible and to seek help as soon as there seems to be difficulty. It would also be advisable to seek help early if you are over 30 years, or if there are any indicators of infertility factors such as irregular or painful menstruation.

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Causes of Infertility

Infertility may be due to male or female factors.

Causes of male infertility include:

Low sperm count
Poor sperm motility
Poor morphology or shape, so that the sperm is unable to penetrate the egg

Causes of female infertility include:

Hormonal disorders resulting in anovulation or a failure of egg follicles to grow and be released
Blocked fallopian tubes, which will prevent an egg and sperm meeting
Endometriosis, in which tissue of the lining of the womb invades and damages neighbouring reproductive tissue

Often, there is a mixture of both male and female factors. In some cases, there appears to be no obvious reason andthis is termed ‘unexplained infertility’.

Investigations

Basic investigations of infertility include a semen analysis and, for the female partner, hormone tests and anultrasound scan of the pelvis. Depending on the medical history and basic investigation results, advise will be given onthe method of testing for patency of the Fallopian tubes.

Options for testing tubal patency include:

a radiological dye test called ‘hysterosalphingography’ or
hydrotubation at the time of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery

Some women may be recommended a hysteroscopy to assess the cavity of the womb. This test involves visualizing thecavity of the womb with a fine telescope to ensure that that the cavity of the womb is healthy. Any polyps found will beremoved. These are all considered preparation for Infertility treatments, such as In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).

FAQs on Infertility

In Singapore, approximately 1 in 6 couples are affected by infertility. Of these cases, around 39% are due to female infertility factors and around 26% are due to male infertility factors. Finally, in the remaining of these cases, both the male and female have factors that contribute to infertility issues.

There are various infertility treatments available for men and women alike. These can range from lifestyle changes and medications to surgery (usually to address gynaecological issues) and assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is considered to be one of the most effective methods in treating infertility (in eligible patients), with a success rate of up to 32% for couples below 35 years old. During this process, the woman’s egg and the man’s sperm are carefully selected (based on quality) and fertilised in a Petri dish. If fertilisation is successful, the resulting embryo will be implanted into the woman’s uterus to trigger a pregnancy.

Women can improve their fertility by maintaining a healthy body weight, taking prenatal vitamins, consuming healthy food, quitting smoking and drinking, and keeping themselves generally healthy and well-rested.

However, some factors cannot be controlled for, such as age and certain medical conditions. In such cases, seeking help from a gynaecologist or fertility doctor is strongly recommended.

Male infertility is generally treatable through various methods, including lifestyle and dietary changes, medications, addressing sexual intercourse problems, and assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Aside from medical treatments, men can improve their fertility by maintaining an active lifestyle, consuming healthy food, managing stress, quitting smoking and drinking, keeping the testicles cool (e.g. not sitting all day with a hot laptop in one’s lap), and maintaining a healthy weight.

There are different tests that men and women can perform in order to test their fertility, ranging from blood tests and imaging tests, to semen analysis and tests to determine ovarian reserve and quality. When you attend a fertility screening, all of this – and possibly more – will be accounted for and tailored to your situation accordingly.

Share your concerns with us

Thank you for considering our clinic. For further information, feel free to contact us at 6235 5066 or submit your enquiry using the form below. We will get back to you promptly.

Take the First Step Towards Your Health and Fertility Journey

— Schedule a Consultation at 6235 5066

Infertility

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