Female fertility is complex. Comprehensive fertility testing with an experienced doctor can uncover any factors that are getting in your way of a successful pregnancy or simply give you a better understanding of your own reproductive health. With thorough testing, we gain better insight into your fertility, allowing us to focus on your unique situation and make an informed decision about an individualised management plan.
The human body is a wonderful and complex thing. When it comes to female fertility, there are a number of factors that can affect your ability to conceive.
As a woman gets older, the quality and quantity of her eggs naturally decline. The body doesn’t produce any additional eggs to replace these; all eggs a woman will ever have are present at birth. With increasing age, there is a decrease in total egg number and overall egg quality, resulting in a lower chance of having a live birth with each month you try to conceive. A lower quality of the available eggs can also carry an increased chance of a miscarriage or pregnancy loss.
Similar to lifestyle factors that are discussed at a preconception advice consultation, certain behaviours and lifestyle choices have the potential to affect your ability to fall pregnant or maintain a healthy pregnancy. These factors include diet, the use of alcohol and recreational drugs, and cigarette smoking.
Typically shortened to PCOS, this is a hormonal disorder in women causing a range of complications, including subfertility. Common symptoms include menstrual disturbances, abnormal hair growth, and weight gain.
Endometriosis is a common gynaecology condition where the cells that are usually only found lining the uterus start to grow elsewhere in your body. These areas can include around the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and even the gastrointestinal tract. We know endometriosis is an inflammatory condition and can have impacts on fertility by affecting egg quality, the ability of the sperm to meet and penetrate the egg, and we suspect it has a role in decreasing implantation rates.
Menstruation is an important aspect of female reproductive health as it refers to the cycle of your body preparing for pregnancy. Menstrual disorders can disrupt this normal cycle, impacting your fertility and ability to fall pregnant.
Premature ovarian insufficiency occurs when a woman’s last period happens before she turns 40 years old, marking the beginning of menopause. Premature menopause can be unexpected and distressing as it also indicates the end of your natural reproductive ability.
There are several baseline tests that you can undertake with your GP before your appointment with us. However, it is equally very reasonable to attend your first fertility consultation and get advice and recommendations prior to seeking further investigations.
A detailed pelvic ultrasound will provide information about your uterine structure and shape, ovarian size, and presence of follicles. This scan also allows us to screen for any underlying female infertility factors such as ovarian cysts or indications of endometriosis.
Measured with a blood test, anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) gives us an idea of your ovarian reserve. It is not a measure of your fertility or chance of pregnancy but rather indicates how many eggs you have remaining compared to other women of the same age.
This is a genetic test that looks at an individual’s chromosomes. Rarely, couples may have an underlying abnormality in their chromosomal arrangement that is contributing to subfertility or recurrent miscarriage. This test is recommended for both the male and female partner.
A genetic carrier is someone who has the genes for a certain condition without having the condition itself. Having the gene means there is potential to pass it to your future children. The results of this genetic test can help to inform the likelihood of your child having the condition. This test is entirely optional but the Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends that any individual intending a pregnancy be aware this test is available to them.
Ovulation tracking is a method used to identify the most fertile days of your menstrual cycle and when you’re most likely to conceive. It involves monitoring and recording changes in the body’s hormonal levels, basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and other physical symptoms to determine when ovulation occurs. There are various tools and techniques available for ovulation tracking, including fertility apps, ovulation predictor kits, and menstrual cycle charts.
Depending on the results of our baseline testing and your medical history, we may order further investigations to better understand your fertility. This can include additional hormone analyses, a hysteroscopy, or a referral to a trusted colleague for a laparoscopy.
Yes! Preconception consultations are very common these days and a great way to ensure you are optimising your chance of falling pregnant naturally.
This is completely up to you. We do recommend that both of you attend the consultation if possible and offer telehealth appointments to try and make this as easy as possible. However, if you feel more comfortable attending by yourself first, that is completely fine.
This is different for everybody. Some individuals will come for a preconception consultation prior to starting to try and conceive, others will come after they have been trying for a couple of months just to make sure there are no obvious impediments to pregnancy.
Dr Danielle Robson, fertility specialist, consults at three locations across Sydney: the CBD, Chatswood, and Manly. A referral from a general practitioner is required for all initial appointments.
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Danielle is a fertility specialist and gynaecologist with an interest in fertility preservation, premature ovarian insufficiency, and menopause management. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a sub-specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
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