Family Planning
One in six Irish couples experience problems when trying to conceive.
There are many different factors that can impact you and your partner’s fertility.
Our Services
Whether you are trying to conceive, have some concerns about your fertility, or would like to talk to us an individual or as part of a couple, we can help.
We perform an initial fertility assessment that looks at your overall health and lifestyle. This assessment helps us to find any issues which may be influencing your fertility health. Your fertility assessment includes:
- Medical history review
- Lifestyle and nutritional advice
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Blood pressure
- Full blood profile including hormone levels
- Screening for infectious diseases
- Testing for Rubella immunity
Semen Analysis
If appropriate:
- Semen analysis for men – this is only available through a private lab assessment which can incur a separate fee for the patient
- AMH (antimullerian hormone) blood test for women
Full Package
If you or your partner’s test results indicate a potential problem, further testing or treatment may be advised.
This may be something we can help you with or it may be something that requires specialist advice.
Hormonal Blood Tests
For women, hormonal blood tests must be carried out on two separate occasions on specific days of the menstrual cycle.
We can discuss these timings at your initial fertility consultation
Referrals to Specialists
If required, we can arrange referral to any relevant specialists such as fertility doctors, endocrinologists etc.
We cannot refer you directly to a fertility service without first seeing you for an initial consultation
Folic Acid. Healthy Diet
Relax. Enjoy.
What is infertility?
Infertility means difficulty in becoming pregnant (conceiving) despite having regular sex when not using contraception.
There is no definite cut-off point to say when a couple is infertile.
Many couples take several months to conceive. About 84 couples out of 100 conceive within a year of trying.
About 92 couples out of 100 conceive within two years. Looking at this another way, about 1 in 7 couples do not conceive within a year of trying.
However, more than half of these couples will conceive over the following year, without any treatment.
Doctors usually suggest some tests if a couple has not conceived after one year, despite regular sexual intercourse. Tests or treatment may start earlier if the woman is older, or if there is an obvious reason why a particular couple will not conceive, however long they try.
It is usually worth seeing a GP if you have not conceived after one year of trying. A GP can check for some common causes, talk things over and discuss possible options. You may want to see your GP earlier, if the woman in the couple is over the age of 36 or if either partner has a history of fertility problems.
Fertility Treatments
Fertility treatments can be grouped into three categories:
- Medicines to improve fertility – these are sometimes used alone but can also be used in addition to assisted conception.
- Surgical treatments – these may be used when a cause of the infertility is found that may be helped by an operation.
- Assisted conception – this includes several techniques such as:
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI).
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF).
- Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT).
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Plan your Visit
Developing an ongoing relationship with a general practitioner (GP) who you trust and are comfortable with is an effective way of managing health and wellbeing.
A basic plan can help you make the most of your appointment whether you it is your first visit or continuing with the doctor you’ve seen for years.
Make a list of what you want to discuss. Are you concerned about how a treatment is affecting your daily life?
If you have more than a few items to discuss, put them in order and ask about the most important ones first.
Don’t put off the things that are really on your mind until the end of your appointment — bring them up right away!
