Fertility & infertility

Being able to conceive is generally taken for granted. But estimates have been made that as many as one in seven couples experience difficulty or delay in conceiving.* 

Many people have no idea that they have fertility issues until they start trying for a baby, and the causes of infertility can sometimes be hard to establish. However, at this stage, signs and symptoms can indicate issues. For women, irregular, painful or heavy periods could indicate a problem. For men, it may be an inability to ejaculate properly or problems with their sperm count, for example. For those unable to conceive, the most crucial element to understand is that infertility is simply a symptom. The causes of infertility are numerous, and identifying the specific barrier to conception is of paramount importance. 

Infertility cannot be officially confirmed until you have been trying to conceive through unprotected sex for at least a year, at which point you can see a GP who may refer you to a fertility specialist. 

There are a number of treatments available once your specific problem has been identified. Fertility drugs are usually the first treatment for women who aren’t ovulating. Sometimes assisted reproduction treatments are also suggested, including the most well-known treatment, IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation), when eggs and sperm are collected and fertilised in the laboratory before the resulting embryo is transferred to the womb. 

At The Alexandra Hospital from diagnosis to treatment, we’re here to provide the very best in individual care. Contact us for further information on the full range of treatments available. 

Accessing private healthcare is easy, whether you choose to pay directly or use private medical insurance.

If you are paying for yourself, we can usually offer an upfront cost which you can then choose to pay in full or access one of our easy payment options.

If you have insurance, we can arrange direct settlement with your insurance provider, although you should check in advance to see if your treatment is covered. For more information, visit our private medical insurance page.