Fertility & Early Pregnancy

Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving. This is approximately 3.5 million people in the UK.

About 84% of couples will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex (every 2 or 3 days).

For couples who've been trying to conceive for more than 3 years without success, the likelihood of getting pregnant naturally within the next year is 25% or less.

Women aged 36 and over, and anyone who's already aware they may have fertility problems, should see their GP sooner.

How can I increase my chances of getting pregnant?

You're more likely to get pregnant if you and your partner are both in good health.

Making some changes to your lifestyle may improve your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy. These include getting to a healthy body weight, stopping smoking and reducing alcohol intake.

Medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, obesity and other problems can affect your pregnancy.

Treating infertility

Fertility treatments include:

• medical treatment – for lack of regular ovulation
• surgical procedures – such as treatment for endometriosis, repair of the fallopian tubes, or removal of scarring (adhesions) within the womb or abdominal cavity
• assisted conception – this may be intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Any aspect of fertility advice from initial consultations, investigations all the way through to treatments including assisted conception and IVF can be offered. Support during early pregnancy including scans, blood tests and non-invasive prenatal testing can be arranged up to 13 weeks gestation.

Mr Swanton is Director of Thames Valley Fertility a state of the art clinic providing all aspects of IVF and assisted conception www.thamesvalleyfertility.co.uk

Thames Valley Fertility is the first IVF unit in Berkshire and is a partner clinic to Oxford Fertility and part of The Fertility Partnership. The consultants at Thames Valley Fertility have over 40 years’ experience of assisted conception between them.

For further information regarding IUI and IVF:

Clomifene Ovulation Induction

Letrozole Ovulation Induction

Assisted Conception & IVF