What can I do differently in 2025 to fall pregnant?

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As we enter a new year, it’s important to remind ourselves not to panic and to remain proactive when trying to have a baby. Below we discuss some of the changes you can make to optimise your fertility and how a fertility specialist can assist you.

Things you can do to improve your chances

Lifestyle changes

How you live can have a big impact on your fertility, and making some changes to your lifestyle can increase your likelihood of conceiving. For instance, quitting smoking and avoiding the use of recreational drugs benefits the overall reproductive health of both men and women. Other lifestyle changes that we recommend making when trying to fall pregnant (particularly over the silly season) include:

  • Consuming caffeine in moderation (1–2 teas/coffees per day)
  • Enjoying a safe amount of alcohol (including at least two alcohol-free days per week)
  • Exercising regularly but not excessively (30­–40 minutes three times per week)
  • Maintaining a healthy weight/BMI (there is a lower success with IVF if BMI > 30).

Having a healthy and balanced diet is essential for both your general and reproductive health. Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can improve fertility in women, while diets high in trans fats may reduce fertility. Diet also affects semen quality in male partners – for instance, men who consume fish, shellfish, poultry, wholegrain cereals and fruits and vegetables typically have a better semen analysis than those with diets high in sugar and processed meats and cereals. It’s also important to note that before enjoying your favourite meals, you should avoid reheating food in plastic containers. This reduces your exposure to estrogenic material which can also affect fertility.

Supplements

Folic acid is the main essential supplement we recommend taking while you are trying to conceive. Although folic acid doesn’t directly affect your fertility, it is very important for lowering the risk of spina bifida in the baby. We also recommend taking a good-quality multi-vitamin when you’re trying to fall pregnant.

Stress and anxiety

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed or anxious and to experience lots of uncertainty when embarking on your fertility journey. However, feelings of continual stress can affect your hormones and in turn reduce your chances of falling pregnant. Therefore, we recommend finding a stress management technique that works for you and your lifestyle, which may involve simply stopping and slowing down or calling someone you trust to share how you are feeling. Other ways that you can help lower your stress levels include:

  • Incorporating meditation or mindfulness exercises in your daily routine (e.g. with guided apps like Headspace, Smiling Mind, Calm)
  • Engaging in a relaxing activity (e.g. cooking, gardening, drawing)
  • Trying acupuncture, traditional medicine, naturopathy (seek those with specialist fertility backgrounds).

Online resources specific to fertility and IVF can also help you manage stress and anxiety. Some of these include:

  • Apps that provide guided relaxation and mindfulness (e.g. Mindful IVF, IVF relax)
  • Podcasts available on Spotify or other streaming services (e.g. IVF warrior playlist by Lisa Dickinson, Fertility meditations imagery and visualisations for IVF by Jackie Brown)

It’s also important to try not to engage in unhealthy coping mechanisms when feeling stressed, such as consuming alcohol or drugs and binge eating.

It’s all in the timing

Timing intercourse significantly increases your chances of successfully falling pregnant. Out of 100 fertile couples who conceived without timed intercourse, 50% fell pregnant within three months. On the other hand, 76% of similar couples who used a method for timed intercourse conceived within the first month of trying.

Women have a fertile window of about five days before until one day after ovulation. While sperm can survive 3–5 days in the uterus and tubes, an egg usually only survives for 12–24 hours in the tubes. This means that in order to have the highest chance of falling pregnant, intercourse should occur during the 2–3 days before ovulation. Cycle lengths vary from woman to woman, so finding the right time to have sex will be based on the individual. Hormone tests that measure LH (a hormone that rises and leads to ovulation) can be used to help work out the best time for intercourse. Other timing techniques include having intercourse when cervical mucus is slippery and clear, or when the basal body temperature of the female partner is lower (it usually rises after ovulation). There are also a number of smartphone apps available to help track your cycle so you can give yourself the best possible chance of conceiving.

Studies have found that pregnancy rates are slightly better in couples who have intercourse daily (37%) than those who have sex every second day (33%). However, couples should decide on the frequency based on their relationship and dynamics, as daily intercourse is also associated with higher stress levels. We normally advise couples to have sex second daily in the lead up to ovulation to boost their chances of falling pregnant.

Becoming fertility aware

Understanding your fertility better (such as when to time intercourse) will help you troubleshoot what may be going wrong. For additional resources on understanding fertility and optimising conception, see this Fertility 101 video series by Two Lines Fertility.

When to seek assistance

Women under 35 years of age are advised to seek help following 12 months of unprotected and frequent intercourse. As fertility declines with age, women between 35 and 40 are advised to seek specialist opinion after 6 months of trying. Some women who may need to seek help despite trying for less than 6 months include:

  • Women over 40 years of age
  • Women with oligomenorrhoea/amenorrhoea (infrequent or no periods)
  • Women with a history of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or advanced endometriosis
  • Women with known or suspected uterine/tubal disease.

Male partners with a history of groin or testicular surgery, adult mumps, impotence or any other sexual dysfunction, chemotherapy and/or radiation or a history of subfertility with another partner, are also advised to seek specialist opinion as soon as possible.

Your fertility specialist may ask you to undergo some fertility testing in order to fully understand your fertility needs. Some of these tests are described below.

Male factor evaluation

Semen analysis is the primary test for male fertility. A typical semen analysis involves assessing semen volume, sperm concentration and count, sperm motility (movement) and sperm morphology (shape). If the semen analysis appears abnormal, a second semen analysis will be done six weeks later, followed by consultation with a fertility specialist.

Female factor evaluation

There are a number of different tests that can be used to investigate female fertility, including:

  • Basic blood tests to check thyroid function and usual pre-pregnancy screening for infectious diseases
  • Ovulation testing
  • Uterine examinations (pelvic ultrasound)
  • Ovarian reserve tests (AMH testing, ‘Egg-timer test’)
  • Laparoscopy and hysteroscopy (especially for women with symptoms of potential endometriosis).

Tubal flushing can also help determine the patency of the fallopian tubes and is sometimes used as a dedicated intervention to increase fertility.

What if all that still doesn’t work?

Couples who have been trying to conceive for a year commonly require assistance with some form of fertility treatment. There are a few different options available depending on your individual fertility needs.

Ovulation induction

Ovulation induction involves taking medications (tablets or injections) to stimulate the production of hormones that grow and release an egg from a woman’s ovary.

IUI (intrauterine insemination)

Intrauterine insemination involves placing a large number of concentrated sperm into the uterus. By doing so, this boosts the chances of sperm meeting an egg and resulting in fertilisation.

IVF (in vitro fertilisation)

In vitro fertilisation is a procedure that involves fertilising the egg with sperm outside of the woman’s uterus, prior to it being transferred back into the womb for the remainder of the pregnancy. There are two steps in an IVF cycle – egg retrieval and embryo transfer. Egg retrieval is performed in hospital under light anaesthetic and typically takes 15–20 minutes. Patients are usually home 90 minutes later and may require paracetamol for the 1–2 day recovery period. Embryo transfer is a short, five-minute procedure guided by ultrasound. Patients do not routinely require an anaesthetic and are able to go back to work afterwards.

IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)

Typically, standard insemination is used during the IVF process – the sperm meets the egg and fertilises it within a laboratory dish. However, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is usually recommended when there is suspected or confirmed poor fertilisation results with standard insemination. ICSI involves directly injecting a single sperm into the centre of an egg, bypassing the outer covering of the egg and making fertilisation a bit easier.

In a nutshell

Making your dream of having a baby a reality can take a little time and persistence. There are some things you can do to help improve your chances and some things we can do to help too. Remember, if you are trying to fall pregnant over the silly season, take your multivitamins and don’t party too hard!

To meet with one of our fertility specialists and learn more about how you can improve your fertility or to discuss your fertility treatment options, call Newlife IVF on (03) 8080 8933 or book online via our appointments page.

Understanding the IVF process and treatment

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Embryologist examining cells under the microscopeWhat is IVF and how does it work?

IVF is an assisted reproductive technique that helps people overcome fertility challenges to start or grow their families. This process involves fertilising an egg with sperm in a specialised laboratory, with the resulting embryo carefully transferred into the uterus with the aim that it will lead to a pregnancy.

Whether you’re just beginning your fertility journey or considering your options, understanding the IVF process is an empowering first step. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process that we use at our fertility clinic in Melbourne, to help you make informed decisions about your next steps.

A step-by-step guide to the IVF process at Newlife IVF in Melbourne

From the initial consultation through to the embryo transfer procedure, IVF involves a series of carefully coordinated stages – tailored to your unique needs – that are designed to give you the best chance of pregnancy success.

Initial consultation with our Melbourne-based fertility specialist

If you’re concerned about your fertility and would like to seek advice from a fertility specialist, you will need a referral from your GP to attend our IVF clinic.

During your initial consultation, your fertility specialist will assess your health and the factors contributing to your fertility issues, as well as provide tailored advice, including recommendations about diet and lifestyle. This process involves taking a thorough medical history from you, performing relevant examinations and ordering appropriate tests. Your fertility specialist will also discuss all available treatment options with you so you can make an informed decision about whether the IVF process is right for you.

If it is decided that IVF treatment is appropriate, we will register you as a patient at our fertility clinic. At this stage, mandatory tests, such as screening for infectious diseases, will be conducted if they have not been done previously.

Personalised fertility treatment planning

As no two fertility journeys are the same, fertility care at our IVF clinic in Melbourne is never one-size-fits-all. Our approach begins with uncovering the root causes of your fertility challenges and guiding you through the treatment options that best suit your unique circumstances. These options can range from straightforward solutions like fertility optimisation and ovulation induction to advanced treatments, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), IVF, or IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Ovulation induction and hormone stimulation

Ovulation induction is a commonly used fertility treatment for individuals with ovulatory dysfunction. Often serving as an early intervention, it can be effective as a standalone treatment or combined with others, such as IUI or IVF, to improve the chances of conception. Ovulation induction involves using fertility medication to stimulate your ovaries to produce one or more mature eggs and assist with ovulation. For those undergoing IVF, hormone stimulation with fertility medications is used to stimulate your ovaries to produce a higher number of mature eggs than they normally would. This is a critical step in preparation for egg retrieval.

During this stimulation phase, self-administered hormonal injections are given over 8–14 days to encourage the development of multiple eggs, increasing the number available for retrieval and fertilisation.

Fertility blood tests and monitoring

A fertility specialist performing a pelvic ultrasound on a patient.

Careful monitoring plays a vital role throughout the stimulation phase. Using a combination of blood tests and ultrasounds, your fertility specialist will closely track how your ovaries are responding and how the follicles (sacs in the ovaries that contain eggs) are developing. These tests allow your specialist to assess if everything is progressing as planned and fine-tune your fertility medication to optimise your results.

As you near the end of the stimulation phase, monitoring is used to determine the optimal time for the ‘trigger injection’, which prepares the eggs for ovulation (i.e. their release from the ovaries). Your fertility nurse will liaise with your fertility specialist and guide you on when to administer the injection, as precise timing is essential – the egg retrieval procedure must occur before natural ovulation. Monitoring usually takes place at one of our Newlife IVF locations in Melbourne. However, you don’t have to be in Melbourne to access treatment. We have patients that live in rural or interstate locations and we work with local pathology and ultrasound providers to assist with our patients’ monitoring needs.

Egg retrieval procedure at our IVF clinic in Melbourne

Egg retrieval, also known as egg collection or egg pickup, is a key step in the IVF process. This procedure involves collecting eggs from your ovaries, which can be frozen for future use or fertilised in the next stage of your IVF cycle.

Performed at our IVF clinic under sedation, egg retrieval is a straightforward procedure that typically takes 20–30 minutes. During this time, your fertility specialist carefully collects eggs from your ovaries using a fine needle guided by ultrasound imaging. On average, 8–12 eggs are retrieved, although the exact number depends on factors such as age, ovarian response to the medication and health history.

Collecting multiple eggs at once is important to IVF success. A higher number of eggs increases the chance of developing the healthy embryos needed for a successful embryo transfer and pregnancy.

Our team understands that undergoing egg retrieval can feel both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. But you can rest assured that we’re here to support you every step of the way so that you feel informed and comfortable throughout the entire IVF process.

Sperm collection and ICSI treatment

On the day of egg retrieval, fresh semen samples are collected from the male partner. If you’re using frozen or donor sperm, our embryologists will ensure the sample is thawed and ready for use.

For standard IVF, the semen sample is carefully prepared by removing the seminal fluid (the fluid that contains sperm), isolating the motile sperm and removing immotile sperm before the insemination procedure

For ICSI, the process is more precise. Only a single sperm is used for fertilisation, requiring experienced embryologists to select the healthiest and most viable sperm and inject it directly into the egg.

Selecting the ideal sperm is a delicate process requiring years of expertise. Our embryologists are trained to identify sperm with the best shape and structure to maximise the chances of successful fertilisation.

Fertilisation and embryo development

The next step in the IVF process is fertilisation, where egg and sperm are brought together.

In some cases, depending on the sperm quality and the patient’s previous history, we use standard insemination, where each egg is placed in a laboratory dish and exposed to thousands of prepared sperm. The fittest sperm may then fertilise the egg naturally, mirroring what would occur in the body.

However, if there are challenges such as low sperm count or abnormalities in sperm quality, an advanced technique called ICSI may be used. With ICSI treatment, a single, healthy-looking sperm is carefully injected into an egg to increase the chances of fertilisation. While this method offers additional precision, it’s important to note that not all eggs will successfully fertilise.

If fertilisation occurs, the resulting embryos are carefully placed in an incubator that mimics the conditions of the female body. Over the next five days, these embryos grow and divide, preparing for the next stage of the IVF process – embryo transfer.

The embryo transfer procedure

The embryo transfer is one of the quickest yet most important stages of the IVF process. During this procedure, a carefully selected embryo is placed into your uterus with the hope that it will successfully implant and lead to pregnancy.

Performed under ultrasound guidance, the transfer involves using a long, thin instrument to gently release the embryo through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. For most women, the procedure feels similar to a routine pap test. It is quick, requires no anaesthetic and allows you to resume your usual activities afterwards.

At Newlife IVF, our fertility specialists and embryologists are committed to providing the highest standard of care and technology to maximise your chances of IVF success.

Pregnancy testing and ongoing support

The pregnancy test represents the culmination of weeks of preparation. This fertility blood test measures the level of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in your body – a hormone produced when a fertilised egg (an embryo) implants into the uterus. Elevated hCG levels can indicate a successful IVF cycle and the achievement of pregnancy.

This test is performed approximately eleven days after the embryo transfer, giving your body the necessary time to respond to implantation. While waiting for results can be an emotional experience, our dedicated team is here to support you regardless of the outcome.

This webinar, presented by fertility specialists Dr Chris Russell and Dr Nicole Hope, provides a more detailed explanation of the IVF process.

 

Why choose Newlife IVF?

At Newlife IVF, we understand how significant the IVF process is, and we’re committed to walking beside you on your journey to parenthood. Whether celebrating your success or exploring the next steps, you’ll always have compassionate care and expert guidance from our team.

Clinician-owned and led fertility clinic in Melbourne

As one of few independent specialist fertility centres in Victoria, we take pride in offering a more personalised, compassionate and supportive experience compared to corporate-owned clinics.

State-of-the-art IVF treatment in Melbourne

Every aspect of our practice is thoughtfully designed with your needs in mind, from our expert-led care to our state-of-the-art laboratory and scientific tools and techniques.

Advanced scientific techniques and high IVF success rates

We incorporate cutting-edge scientific advancements into every step of our IVF treatment process, helping to give you the best possible chance of achieving a successful pregnancy.

Our approach includes the use of the EmbryoScope time-lapse system, which provides continuous monitoring of embryo development, sequential media to nurture embryos, and EmbryoGlue to enhance implantation potential when transferring embryos into the uterus.

For ICSI treatment, we take it a step further with egg spindle visualisation technology, allowing us to carefully select eggs with the greatest potential for fertilisation.

Our IVF success rates reflect the effectiveness of these methods, consistently exceeding the national average and giving our patients a better chance of achieving their dream of parenthood.

Accessible and affordable IVF treatment in Melbourne

At Newlife IVF, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build their family, which is why we are committed to providing affordable IVF treatment. Our fee structure is designed to be transparent and accessible, ensuring that fertility treatment, including IVF, is reasonably priced and doesn’t involve the stress of unexpected costs.

Contact Newlife IVF – your trusted fertility clinic in Melbourne

To book an appointment for IVF treatment in Melbourne with one of our caring, experienced fertility doctors, please call (03) 8080 8933 or email [email protected].

Simple changes to help improve your egg quality

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Fertility is largely influenced by the quality of both eggs and sperm. Age is the biggest determinant of egg quality1, but other factors such as diet, weight, physical activity and exposure to toxins (including illicit drugs or medications) also play a role. The good news is that whilst you cannot modify your age, there are things that you can do to improve egg quality and your chances of getting pregnant.

This involves making changes (if needed) to areas of your life that can influence various biological processes in the body – fertility included. With the proper modifications, you can protect your eggs from the harm caused by these factors and increase your likelihood of conceiving.

Why is age such a big factor?

Fertility starts to decline at the beginning of a woman’s 30s, but the decline is more rapid after age 35.1 This is because women are born with a lifetime supply of eggs – around 1-2 million – and this reserve gradually decreases over time. Egg quality also declines with age as the DNA in eggs becomes more susceptible to damage.

Eggs of lower quality are less likely to fertilise and develop into an embryo, affecting the chances of pregnancy. Additionally, older eggs are more likely to be affected by chromosome imbalance, which is associated with difficulty falling pregnant, an increased risk of miscarriage and a higher incidence of children born with a chromosome disorder (e.g. Down Syndrome).2

Unfortunately, once an egg’s DNA is damaged or the egg has an incorrect number of chromosomes (we call this aneuploidy), it cannot be reversed or repaired. For this reason, it’s important to protect your egg quality as much as possible.

Tips to improve your egg quality

Smoking

Women who smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke often face delays in conceiving. Smoking damages egg DNA, which reduces fertility and increases miscarriage risk.3 It also increases the chance of ectopic pregnancy and makes embryo implantation harder, while increasing the risk of pregnancy complications.4 Therefore, avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke is crucial when trying to conceive and during pregnancy.

Additionally, researchers are still learning about all the risks of e-cigarettes (vapes) on conception and pregnancy. At this stage, no amount of vaping is considered safe when trying to conceive.

Alcohol

If you’re trying to conceive, drinking alcohol can affect your ability to get pregnant and stay pregnant. Some studies suggest that even low to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced fertility.5 Drinking alcohol can alter hormone levels and disrupt the menstrual cycle and the ability to ovulate, therefore reducing the chances of conceiving. So, cutting down or cutting out alcohol can improve your chances of falling pregnant, along with helping you embrace a healthier lifestyle.

Coffee/caffeine

Some studies have shown reduced fertility and increased risk of miscarriage with excessive caffeine consumption.6 Most studies also indicate that the risk of infertility rises with higher levels of caffeine intake. Unfortunately, a safe daily amount of caffeine has not been established. For this reason, we recommend limiting your intake to one caffeinated drink per day (<80–100 mg of caffeine). If you can go without all together, even better!

Illicit drugs

Taking recreational drugs reduces the chances of becoming pregnant and having a healthy baby. For instance, cannabis and opioids are known to disrupt normal hormone production, leading to problems with ovulation and menstrual cycle disturbances.7 Additionally, stimulants such as cocaine and crystal meth have been linked to higher rates of miscarriage.8 Therefore, avoiding illicit drug use is one of the simplest ways to preserve your fertility.

Extreme exercise

Over-exercising can hinder ovulation and hormone production – specifically progesterone production, which is critical in supporting a pregnancy as it helps to thicken the lining of the uterus (needed for embryo implantation). Excessive exercise has also been linked to miscarriage.9 Vigorous exercise should not exceed 4 hours a week. However, lighter activities, such as walking and Pilates, are not limited.

Diet Mediterranean Diet foods, including fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meats, eggs, nuts, seeds and healthy fats like avocado.

The Mediterranean diet is often recommended for individuals undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) due to its potential benefits for reproductive health – and this may include egg quality. This diet emphasises the consumption of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish and healthy fats like olive oil, while limiting processed foods, red meat and added sugars.

Research suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet may improve fertility outcomes by promoting a healthy weight, reducing inflammation and optimising insulin sensitivity, all of which can positively influence ovarian function and embryo quality.10,11

Maintaining a healthy weight

Being underweight or overweight is associated with reduced pregnancy rates. This is because carrying too little or too much weight can disrupt the balance of hormones in your body, leading to ovulatory issues and irregular periods, along with an increased risk of miscarriage. Even if a woman has a regular cycle, fertility may still be reduced compared to women within the healthy weight range (a body mass index between 18.5 and 25).

Weight loss in overweight people doesn’t have to be drastic to improve fertility. Research has shown that even a modest drop in body weight (5–10%) can increase the chances of pregnancy – not to mention many other health benefits, such as a reduced risk of conditions like diabetes and heart disease, and a lower rate of pregnancy-related complications.12 Weight training and improving your lean body mass is also crucial for optimising your metabolism and reducing insulin resistance.

Weight loss is difficult, but your care providers can help you navigate the weight management journey. Talking to your GP or fertility specialist about weight is a great first step. We’ll make sure you have the support you need.

Medical conditions and medications

Conception is most likely to occur when you’re in good health. Untreated medical conditions, especially hormonal disorders (e.g. thyroid issues) and gynaecological conditions (e.g. endometriosis), can hinder fertility. It’s essential to manage these conditions before trying to conceive. Additionally, ensure that any prescribed medications are safe to take during conception and pregnancy by discussing these with your fertility specialist.

Night shift work

Night shift workers may experience reduced fertility because disrupted or insufficient sleep can interfere with the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to hormonal imbalances. Research on patients undergoing IVF has shown that women working night shifts tend to produce fewer eggs suitable for embryo development.13 Meanwhile, other studies have linked shift work to higher miscarriage rates.14 If possible, avoid night shift work and stick to a regular shift schedule rather than rotating between day and night shifts, as consistency can help reduce the impact on hormone levels.

Supplements for improving egg quality

In addition to lifestyle changes, certain supplements are often recommended. While evidence supporting their impact on egg quality and IVF success rates is limited, some studies suggest potential benefits, whereas others show no significant improvements in fertility outcomes. However, when taken at recommended doses, these supplements are generally considered safe.11

For instance, antioxidants like vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 may enhance IVF outcomes by reducing DNA damage and improving egg quality, particularly in older women or those with diminished ovarian reserve. Other commonly suggested supplements include vitamin D (especially for those with a deficiency) and omega-3 fatty acids.11

Additionally, all women trying to conceive should take a supplement containing at least 400 mcg of folic acid, which is crucial for DNA synthesis and reducing neural tube defects, along with 150 mcg of iodine to support thyroid function.11

Small changes can lead to big results

Simple yet impactful lifestyle changes go a long way towards preserving egg quality, preventing egg damage and improving your overall fertility. By addressing these modifiable factors and prioritising your overall wellbeing, you can boost your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy.

If you’re ready to explore your options for having a baby or are concerned about your fertility, you can make an appointment with one of our specialists by calling (03) 8080 8933 or by booking online.

References

 

  1. Better Health Channel. Age and fertility [internet]. Victoria (AU): Better Health Channel; 2023 [updated 2023; cited 2024 Oct]. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/age-and-fertility ↩ ↩
  2. Winship A, Stringer J, Liew S et al. The importance of DNA repair for maintaining oocyte quality in response to anti-cancer treatments, environmental toxins and maternal ageing. Hum Reprod Update. 2018;24(2): 19–134. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmy002. ↩
  3. Pineles BL, Park E, Samet JM. Systematic review and meta-analysis of miscarriage and maternal exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol. 2014;179(7):807–23. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwt334. Epub 2014 Feb 10. PMID: 24518810; PMCID: PMC3969532. ↩
  4. Better Health Channel. Pregnancy and smoking [internet]. Victoria (AU): Better Health Channel; 2022 [updated 2022; cited 2024 Oct]. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/pregnancy-and-smoking ↩
  5. Fan D, Liu L, Xia Q et al. Female alcohol consumption and fecundability: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):13815. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14261-8 ↩
  6. Lyngsø J, Ramlau-Hansen CH, Bay B et al. Association between coffee or caffeine consumption and fecundity and fertility: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Clin Epidemiol. 2017;9:699–719. doi: 10.2147/CLEP.S146496. PMID: 29276412; PMCID: PMC5733907. ↩
  7. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Substance use and fertility [internet]. Ontario (CA): The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada; 2024 [cited 2024 Oct]. Available from: https://www.pregnancyinfo.ca/before-you-conceive/fertility/substance-use-and-fertility/ ↩
  8. Smid MC, Metz TD, Gordon AJ. Stimulant use in Pregnancy: An Under-recognized Epidemic Among Pregnant Women. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2019;62(1):168–184. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000418. PMID: 30601144; PMCID: PMC6438363. ↩
  9. Barakat R, Zhang D, Silva-José C et al. The influence of physical activity during pregnancy on miscarriage-systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Med. 2023;12(16):5393. doi: 10.3390/jcm12165393. PMID: 37629435; PMCID: PMC10455409. ↩
  10. Hart RJ. Nutritional supplements and IVF: an evidence-based approach. Reprod Biomed Online. 2024;48(3):103770. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103770. ↩
  11. Yang J, Song Y, Gaskins AJ, et al. Mediterranean diet and female reproductive health over lifespan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;229(6):617-631. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.05.030. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
  12. Haase CL, Varbo A, Laursen PN et al. Association between body mass index, weight loss and the chance of pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and overweight or obesity: a retrospective cohort study in the UK. Hum Reprod. 2023;38(3):471–481. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deac267 ↩
  13. Liu Z, Zheng Y, Wang B et al. The impact of sleep on in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer outcomes: a prospective study. Fertil Steril. 2023;119(1):47–55. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.10.015 ↩
  14. Mínguez-Alarcón L, Souter I, Williams PL, et al. Occupational factors and markers of ovarian reserve and response among women at a fertility centre. Occup Environ Med. 2017;74:426-431. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2016-103953 ↩

Using natural therapies in combination with fertility treatment

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Naturopathy

Naturopathy takes a holistic approach to your wellbeing and focuses on treatments that support your body to heal itself. A naturopath may recommend a combination of therapies such as herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, and diet and lifestyle advice.

Some evidence suggests that a holistic, naturopathic approach to care can benefit aspects of reproductive health. For example, a study in overweight women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) compared the combined effects of herbal supplementation and lifestyle changes with lifestyle changes alone.1 While the combination was not shown to specifically increase conception rates, it did improve other markers of fertility like menstrual cycle regularity (which can support ovulation) and enhanced mental wellbeing scores for depression.1

Herbal remedies

Herbal remedies are commonly used in naturopathy and include plants or parts of a plant – such as roots, flowers, bark, seeds and stems – that are often made into pills, teas or ointments for convenient consumption.

Simple acts like drinking a mug of herbal tea or using moisturisers infused with flower essences can relieve stress and create a sense of inner peace. And specifically regarding gynaecological findings, some herbal therapies have shown benefits. For instance, a study assessing the use of clomiphene (a medication that supports ovulation) combined with black cohosh supplementation in women with subfertility demonstrated increased endometrial thickness and improved hormone profiles.2 Theoretically, this can improve the chances of conception by creating a more receptive uterine environment for embryo implantation.2 However, the study findings did not specifically show an increase in pregnancy rates.2 If you would like to try a herbal remedy, keep in mind that they can affect your fertility treatment medications, so it’s essential to check if a herb is safe with your fertility specialist first.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a Chinese medicine practice in which thin needles are inserted into the skin at select acupuncture points. These acupuncture points mark lines of energy flow (called meridians) within the body, and the insertion of acupuncture needles at these points is intended to stimulate this energy flow.

There is limited evidence showing that acupuncture enhances fertility. However, patients may find acupuncture beneficial for stress reduction3 and overall emotional wellbeing.4

Mind-body practices

Mind-body practices are centred on the belief that your mindset can influence your health. Some mind-body practices include mindfulness meditation, yoga, music therapy, hypnosis, art therapy, aromatherapy, guided imagery and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Mindfulness meditation

A female in casual clothes performing mindfulness meditation with her eyes closed while seated on a bed next to window.

Mindfulness meditation is a type of meditation that teaches you to become more aware of what you are thinking and feeling. Over time, mindfulness meditation can help you experience each moment with more compassion and less expectation – which may help ease the highs and lows of your fertility journey.

Research has linked mindfulness meditation with fewer difficult emotions, such as depression and stress, and less rumination, which can help you bounce back more easily from the highs and lows of your fertility journey.5

Yoga

Yoga is an ancient Indian mind-body practice that guides you through various postures and stretches. There are multiple styles of yoga, from gentle movements to more physically challenging practices. However, all yoga practices are a form of mindful movement.

The focus on flowing through physical motions and synchronising your movements with your breath can help you reconnect with your body and take a step back from the thoughts passing through your mind. This was evident in a six-week yoga program for women who were waiting for IVF treatment, where yoga was associated with fewer negative thoughts and feelings about fertility and an improved sense of wellbeing.6

Reflexology

Reflexology is a form of massage for the feet, hands and ears, where pressure is applied to select points that are believed to be linked to the function of broader body parts. By applying pressure to these points, reflexology aims to relieve stress and support healing in the body part each point is associated with.

A study comparing reflexology to gentle foot massage in women experiencing infertility found that reflexology did not improve ovulation or pregnancy rates. However, reflexology was associated with lower depression scores, which can help strengthen your resilience and overall fertility treatment experience.7

Take a balanced approach

Current medical research does not directly link complementary remedies to enhanced fertility. However, if such remedies benefit your emotional wellbeing and do not interfere with your current medical treatments, they could be a positive addition.

Always explore these options in consultation with your fertility specialist to ensure that these won’t interfere with your treatment.

There are also other changes you can make to maximise your chances of getting pregnant, such as:

  • Drinking caffeine in moderation
  • Incorporating regular movement into your routine
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Enjoying a balanced, nutritious diet
  • Taking the recommended supplements.

If you would like to learn more about lifestyle changes to improve your fertility, you can also read ‘What can I do differently in 2024 to fall pregnant?’ by Newlife IVF fertility specialist Dr Nicole Hope.

Still got questions?

To meet with one of our Newlife IVF fertility specialists and learn more about how you can improve your fertility, you can reach our team by calling (03) 8080 8933 or book online via our appointments page.

References

  1. Arentz S, Smith CA, Abbott J et al. Combined lifestyle and herbal medicine in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2017;31(9):1330-40. doi:10.1002/ptr.5858 ↩ ↩
  2. Clark N, Will M, Moravek M et al. A systematic review of the evidence for complementary and alternative medicine in infertility. Int J of Gynaecol Obstet. 2013;122(3):202-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.03.032
    HealthProfessional/#:~:text=Today%2C%20black%20cohosh%20is%20most,irritability%20%5B5%2C6%5D ↩ ↩ ↩
  3. Xi J, Chen H, Peng ZH et al. Effects of acupuncture on the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology: an overview of systematic reviews. Evid-Based Complement and Alternat Med. 2018;2018:7352735. doi: 10.1155/2018/7352735 ↩
  4. Hassanzadeh Bashtian M, Latifnejad Roudsari R, Sadeghi R. Effects of acupuncture on anxiety in infertile women: a systematic review of the literature. J Midwifery Reprod Health. 2017;5(1):842-8. doi: 10.22038/jmrh.2016.7949 ↩
  5. Patel A, Sharma PSVN, Kumar P. Application of Mindfulness-Based Psychological Interventions in Infertility. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2020;13(1):3-21. doi: 10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_51_19 ↩
  6. Oron G, Allnutt E, Lackman T et al. A prospective study using Hatha Yoga for stress reduction among women waiting for IVF treatment. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015;30(5):542-8. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.01.011 ↩
  7. Holt J, Lord J, Acharya U et al. The effectiveness of foot reflexology in inducing ovulation: a sham-controlled randomised trial. Fertil Steril. 2008;91(6):2514-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.04.016 ↩

Balancing work and fertility treatment

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For instance, it can feel overwhelming when you have to manage multiple appointments – including tests, scans and procedures – alongside a busy work schedule. Below, we explore common patient experiences when navigating a career as well as fertility treatment, along with advice from our counsellors to help you manage this balancing act.

To tell or not to tell

Some people find it easier to communicate with their workplace manager about their upcoming fertility treatment so that they can negotiate time off or flexible working arrangements when beginning a treatment cycle. Being upfront and open about what is required of you throughout your fertility treatment journey can help you and your manager plan around the quantity of work you can do, along with arrangements to suit your treatment schedule, such as reduced travel, flexible hours or the option to work from home if needed.

Unfortunately, there are instances where workplaces are not supportive of their employees, and women choose to withhold their family-building plans from their workplace for fear of discrimination or missing out on opportunities due to future pregnancy. If you elect not to disclose your fertility treatment with your workplace, have a plan in place to help you manage your scheduled appointments, including time off work for your procedures. Without going into the specific details, you may consider disclosing that you are ‘having a medical procedure’ and leave it at that.

Managing questions

Having your colleagues ask questions about your fertility or why you’ve had time off lately is a common experience for many of our patients. Some people are inherently curious about your family-building plans even though it isn’t necessarily their business. Just as you may be doing with family and friends, you might consider having a plan to manage these questions. For instance, coming up with some standard responses can be a good trick to have up your sleeve so that you can reply promptly and nip that curiosity in the bud.

If you’ve already opened up to others about your infertility, you might find yourself fielding questions. For instance, there may be interest about when you’re starting treatment or how far along you are in your treatment cycle, along with how you’re feeling and whether you’re pregnant yet. While these questions are often well-intended and come from a good place, sometimes they are misplaced or poorly timed.

If you have told others about your fertility treatment journey, consider setting boundaries with them from the start – let them know that you will update them when you have news or need their support, and kindly ask them to give you space during this time. For many patients, the workplace can serve as a place to remain busy and distracted, so being interrupted with questions related to your fertility treatment can impinge on your ability to distract yourself.

Should I take leave?

Patients often ask us for advice on whether they should take a few days or weeks off work during their treatment. In our experience, this decision is highly individual and often determined by whether it is financially viable for you to do so or if you have enough annual leave accrued to facilitate this.

During our counselling sessions, we also discuss whether it is helpful to maintain a normal routine. On one hand, sticking to your routine can give you a sense of normalcy and preserve your emotional health and wellbeing. Meanwhile, extended leave from work may leave you feeling like you have too much time on your hands, causing you to ruminate on your treatment. On the other hand, if you find that work is exacerbating your distress about your fertility journey, perhaps it’s worth considering a few days of planned leave or working from home during the more stressful periods of your treatment cycle.

We generally advise patients to take a day off work on the day of egg collection (and likely the next day). While there is a lesser need to do so for intrauterine insemination (IUI) and embryo transfers, it can be an opportunity for you to have a day off to do something enjoyable and celebrate. After all, you may have just made a baby! Taking sick leave for these days is how most patients manage their treatment, and you will be given a medical certificate on the day of your procedure to accommodate this.

Self-care at work

Some patients have found that they are less engaged and ‘switched on’ at work while undertaking fertility treatment or that they are falling short of their usual high standards. In these instances, it’s important to remind yourself that your medications (which mimic your body’s hormones) and the potential stress of fertility issues can affect how you function at work. You also may find that your focus shifts away from work and towards the practical and emotional demands of fertility treatment.

Making your work a lesser priority can feel strange and uncomfortable, particularly if you have a strong work ethic. It may take some time to adjust to these new feelings, so be kind to yourself in this space – and be mindful of the pressure you place on yourself at work. Consider lowering the expectations you have for yourself. You don’t always need to function at 100% capacity.

You may find that telling a trusted colleague about your treatment can help provide you with emotional support and practical help when dealing with these feelings. Perhaps even consider devising strategies for when you’re feeling under pressure, such as leaving your office for a walk, practising mindfulness or breathing exercises, talking to your support person or a friend, or even leaving work early.

Our counselling team is here to help

The Newlife IVF counsellors are very experienced in providing support during and after IVF treatment. If you would like to book an appointment with one of our counsellors, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach our team by calling (03) 8080 8933. And to make things easy for you, we are more than happy to talk with you over the phone, so you don’t have to take more time off work.

Understanding ovarian reserve: will I really run out of eggs?

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What is ‘ovarian reserve’?

‘Ovarian reserve’ refers to the pool of eggs left in your ovaries with reproductive potential. Because women are unable to make new eggs, your egg supply (and fertility) naturally declines with age until menopause when you no longer ovulate at all.

A bit of biology

Your ovaries are oval shaped, around 3–5 cm long and found on either side of your uterus (womb). Ovaries contain follicles which act like a nest for immature eggs. Each month, your hormones stimulate many of these follicles, triggering the eggs inside them to mature. Even though a number of follicles are activated (often referred to as the ‘cohort’), the ovary will usually only release one dominant egg each month (‘ovulation’), leaving the other eggs to deteriorate. If the mature egg released from the ovary meets and unites with any sperm present in your reproductive tract (‘fertilisation’), pregnancy results (as long as the fertilised egg continues to develop and successfully implants in the wall of the uterus). This is why sexual intercourse is recommended around the time of ovulation.

Egg numbers change as we age

Even though women start with 1–2 million eggs, by the time you reach puberty only about 300,000–400,000 of the eggs you were born with remain. The monthly cycle described above then continues throughout a woman’s life until there are no eggs left. You will have around 27,000 eggs remaining in your late 30s and around 1000 at the onset of menopause. As the total number of remaining eggs decreases, so does the size of the monthly ‘cohort’. This means there are fewer follicles from which the ovary is able to select an egg for release each month and fewer potential eggs available for pick-up when an older woman undergoes egg collection for IVF or egg freezing. In total, your ovaries will release around 500 mature eggs throughout your fertile years (puberty to menopause).

It’s not hard to see why age plays such a major role in a woman’s potential to fall pregnant. Generally, the most fertile period of a woman’s life is between her 20s and early 30s – when egg quantity and quality are at their best. Women will typically find it more difficult to fall pregnant after the age of 35, when there is a sudden, sharp decline in egg count, along with a reduction in egg quality.

Counting eggs

There are two tests commonly used by fertility specialists to check a woman’s ovarian reserve. The first is the AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone) test, more colloquially known as the ‘Egg-timer test’. AMH is a hormone secreted by the follicles in the ovaries. However, as a woman matures, AMH levels naturally decrease. By measuring AMH levels in the blood, we can gauge how many eggs remain in your ovaries – high AMH levels are a strong indicator of a high number of eggs. Dr Chris Russell discusses the AMH test in more detail in this video.

The second test we use is called an ‘antral follicle count’. This test involves viewing your ovaries via an ultrasound scan (typically in the first week after a period). This enables us to count the number of egg-containing follicles in your ovaries.

It’s important to note that although both these tests provide valuable information about egg quantity, neither is able to assess egg quality.

Can I improve my ovarian reserve?

While there aren’t any proven ways to hold onto your eggs for longer, certain lifestyle factors have been shown to accelerate egg loss. For example, cigarette smoking may lead to the premature deterioration of your eggs. Thus, avoiding smoking is one of the simplest ways to preserve your fertility.

Are there other reasons my ovarian reserve may be low?

While a low (or diminished) ovarian reserve is a normal part of every woman’s biological clock, egg loss can occur earlier than expected for some women. Besides smoking, common causes of diminished ovarian reserve include various genetic conditions (e.g. Fragile X), ovarian surgery (e.g. for endometriosis or ovarian cysts) and some cancer treatments (e.g. certain chemotherapies and radiation therapy).

What role does egg freezing play in fertility preservation?

It is now very common for women who expect to start a family later in life (when they know their natural reserve of eggs will be lower) to consider freezing some of their eggs. Freezing your eggs is a safe and effective form of fertility preservation that can help limit the impact of expected age-related fertility decline. The best time to freeze your eggs is in your 20s and early 30s (when you are most fertile and you have a lot of good-quality eggs).

An embryologist pouring liquid nitrogen into a liquid nitrogen container storing frozen eggs and embryos.
Egg freezing is a common way to preserve a woman’s fertility.

Egg freezing involves four steps:

  • Ovarian stimulation: We stimulate the ovaries with hormone injections to promote the development of egg-containing ovarian follicles
  • Monitoring: We monitor the developing follicles via ultrasound to help guide the timing of egg collection
  • Egg collection: Under light anaesthesia, we collect around 15–20 eggs (but this number is highly dependent on the ‘cohort’ size)
  • Storage: We identify and freeze any mature eggs, which can then be stored for up to 10 years.

If a woman encounters difficulty falling pregnant when she is ready to start a family, she then has the option of thawing her frozen eggs and trying for a baby via IVF.

Falling pregnant when egg numbers are already low

Women with a low ovarian reserve may still be able to have children with the help of assisted reproductive techniques like IVF. However, IVF success is reduced in women with low ovarian reserve and the risk of miscarriage is higher due to lower egg quality. If a woman’s ‘cohort’ size (i.e. the number of ovarian follicles activated each month) is significantly reduced, even very high doses of stimulating hormone will only produce one or two poor-quality eggs for collection during the IVF cycle. In this case, using donor eggs instead may be an option for some women.

Discussing your options

If you would like to learn more about low ovarian reserve or understand if your egg supply could be affecting your fertility, you can make an appointment with one of our fertility specialists by calling (03) 8080 8933 or by booking online.

How to boost your immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Assuming you are relatively healthy, your immune system is already capable of preventing you from getting an infection most of the time. Occasionally, however, bacteria or viruses do overwhelm our immune defences and we get sick. When faced with the possibility of coming into contact with a strong virus like COVID-19, the idea of boosting one’s immunity is even more attractive than usual, particularly if you are looking to fall pregnant. We all want a strong immune system that is well-primed to defend us from any harmful infections that may be lingering in the community. Unfortunately, research has not identified any single lifestyle strategy, supplement or food with the ability to strengthen the body’s immune defences. This means that if you are healthy, your immune system is probably already as ‘boosted’ as it’s going to get. That being said, if you shift your focus to giving your immune system everything it needs to ‘stay boosted’, there is still plenty you can do. Other than following the latest hygiene and social distancing recommendations, maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle will enable your immune system to function at its best.

What can I do to stay healthy?

You can support your overall health and give yourself the best chance of staying well by following these tips:

Diet

Although ‘comfort foods’ may tempt you during this time, maintaining a nutritious diet has never been more important. Deficiencies in nutrients such as zinc, iron, and vitamins C, A and E may impact your immune system’s ability to protect you. For this reason, foods that help ‘boost’ your immune system are simply those that allow you to get the nutrients you need. Enjoy a wide variety of vegetables, wholegrains, fruits and protein-rich foods such as lean meats, reduced fat dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds. For more information on how to eat right, download the Australian Dietary Guidelines Healthy Eating brochures. While it is always best to try and improve your dietary habits first, if your day-to-day diet is lacking in micronutrients, a women’s multivitamin may be of benefit. Of course, if you are planning a pregnancy, you should already be taking a pregnancy supplement containing at least 400mcg of folate.

Vitamin D

For many of us, staying home has meant less time in the sun, leading to fewer opportunities to make vitamin D. Known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, this important vitamin is produced when your skin is exposed to sunlight. As we head into the cooler months, deficiency becomes more common. In fact, approximately 50% of Australian women are deficient in vitamin D during winter.1 As vitamin D deficiency has been shown to increase the risk of respiratory infections2, correcting a deficiency may, in effect, ‘boost’ your immunity. If you aren’t able to consistently meet the sun exposure guidelines for adequate vitamin D, or you haven’t met them for a while, we suggest you speak to your GP about whether or not you meet the criteria for getting your vitamin D level checked.

Exercise

While Netflix is an appealing way to pass the time as you #stayhome, maintaining a regular exercise routine will promote your general health and support your immune system. Resist the pull of the couch and make sure you engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3-4 times a week. Go for a jog, bike ride or brisk walk in the park, or see if your local gym is currently offering online classes instead. Just make sure you observe social distancing recommendations if you’re exercising outside and stay at least 1.5 metres away from people who are not part of your household. For in-home exercise, you may like to try an app called Daily Yoga which is great for building strength, stretching and relaxation.

Stress management

It is common (and absolutely normal) to feel stressed and anxious at this time. Unfortunately, research does indicate that persistent stress may impair your immune system’s ability to defend you. In this case, the best way to help your immune system ‘stay boosted’ is to reduce the level of stress and anxiety you are feeling. Try these techniques to get you started, but if you are struggling and need additional support, know you’re not alone. As a Newlife patient, you are always welcome to reach out to Newlife’s team of specialist counsellors. A quick phone or Zoom chat may be all you need to unpack your ‘mental load’ and quell the frustrations that come with isolation.

Sleep

Studies indicate that inadequate sleep can increase your risk of getting sick if you are exposed to a virus such as the common cold (however, note that there is currently no evidence relating to COVID-19 and sleep). Aim for the recommended 7 to 9 hours per night, and use these tips to get a better night’s sleep. If you are having trouble sleeping because you are stressed, finding ways to actively reduce your stress level will naturally help improve your sleep and ‘boost’ your immunity.

When to get help

If you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed, or are worried about the implications of delaying or pausing your fertility treatment because of COVID-19, we are here for you. Get in touch with our team by calling (03) 8080 8933 or emailing [email protected]. We’ll be able to direct you to one of our fertility specialists, nurses or counsellors for further support as appropriate. In the meantime, here’s to staying safe and staying well.

Further reading

Your fertility treatment and COVID-19
Tips to optimise your fertility and prepare for pregnancy

References

  1.  Daly et al., 2012 ↩
  2. Hughes DA and Norton R, 2009 ↩

Sperm donation – separating fact from fiction

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Wanted: a few good men!

As a growing number of single women make the decision to embark on solo parenting, lesbian couples embrace techniques like artificial insemination and IVF to help them have a family, and fertility issues become more common for heterosexual couples who meet and marry later in life, there’s never been a more appropriate time for Australian men to donate their sperm.

However, despite a clear need for more donor sperm, there’s still a lot of myths around sperm donation, and understandably, men are often hesitant to put themselves forward. Here, we explore the truth behind the most common misconceptions to help overcome some of the fears men may have about becoming a donor.

“Gay men can’t donate sperm.”

A gay man can donate sperm just like any other healthy male. In Australia, sexual orientation plays no part in deciding whether or not you can become a sperm donor (admittedly, this is a clear contrast to the policies of some international sperm banks). Unfortunately, because men who have sex with men are prevented from donating blood – due to a perceived increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases – some people assume that gay men can’t donate sperm either. However, that’s simply not the case and here in Australia, gay men have actually been credited for increasing the availability of donor sperm.

The fact is, all sperm donors – no matter their sexual orientation – are screened for infectious diseases before their sperm is cleared for use. This includes blood tests at the time of donation and again at 3 months. Sperm is only made available to potential recipients after both sets of blood tests have been given the all clear (this is why donor sperm is not used straightaway but quarantined for 3 months).  Simply put, sexual orientation doesn’t form part of the eligibility criteria for sperm donors and is irrelevant to your ability to donate. Whether you’re gay, bi or straight, your intent is exactly the same – to give in order to help others in need.

“My sperm could be used to make hundreds of children.”

You may have come across news stories about men abroad who have fathered many, many children through sperm donation (some well into the double figures!). However, Australian law simply does not permit this. In Victoria, sperm from a single donor is only allowed to be used by a maximum of 10 different patients or ‘families’. This effectively limits the number of potential children that can be conceived by any one donor.

On the other hand, there is no limit to the number of children that can be born from the same sperm donor within each of these families. This gives families the opportunity to bear siblings who are genetically related. So if a recipient has success with your sperm, they may choose to use your sperm again in the future when trying for baby #2 or 3 in order to give their child a biologically-related brother or sister.

But it’s also important to realise that your sperm may never be used or may only be used once or twice. If it is used, there is also no guarantee that the process of assisted conception (e.g. IVF or IUI) will be successful for the recipient, i.e. a child may not result every time your sperm is used. Further, the semen we collect from you may also not ‘stretch’ to ten different families. This, along with unsuccessful IVF attempts, is why we like donors to provide a few sperm samples over time.

“If you donate sperm, you’ll have children showing up on your doorstep for years to come.”

The Victorian government was one of the first to query the ethical implications of the secrecy surrounding sperm donorship. As such, current legislation states that a donor-conceived person can request identifying information about their donor once they turn 18. This loss of guaranteed anonymity is one of the main reasons why the number of sperm donors has dropped over recent decades. However, although a donor-conceived child has the option of getting in touch with you once they are an adult, this doesn’t necessarily mean they will do so. Some children may not know they are donor-conceived while others will simply have no inclination to reach out.

If a child conceived from your sperm does choose to get in contact with you, you still have no legal, financial or parental responsibilities to that child. However, you may find that you are happy to build and maintain a relationship with them. In this case, you can discuss and agree together the extent of any future contact, in line with what you both feel comfortable with.

“If you’re a sperm donor, you’re a father of all the children who are born.”

When you donate your sperm, it provides the biological means to create a baby only. Men who donate sperm anonymously through a registered sperm bank are not legally or financially responsible for any child born from their sperm. Sperm donor recipients (i.e. the mum and dad to be) must also receive counselling to ensure mutual understanding of your rights as a donor. Put simply, you are just the sperm donor, not the Dad. And we make sure that everyone involved knows that they do not have the right to ask or expect you to be anything more than that.

“Only good-looking men’s sperm will be used”

Don’t think your sperm will be wanted? Think again! The reality is that recipients often have their own ideas of the ‘dream’ sperm donor. And this could be you! When it comes to donor selection, your physical attributes (e.g. blue eyes, brown hair, height) are listed but photos are never provided. More often than not, recipients will choose a donor based on other information provided, including your age, medical history, hobbies/interests, ethnic background, and reason for donating. For example, we know one woman who chose her donor based on the fact that he (like herself) had a penchant for trivia, a trait she hoped would be passed on to her future child!

The fact is, the most important attribute of any sperm bank is variety, thereby enabling choice. That’s why we welcome donors from a wide range of nationalities, cultures, professions, and stages and ages of life. This ensures that women and couples have the opportunity to choose a donor that aligns with their personal preferences, particularly if bearing a child with a clear physical resemblance or from a certain ethnic background (e.g. Asian, Anglosaxon) is important to them.

Donate life, change lives with Newlife IVF

Newlife IVF loves hearing from new sperm donors – single men, fathers, gay individuals or couples. Come one, come all! If you have been thinking about becoming a donor but haven’t yet taken the next step, please call us on (03) 8080 8933 or email [email protected] so we can give you all the facts and get your swimmers to those who need it sooner rather than later!

Further reading

The rise of sub-fertility – are you affected?

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1Our fertility is influenced by many factors including our age, genetics, lifestyle, recent illness and contraception use.2 For example, did you know that a man’s sperm count can temporarily decrease following a virus and take 3–6 months to recover?

Indeed, fertility often reflects our overall health, so if you are experiencing a delay in falling pregnant, a good first step is to review your lifestyle and identify any risk factors or habits that could be impacting you and/or your partner’s fertility. Taking steps to reduce these risk factors, while also learning how to increase the odds of conception (e.g. through ovulation tracking and timed intercourse), may be all that’s required for you to fall pregnant naturally.

The rise of sub-fertility

While there are specific medical problems that can cause fertility issues, the number of couples experiencing sub-fertility – rather than infertility due to an obvious medical cause – is increasing. Diet and other lifestyle factors have been implicated as key reasons for couples’ waning fertility. The good news is that research clearly shows that we can optimise our reproductive health and fertility by making positive lifestyle changes. For the most part, this means being more mindful about how we treat and care for our bodies each day – from the food, drink and other substances we consume to how much exercise and rest we get. Even a few small changes can make a significant difference to your odds of conception.

Get started with our fertility-wise checklist

The below checklist can help you identify what changes you and your partner can make to optimise your fertility and increase your chances of falling pregnant sooner:

1. Are you under or overweight?

Carrying too little or too much weight can cause sub-fertility by altering the balance of your reproductive hormones.3,4 This, in turn, can affect ovulation, as well as sperm production and function. Research has shown that if a woman is overweight, even a small drop in weight (5%) can significantly improve her chances of conceiving.5

2. Do you #eatforfertility?

A poor diet can also play havoc with the body’s hormones and cause problems with ovulation, as well as the number and quality of sperm.6 You can learn more about how diet can affect fertility from our fertility specialist, Dr Chris Russell.

3. What’s hidden in your drinks?

Soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit juice and iced teas are all loaded with sugar. Just like the wrong foods, the wrong drinks can also cause weight gain and upset your hormones. Swapping out these drinks for herbal teas and water is a good strategy for removing sugar from your diet. When it comes to coffee and other caffeinated beverages, low to moderate levels of consumption may be OK. However, higher levels of caffeine consumption have been linked to an increased risk of sub-fertility and miscarriage in women.7,8 Given these risks, the safer bet for women is to limit consumption of caffeinated drinks to one per day.

4. How physically active are you?

Exercise is a key component of managing weight. Moderate exercise increases the chance of having a baby among women who undergo assisted reproductive techniques (ART).9 In contrast, a large amount of high intensity exercise may actually reduce fertility, so it’s a good idea to avoid this type of exercise while trying for a baby – this is true for both men and women.10,11

5. Are you a smoker?

Men and women who smoke are more affected by sub-fertility than non-smokers, so if you smoke it may take longer for you to get pregnant. This is because smoking affects every stage of the reproduction process, reducing your chances of both natural pregnancy and IVF success.12,13 There is no safe limit for smoking – the only way to remove this risk factor is to quit.

6. How much alcohol do you consume?

Research shows that even drinking lightly can increase the time it takes to fall pregnant.14 For women who are planning a pregnancy, the safest option is to abstain from all alcohol. For men, heavy drinking can cause impotence, reduce sex drive (libido) and affect sperm quality – we recommend following the Australian safe drinking guidelines and limiting your intake to no more than two standard drinks a day.15

7. Could other substances be causing you harm?

For both men and women, taking cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and marijuana can reduce the chance of having a baby. Taken over a long period of time, recreational drugs can cause permanent problems with the reproductive system and infertility. Taking anabolic steroids can also affect the production of sperm – in fact, it can take up to two years for sperm to return to normal after stopping steroids. Some medications, including treatments for hypertension and depression, may also affect fertility.16 Your doctor is the best person to advise whether a medication can affect your fertility and if other treatment options are available.

8. Could stress be playing a role?

If you encounter a lot of stress in your life, then there’s a chance your reproductive system isn’t working as well as it could be.17,18 You can learn more about the link between stress and sub-fertility by reading this article by Newlife IVF fertility specialist, A/Prof Martin Healey.

9. Have you reduced your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals?

Studies show that some chemicals (referred to as ‘endocrine disrupting chemicals’) can reduce the quality of sperm and eggs, affecting a couple’s chances of conceiving. While it is impossible to completely avoid these chemicals, you can reduce your exposure to them. The Your Fertility website has detailed information on the types of chemicals that affect fertility, where they are found, and what you can do to avoid them.

10. Are you getting enough sleep?

There is increasing evidence to suggest that sleep may have an impact on fertility. A recent study found that men who went to bed earlier (before 10.30pm) and slept longer (more than seven hours a night) were more likely to have good quality sperm.19 Similarly, another study showed that women with insomnia were more than four times as likely to experience infertility than their peers who slept well.20

When should you seek help?

Women under 35 are advised to seek help after 12 months of trying for a baby. As fertility declines with age, women over 35 are advised to seek help earlier, after 6 months of trying.

If you are experiencing a delay in falling pregnant and would like further advice, you can make an appointment with one of our specialists by calling Newlife IVF on (03) 8080 8933. You can also book online via our appointments page.

References

  1. Gnoth CE, Godehardt P, Frank-Herrmann K et al. Definition and Prevalence of Subfertility and Infertility. Human Reproduction 2005; 20 no. 5: 1144–47. ↩
  2. Axmon A, Rylander L, Albin M et al. Factors Affecting Time to Pregnancy. Human Reproduction 2006; 21 no.5: 1279–84. ↩
  3. Ling PR. Focus on Obesity Research. New York: Nova Publishers, 2005. ↩
  4. Durairajanayagam D. Lifestyle Causes of Male Infertility. Arab Journal of Urology 2018; 16 no.1: 10–20. ↩
  5. Clark AM, Ledger W, Galletly C et al. Weight Loss Results in Significant Improvement in Pregnancy and Ovulation Rates in Anovulatory Obese Women. Human Reproduction 1995; 10 no.10: 2705–12. ↩
  6. Gaskins AJ, Chavarro JE. Diet and Fertility: A Review. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2018; 218 no.4: 379–389. ↩
  7. Chen LW, Yi W, Neelakantan N. et al. Maternal Caffeine Intake during Pregnancy and Risk of Pregnancy Loss: A Categorical and Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. Public Health Nutrition 2016; 19 no.7: 1233–44. ↩
  8. Florack EIM, Zielhuis GA, Rolland R. Cigarette Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, and Caffeine Intake and Fecundability. Preventive Medicine 1994; 23 no.2: 175–80. ↩
  9. Rao M, Zeng Z, Tang L. Maternal Physical Activity before IVF/ICSI Cycles Improves Clinical Pregnancy Rate and Live Birth Rate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2018; 16 no.1:11. ↩
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Getting pregnant with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

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If you have PCOS, you probably know that it’s relatively common, affecting between 5% and 13% of women of reproductive age. You may also know that it can sometimes lead to fertility problems – but the good news is that there are various ways to overcome them and help you get pregnant.

How does PCOS affect fertility?

When you have PCOS, your ovaries are larger than normal and have many small ‘cysts’ (follicles) that contain immature eggs. Because these follicles don’t develop properly, ovulation may not occur – in other words, your ovaries may not release an egg during your monthly cycle. And if a healthy egg is not released from your ovaries, it can’t be fertilised by sperm, meaning you won’t have a chance of falling pregnant that month.

Most women with PCOS have irregular ovulation – some months an egg is released, some months an egg isn’t –  which reduces their overall chances of conceiving and often means that it takes them longer than usual to fall pregnant.

Fortunately, however, there are numerous options for improving your fertility if you have PCOS. Around 6 in 10 women with PCOS become pregnant without any medical intervention, and there are also several ways that fertility specialists can help if you do find yourself having trouble conceiving.

How can fertility be improved for women with PCOS?

If you have PCOS, potential options to improve your fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant include:

Lifestyle changes

Maintaining a healthy weight is particularly important if you have PCOS and you’re trying to improve your chances of getting pregnant, because excess weight can affect your hormones. So if you are overweight or obese, losing weight may help get your hormones back to normal levels and should help you to get pregnant. And even if this is not enough on its own, maintaining a healthy weight will improve your chances of conceiving if you undergo fertility treatments.

Aside from managing your weight, you may also be able to improve your fertility with other lifestyle changes, such as a better diet, regular exercise, not smoking, reducing stress, and carefully managing diabetes or other medical conditions.

Medications to help you ovulate

If lifestyle changes alone are not sufficient, you may require some medication that stimulates your body to produce and release eggs. This is known as ‘ovulation induction therapy’.

In most cases, the first choice of medication is a tablet called clomiphene (Clomid). This has a good success rate – it can achieve 30%-50% pregnancy rates after 6 treatment cycles.

The next option for ovulation induction therapy, if Clomid is unsuccessful, is usually an injection of hormones known as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH). These hormones, which are normally produced by your body, mimic the normal hormonal cycle to stimulate the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries.

Surgery to increase the chance of ovulation

In some cases, surgery may be an appropriate option for women with PCOS who have not become pregnant despite other treatments.

The surgical procedure, which is known as ‘ovarian drilling’ or ‘laparoscopic ovarian surgery’, involves removing some of the tissue from the surface of the ovaries – this can encourage your body to ovulate more regularly. Despite its somewhat ominous-sounding name, ovarian drilling is a minimally invasive ‘keyhole’ surgery that is performed via a small incision below your belly button.

IVF (in vitro fertilisation)

If other treatments have not been successful, IVF is another option for women with PCOS. With IVF, eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilised in the lab (or ‘in vitro’), then the resulting embryo is returned to the uterus.

Patients with PCOS usually do very well with IVF. This is because the main problem in PCOS is ovulation (i.e. the release of eggs from the ovary), not the subsequent embryo formation and implantation. As each ‘cyst’ in the ovary is a potential egg, women with PCOS actually have very good egg numbers, which means we are usually able to retrieve a high number of eggs with IVF stimulation. Once an embryo has been created via IVF, most women with PCOS go on to have a successful pregnancy.

Need advice about PCOS and fertility?

If you have PCOS, there can be a lot to consider when it comes to fertility.

So if you would like expert advice about ways to improve your chances of getting pregnant, you can make an appointment with one of our fertility specialists by calling Newlife IVF on (03) 8080 8933 or by booking online via our appointments page.

Further reading