A lot of women and men who want children grew up thinking when they are ready, they will simply fall pregnant, but according to Dr Lerato Masemola of the Thari Health Excellence in Boskruin “human reproduction can be predictable and simple yet very complicated at the same time”.
Women should not wait till late to start having children and she said “there is the Halle Berry effect, women see a 43 year old woman getting pregnant and they think there’s no problem waiting.”
According to Masemola the chief aspects to consider which affect conception and live birth rates include advanced age, coital frequency and duration of infertility.
Infertility is the failure to conceive following twelve months of unprotected, well-timed intercourse or after multiple miscarriages according to Masemola.
“Approximately 85 percent of people trying to conceive will succeed within a year and the average time it takes to conceive is about six months,” Masemola explained.
The Approximately 20 percent of couples of reproductive age will have difficulty conceiving or maintaining an established pregnancy according to Masemola.
“Infertility is a couple’s problem, not a woman’s problem,” she emphasised.
The male factor is associated with about 40% of infertility cases and should be addressed early in the evaluation, she said.
Signs of infertility include;
- Failure to conceive within a year of trying.
- Irregular, abnormal or lack of periods.
- Very painful periods which may be a sign of underlying problems with ovaries or endometriosis. This may also result in pain during intercourse.
- Skin changes, including more acne.
- Changes in sex drive and desire.
- Dark hair growth on the lips, chest and chin.
- Loss of hair or thinning hair.
- Abnormal weight gain.
- Milky white discharge from nipples unrelated to breastfeeding.
- New onset or existing ovarian cysts.
Women over the age of 35 trying to get pregnant should see a doctor within 3 months.
If couples are worried about their fertility they must see a GP first before going to a specialist.
Details: Dr Lerato Masemola 011 792 6041/6197.
