Fertility investigations

You’re not alone in facing problems with conception. Several factors can cause it, but in 25-30% of cases a reason can’t be found even after the most thorough investigations. This is because some of the factors can’t be assessed.

The most common causes of infertility in women are to do with ovulation (the body does not release eggs naturally) or issues with the fallopian tubes, while in men it is issues with the quality or ability of the sperm.

Common causes of infertility

Weight

Being overweight or obese reduces both male and female fertility. If you’re a woman and overweight, it can affect ovulation. Being underweight can also affect fertility, particularly for women who are not ovulating because they’re severely underweight.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Several STIs can cause infertility. For example, chlamydia can damage the fallopian tubes in women and cause swelling and tenderness of the scrotum (the pouch containing the testes) in men.

Smoking

As well as affecting your general and long-term health, smoking can also adversely affect fertility. Try quitting smoking.

Stress

If either you or your partner are stressed it may affect your relationship. Stress can contribute to a loss of libido (sex drive) and can reduce the frequency of sexual intercourse. Severe stress may also affect female ovulation and limit sperm production.

Female infertility

Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving and female specific causes count for around one-third of cases. As leaders in their field, our consultants have a wealth of experience offering the latest investigations to help find the right treatment for you.

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Male infertility

Most cases of male infertility are related to the quality or quantity of sperm in ejaculated semen. We pride ourselves on offering evidence-based practice and make decisions with patients based on our clinical expertise and only offer treatments that add value to the overall chance of success.

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How to improve your fertility

Find out more about improving your fertility advice from our fertility clinical lead Mr Tarek El-Toukhy.

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Fertility treatment options

We are proud to be pioneers in fertility treatment, and lead the way in specialised assisted conception techniques.

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Private fertility prices and packages

We offer a range of funding options for our world-leading fertility services and treatments.

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