Starting a family is one of the most universal yet individual experiences in someone’s life. But when things don’t go to plan, fertility can become shrouded in secrecy, shame and self-blame. Ready to unpack the perceived taboos tied to particular fertility topics is leading specialist Dr Jodie Semmler from Fertility SA.
One in six Australian couples struggle with fertility. Understanding our reproductive health and modern treatment options is key to dissolving stigmas attached to issues with conception.
Age
While the biological clock is always ticking in minds, most Australians delay family planning for many reasons, like career ambition. However, Dr Semmler says age is the biggest factor in conception. “Biologically, [women] are designed to be having children in our 20s,” she explains. “This is at odds with our modern way of living and societal norms.”
On average, women often struggle to conceive using their own eggs after 40, regardless of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and many women in their late 30s will also struggle to fall pregnant. In fact, by the age of 30, only 12 percent of eggs remain.
You should also consider other factors that may impact egg quality and fertility health, such as a high BMI or chronic conditions like endometriosis.
While IVF can increase your chance of starting a family, Dr Semmler says it’s not a failsafe solution. “[Unfortunately], it can’t fix old eggs. We should educate both men and women about their reproductive window, starting in high school.”
Male fertility
Fertility often focuses on the female partner. However, according to Dr Semmler, 30 percent of subfertility cases (the term used to describe difficulty in achieving pregnancy) relate to the male partner, with a further 20 percent caused by a combination of both male and female factors.
“And since one in six Australian couples will have trouble conceiving, up to one in 12 men have male subfertility,” Dr Semmler highlights. Further, causation is often undetermined – it could be because of a deficit in the hormones responsible for sperm production or something else entirely.
But why don’t we talk more about male subfertility? Dr Semmler believes there’s a greater stigma tied to the problem, regardless of its prevalence. “This may be because society, and the men affected, tend to associate virility with sterility – they could feel less ‘manly’ if they have a low sperm count.”
Next steps could include hormone injections to increase sperm count. Addressing impacting lifestyle factors – like weight, smoking, drinking and lack of exercise – can also boost sperm health.
Mental and emotional impacts
Could low moods impact your chance of conception? Dr Semmler says there’s little correlation between our emotional wellbeing and falling pregnant, unless it’s affecting your ability to have regular intercourse.
However, high levels of stress can be a contributor – something common among people experiencing subfertility. The spike in this emotion could have to do with feelings of grief, or guilt entangled with struggling to fall pregnant, outside pressures or concern with treatment pathways. However, it’s important to remember that you are not at fault – fertility problems are often outside of your control.
“For couples, the best approach is to consult with an experienced fertility counsellor who can talk to them about their stresses and provide resources to better deal with self-blame and guilt,” advises Dr Semmler. It’s also important to keep communication channels between yourself and your partner open and to approach your fertility journey as a team. At Fertility SA, appointments with specialised counsellors are offered free of charge during fertility treatment.
Treatment options
Today, IVF is a common treatment option and egg freezing is on the rise for women pro-actively preserving their fertility. However, there are other, less spoken-about pathways for starting a family – including egg or sperm donation.
In Australia, egg and sperm donation is an altruistic act, meaning those who choose to donate cannot receive a monetary payment. And while it’s still considered a taboo by some, this option is often used by same-sex couples, single parents, infertile couples or women experiencing early menopause.
“There is still some stigma attached [to donation] because of how some people view the nuclear family,” expands Dr Semmler, explaining how our bias assumes most couples conceive with their own reproductive cells.
However, these types of conversations dissolve taboos attached to modern assisted reproduction techniques and we need to talk about them more. The latest data shows that in Australia, one in 18 babies are conceived via methods such as IVF, intrauterine insemination and egg/sperm donation – that’s one child in every classroom!
If you’re considering donation or using a donor to fall pregnant, Fertility SA can assist you with more information, counselling and advice about this journey. You can also make an appointment with Dr Semmler here.
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