Fertility

Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to fall pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse. In most cases, the diagnosis of 'infertility' definitely does not mean that you will never be able to have children, though it's such a loaded term, it 'feels' like that's what it means.

Around 40 percent of couples who use IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies (ART) do so because of male fertility problems.

The medical definition of infertility refers to the inability of a couple to fall pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse - and in most cases does not mean that you are unable to have children. In fact, with recent advances in medical technology, the vast majority of couples who have fertility problems will be able to have children thanks to assisted reproductive technologies.

If you're trying to get pregnant, getting as much information about your own ovulation cycle and identifying those critical fertile days can really help you pinpoint the most likely days for you to get pregnant.

For many women, using a fertility monitor can make the process much more straightforward.

The best time to have intercourse is in the 12 to 48 hours before ovulation occurs. This way, sperm have time to travel to the fallopian tubes to meet the egg when it is released from the ovary.

Unlike many techniques such as monitoring the post-ovulation rise in body temperature, using a fertility monitor can identify the critical two days in the lead-up to ovulation, maximising your chance of getting pregnant

Can fertility be increased? If so, what can you do to increase your fertility?

When you look at the factors that need to be in place to ensure a successful pregnancy, it's a wonder that humans are able to reproduce at all!

Both male and female fertility rely on a delicate balance of hormones which can be influenced by environmental factors ranging from the food you eat to toxins in the environment, stress and other emotional factors, illness, physical activity - even the outdoor temperature.

One of the key things that women can do to increase fertility is to be aware of your usual cycle and how external factors can influence this.

For men, an understanding of their own fertility cycle and the steps to better sperm health is also a critical component of increasing fertility.

The 'fertility rate' refers to the average number of children that are born to a woman who is a member of a particular demographic population, during her reproductive years (internationally these are nominated as the ages between 15 and 44).

The fertility rate is a social indicator applied to a particular group over a particular time period (usually over a year). It gives an idea of the average number of babies that a woman could expect to bear during her lifetime, if the current fertility rate was to continue.