Infertility problems are quite common. Around 1 in 6 couples have difficulty either getting pregnant or staying pregnant.
The Process of Fertility
Fertility problems are quite common with around 1 in 6 couples have difficulty either getting or staying pregnant. With over 14 years as a leading fertility treatment clinic, Scotia Clinic have the skills and expertise to offer and guide you to the best opportunity for successful conception.
A woman’s ovaries are about the size of a large almond. Her lifetime supply of eggs is created while she herself is a baby is in the womb. In every normal monthly cycle, an egg – often more than one – develops and is released from the ovary. The egg remains viable for about 24 hours after its release. Sperm, on the other hand, can survive for three days in a woman’s body.
The egg passes into the fallopian tube where it meets with sperm and is fertilised. The fertilised egg is known as a zygote. The zygote then passes down into the womb to implant and grow. If the fertilised egg continues to grow, it becomes an embryo and then a blastocyst.
If the egg is not fertilised, it is absorbed by the body. The endometrium (lining of the womb) begins to disintegrate and sheds as a period.
Fertility can be affected by a number of different things:
- Anovulation – Eggs are not being produced.
- A woman suffers from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
- An inadequate number of sperm or poor quality sperm are being produced.
- There is a blockage in or damage to the fallopian tubes – Tubal Disease.
- Conditions such as fibroids or polyps are affecting implantation in the womb.
- Endometriosis is affecting the passage of the egg to the fallopian tube.
- In many cases, there may be no diagnosable reason for a couple’s failure to conceive.
At Scotia Clinic, we understand the importance of privacy and dignity when seeking help for fertility issues. Please be assured that discretion, confidentiality and sensitivity are at the heart of our care for you, and we offer a convenient and compassionate service to help you feel at ease.
