The term refers to various medical procedures designed to assist couples or individuals reproduce when conventional methods are unsuccessful. IVF is one procedure. Others include ovulation tracking, ovulation induction and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).
Ovulation tracking involves monitoring your hormonal changes and physical signs to predict when an egg is released. It helps to identify which days in your menstrual cycle are the most fertile days for conception.
Methods of ovulation tracking include monitoring your basal body temperature, observing your cervical mucus consistency, and employing ovulation predictor kits. These techniques help detect your hormone surges and help to establish your optimal time for conception.
“The other thing I can do is an antral follicle count: an ultrasound timed with your cycle, to count how many follicles are in the ovaries in that particular month.”
Ovulation tracking helps you time intercourse for the best possible chances of conception chances. Through hormonal and physical cues, it hones in on the fertile window in your menstrual cycle.
Ovulation induction involves the use of medication to stimulate your ovaries and prompt egg release. Often I start with oral ovulation induction tablets, to try and trick your body into releasing an egg.
If you’re struggling to conceive because of irregular ovulation or any other unexplained factors, you can potentially benefit from ovulation induction.
Typical medications are clomiphene citrate and gonadotropins. These drugs are prescribed to stimulate your ovaries, encouraging the growth and release of eggs, and increasing your likelihood of successful conception.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) is a fertility procedure that involves washing and concentrating sperm, then directly placing it into your uterus.
IUI is a minimally invasive process, and usually painless, like a Pap smear — but you might experience some mild post-procedure cramping.
IUI success rates fluctuate depending on your age, any fertility issues you’re facing, and your choices of treatment. Success rates range from 10% to 20% per menstrual cycle, giving you a fair opportunity for successful conception within a controlled clinical setting.
If you’re worried, we can also perform a Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) test, where we analyse cell-free DNA from your bloodstream to gauge the risk of your baby carrying certain genetic conditions like Down syndrome.
Advantages include:
Another test we can do is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), where we screen your fertilised embryos before they’re implanted in your uterus, and look for any genetic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities. So if you have a known genetic risk or a history of certain disorders, it’s an opportunity to select embryos free from those conditions, reducing your risk of passing them to your children.
Newcastle Fertility Specialists
193 Corlette St, The Junction,
Phone: 02 4908 6555
Monday – Thursday
9.30 am – 4.30 pm