Causes of Infertility

It is estimated that one in six couples faces difficulties conceiving. If you have been having regular unprotected sex for more than six months and are still not pregnant then you may need to see a fertility specialist.

To become pregnant, the complex processes of ovulation and fertilisation need to work just right. For some couples, infertility problems can be present from birth (congenital), or something can go wrong along the way that results in infertility. In general, in about one-third of cases the cause of infertility involves only the male, and another one-third involves only the female. The remaining cases the cause of infertility involves both the male and female.

The causes of infertility are numerous but can be categorised around these issues: ovulation and egg quality; sperm production, transport, and function; fertilisation; and implantation.