Reproductive Health Month 2025: Don’t Delay Getting Specialist Advice!
Our team at Medfem Fertility Clinic, a leading accredited fertility clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa, would like to share a simple yet powerful message this Reproductive Health Awareness Month: reproductive health challenges are often due to medical conditions that can be treated, and seeking expert help sooner rather than later can make all the difference in your family building journey.
It is a sad reality that many of the 1-in-6 couples who struggle with reproductive health challenges delay seeking professional help due to misconceptions or fear. This underscores the need for greater reproductive health awareness and early medical intervention.
This February, the Medfem Fertility Clinic team urges couples who have concerns about their reproductive health to prioritise a consultation with a registered fertility specialist at an accredited fertility clinic. Taking this first step can be life changing.
This is because reproductive health challenges are often linked to medical conditions in both the male and female partner, which can be treated very successfully and often also affordably, with the help of an experienced specialist at an accredited fertility clinic.
Reproductive health challenges and its many causes
There is a truly astounding list of possible causes of reproductive health challenges in both women and men.
Among women, these range from advanced maternal age (especially for women over 35), lifestyle habits and lifestyle-related diseases, to underlying medical conditions such as tubal disease, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and thyroid disorders.
Advanced maternal age remains one of the most common challenges to pregnancy among women. It is well-documented that a woman’s fertility declines after the age of 30, with a more rapid decrease after 35. Many women delay starting a family due to career ambitions, personal goals, or other life commitments, only to face difficulties when they eventually try to conceive.
For men, the causes of reproductive health challenges include various medical conditions affecting sperm health, the use of anabolic steroids, and even a history of mumps.
In addition, a significant number of infertility cases in men and women stem from lifestyle choices around diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption as well as stress-related factors.
The role of diet and weight management cannot be overstated. A BMI (Body Mass Index) that is too high or too low can affect fertility in both the male and female partner.
Furthermore, a large group of couples seeking fertility treatment are dealing with lifestyle diseases, notably insulin resistance, thyroid problems, and auto-immune diseases.
Stress is another major factor influencing reproductive health. For over two decades, Medfem Fertility Clinic has researched the impact of stress on conception. Studies have consistently shown that reducing stress leads to higher pregnancy success rates. This is because stress not only disrupts hormonal balance but also compounds the emotional burden of reproductive health challenges, creating a challenging cycle that can hinder conception.
At Medfem Fertility Clinic, we have successfully treated patients through a holistic approach that includes dietary guidance, medical intervention, and stress management strategies.
A joint effort by both partners
Seeing a fertility specialist together as a couple is also important, because while most people assume that infertility is a woman’s health issue – this is not true. The fertility challenges a couple face may well be due to a male fertility issue, or a combination of female and male infertility issues.
In fact, female reproductive health issues are the reason for a couple’s infertility in around 40% of cases, while male reproductive health issues are the cause of infertility in an equal 40% of patients, with the remaining 20% of cases being due to a combination of male and female reproductive health issues.
For this reason, men are strongly encouraged to attend the consultation with a fertility specialist with their partner, so the cause of the couple’s infertility can be pinpointed accurately and the right treatment plan can be created.
Whether the cause of the infertility is a male or a female reproductive health issue is not the issue: infertility is a joint challenge that can only be faced successfully as a couple in a partnership with a dream to create a family together.
Time to take action
For all these reasons, consulting a fertility specialist together as soon as possible is crucial.
If you’re concerned about your fertility, the best course of action is to consult with an experienced fertility specialist who can accurately diagnose the issue and recommend the best treatment plan.
Infertility treatments have advanced significantly, and most reproductive health challenges can be successfully – and even affordably – treated. Even individuals who have previously been told they cannot conceive naturally have found hope through innovative fertility treatments available at modern fertility clinics.
The range of available fertility treatment options is vast, including among many others:
– Lifestyle and dietary interventions to improve overall reproductive health.
– Hormone treatments to regulate ovulation and improve fertility.
– Egg donation and sperm donation for those facing genetic or age-related fertility challenges.
– In vitro fertilisation (IVF), a widely used and highly successful treatment for, among other condition, sperm problems and blocked fallopian tubes.
Which treatment is the right one for you as a couple can only be determined by a fertility expert with the right equipment, expertise and experience, using advanced tests and investigations to pinpoint the exact cause of your reproductive health challenges.
Your Fertility Journey Starts Here: Expert Care at Medfem Fertility Clinic
This Reproductive Health Awareness Month, our Medfem Fertility Clinic team would like to spread awareness that with the right information, and proactive expert medical care, you can take control of your fertility journey to build your family.
Since 1980, our team of leading reproductive medicine specialists, experienced embryologists, skilled theatre staff, and dedicated clinical psychologists, have ensured our patients receive the highest level of care. Our specialists tailor treatment plans to suit each couple’s unique medical profile, lifestyle, and family-building goals.
We are proud to have one of the highest pregnancy success rates in the country, helping to bring more than 18,000 babies into the world.
At Medfem we believe in helping you reach your family dream through:
.: World-Class Fertility for Everyone – we believe in making world-class fertility treatments available for everyone
.: A Positive Fertility Journey – It is our joy and commitment to give you a positive outcome to your fertility journey
.: Delivered With Empathy & Caring – So you may have a fond memory, of a feeling of empathy, caring and being part of the Medfem family
If you would like to meet one of our fertility specialists at Medfem Fertility Clinic, simply click here to book an initial consultation or contact us telephonically on +27 (11) 463 2244.
Our fertility specialists can also meet with you during a virtual consultation via Zoom or Skype. Click here to book a virtual consultation now.
We look forward to meeting you at Medfem Fertility Clinic!