What all fertility patients want to know

Many people are misinformed about reproductive health. There is no doubt that if provided with adequate information, patients are empowered to be active participants in their fertility treatment. So, what information will empower you on your fertility journey?

According to the recently released Fertility Patients Care Guidance published by the European Fertility Society (EFS), all fertility patients look for certain information during their fertility journey. At Medfem Fertility Clinic, we are not only pleased to share this information with you via the links to our relevant articles below, we are also immensely proud of the role our own Dr Mandy Rodrigues – resident clinical psychologist at Medfem Fertility Clinic – plays in the EFS and her contribution to this important Guide.

The main reasons why fertility patients seek out fertility information is to prepare themselves for consultations with healthcare professionals and to help them through the complex decision-making process.

The European Fertility Society’s (EFS) Fertility Patients Care Guidance, used worldwide to improve patient care in fertility clinics, notes that the information patients look for differs at every stage of their journey, ranging from basic educational content on natural fertility to more detailed, personalised information about fertility testing and treatment, as well as stories of success and failure.

For example, patients typically first search for general information, often related to causes of infertility, as they embark on their journey.

As they become more informed and engaged with services and treatment, they look for more bespoke information which is also more challenging to find.

The information fertility patients look for include the following:

* Natural fertility and causes of infertility
* Fertility testing
* Fertility treatments
* Patient stories
* Emotional support
* LGBT+ and transgender fertility care
* Research
* Alternative therapies
* Donor gametes

Based on these findings, we share below brief comments on each of these topics and links to more information.

Natural fertility and causes of infertility

Our expert team at Medfem recommends a few simple lifestyle changes which you can start making immediately to boost fertility and your chances of getting pregnant in this article: How to Boost Fertility and your Chances of Getting Pregnant.

There are so many possible causes of infertility in today’s modern world – ranging from weight or hormone problems to lifestyle choices and diseases, as well as advanced maternal age (35+). This article What can cause infertility some of the many possible causes and how to find out the exact cause of your specific fertility challenge.

Fertility testing

In this article, we look at who needs infertility tests; the infertility tests used for male and female partners; and the best way to get the right infertility tests done with a specialist team.

You can also find out in our article The Cost – and Value – of a Fertility Test – how to get maximum value from a consultation.

Fertility treatments

If you are looking into infertility treatments, you may be surprised to discover how many highly advanced treatments, proven procedures and alternative options are available to address any infertility challenge you may face. Read our overview and also take a moment to find out why there are Many Reasons for Hope.

Patient stories

In Vitro Fertilization treatment or IVF is a widely used treatment because of its high success rate. Find out how other patients have described it here.

We also invite you to read our Patient Testimonials which to us are our most cherished accolades.

Emotional support

A fertility journey can be quite challenging under the best of circumstances, but it is certainly more difficult than ever before when trying to conceive (TTC) in today’s modern, fast-paced lifestyle, making good stress management more important than ever.

Undergoing fertility treatment is also highly stressful – and it is a process that involves a number of unique stresses. Managing these unique stresses through specialised counselling that provides relevant and specific coping mechanisms will not only help you deal with the challenges and hurdles during the course of your fertility treatment, but can also improve the outcome of the treatments you receive.

Read here about good stress management when TTC in the modern world.

and why counselling is important during fertility treatment through your fertility journey.

LGBT+ and Transgender fertility care

Our team at Medfem Fertility Clinic wholeheartedly support the rights of all couples to experience the joys of parenthood, including the many LGBT+ couples we have assisted in building their families at our fertility clinic.

We have many years of experience in assisting single LGBTQI+ persons and same sex couples to start their families in a caring and professional environment. In fact, we were one of the very first clinics in South Africa to do so! In this article, Pride Month and Family-Building Solutions for LGBTQI persons, we proudly share some of the solutions we offer non-traditional families, to give them the best chance of having a baby.

Research

At the recent Fertility Show Africa, our Dr Mandy Rodriques, who has 25 years of experience in field of infertility, provided an insightful look at the history of infertility and how the modern world is shaping its future.

You can also read about global research regarding sperm counts that continue to decline globally here.

Alternative therapies

In an insightful talk at this year’s Fertility Show Africa 2022, Dr Antonio Rodrigues – a reproductive medicine specialist and a founder and director of Medfem Fertility Clinic – spoke about what is happening in the field of fertility treatment and fertility medicine, spotlighting the highlights and trends that are shaping it. Click here to discover the latest highlights and trends in the field of fertility treatment.

You might also find it interesting to discover how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in Assisted Reproductive Therapies (ART) – read more here

Donor gametes

Donor conception – or conceiving with eggs, sperm or embryos donated by a third party – is a necessary option for increasing numbers of people. These include single parents, parents from the LGBTQ+ community and the growing numbers of couples facing infertility challenges that can only be treated with eggs, sperm or gametes from a donor.

Many people feel a deep sense of loss when they receive the news that they are unable to achieve a pregnancy with their own DNA. Couples may struggle to make the decision to use donor eggs, sperm or gametes, and very few will openly discuss the issue with friends or family. Of course, donor conception is not for everyone. However, despite the emotional struggle and secrecy, most infertile couples do decide to go the donation route, and none regret their decision later. This is because donor conception enables infertile couples to reach their true goal, which is to conceive a child.

You can read more here about the Challenge Of Accepting Donor Conception.

Answers to all your questions

Medfem Fertility Clinic’s team are committed and understanding team of medical professionals, who have the experience, knowledge and desire to provide you with the best chance of a successful outcome at the end of your treatment. We will gladly answer your fertility questions.

Since the 1980’s, our team has assisted couples struggling with infertility to experience the joy of parenthood, helping to bring more than 18,000 babies into the world.

If you would like to meet one of our fertility specialists, 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!

 

 

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