/ Why is early diagnosis of Infertility important?
For couples struggling with infertility, education and early diagnosis is vital. It is important to see a Specialist (not a Gynae) for a complete fertility work-up and diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is made through a Fertility Specialist the couple is then empowered with information to make the best decisions, for themselves, going forward. Be that to go through fertility treatment, pursue adoption or choose to live without children. About 40% of infertility cases are due to female factors; 40% are due to male factors; and the remaining 20% are due to a combination of male and female factor issues. Infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 couples of reproductive age in some form. Since infertility strikes diverse groups - affecting people from all socioeconomic levels and cutting across all racial, ethnic and religious lines - chances are great that a friend, relative, neighbour or perhaps you are attempting to cope with the medical and emotional aspects of infertility.
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Dr Jack Biko, President of SASREG says: "When it comes to fertility, age does matter. In an ideal world all women should have all their babies before the age of 35. After that, female fertility declines rapidly. Also the chance of abnormalities and miscarriages increases exponentially after 35."
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/ Will Your Fertility Stand The Test Of Time?
Most new parents will tell you that meeting their newborn baby for the first time is nothing short of a miracle. But for some couples, the journey to parenthood is a long and painful road, and for many others, it may never happen. One in six couples is diagnosed with infertility. And according to the WHO, infertility is recognised as a disease that results in the abnormal functioning of the male or female reproductive system. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after 12 months of trying to conceive. If you are over the age of 35, the time of trying to conceive is reduced to 6 months. There are two types of infertility. Primary infertility, where a couple has never had a baby before and secondary infertility, where a couple is unable to conceive after they have already had a child.
This Reproductive Health Month, 1st – 29th February 2024, IFAASA is putting the importance of proactively managing your reproductive health in focus, with our theme for this year: “Empower your future and take charge of your Reproductive Health”. As part of Reproductive Health Month 2024, IFAASA encourages couples to watch out for the warning signs and to seek help earlier to ensure a proper diagnosis, which enables them to make informed decisions. By running this campaign, IFAASA aims to educate the general population about potential fertility issues which they may face and to remember that pregnancy is a privilege that not every couple is afforded.
The educational initiative is being backed by a number of SASREG Centres of Excellence, who have pledged that consultations booked in the month of February will be eligible for a 25% discount on the first consultation and scan. “Everyone needs to be supportive of these families and couples struggling with infertility because they are going through a huge emotional and financial challenge,” says Saskia Williams, CEO of IFAASA. “We are delighted to have the backing and support of South Africa’s leading fertility clinics in driving awareness of issues relating to reproductive health”.
