Sometimes you have a burning question which you’re just not sure who to ask about.
In our Frequently Asked Questions section you will find a wide range of helpful informatin to commonly asked questions regarding fertility and fertility treatment.
Have another question? You can ask our experts by sending a question here.
[+] When should I do something?
Starting a family is one of the biggest decisions in life, yet having a baby is not always easy.
The right time to seek help is when you are concerned. Often simple tests to check ovulation and sperm quality will give you the assurance you need to happily try a little longer before more intensive investigation. Often these tests will quickly identify a problem, which can stop you wasting valuable time.
[+] Does my age matter?
Yes! A woman’s chance of becoming pregnant decreases with age, especially in the late 30s. Generally, the older you are, the earlier you should seek help.
[+] Who should I see?
Your GP may assist with initial tests and refer you for further fertility investigations and treatment. Alternatively, you can telephone us for a consultation with a fertility specialist at any stage.
[+] What happens when I see a fertility specialist?
Your fertility specialist will investigate all possible causes of infertility. This investigation will include a medical history for you and your partner, hormone tests for the woman (including ovarian reserve) and sperm tests for the man. We offer a full range of treatments including ovulation monitoring, insemination, IVF, PGD, egg, sperm and embryo donation and more. Your specialist will take you through all of these options and outline the best one for you. We also offer counselling and support services to help you throughout your time with us.
[+] How successful is treatment?
Recent advances in technology means that the chance of having a child through IVF is 40-50 percent per treatment for women aged 35 years or younger. Many people will have the option of lower technology treatments which also offer a good chance of pregnancy over a course of three to four months.
[+] Does the Government pay for treatment?
Provided you are referred by your GP or specialist, you may be eligible for a free consultation. Many couples are also eligible for publicly funded treatment.
[+] How do I make an appointment?
You can arrange an appointment by either contacting us yourself, or if you like, you can get a referral from your GP. If you are considering applying for publicly funded treatment, you will need a referral from your GP.
To make an appointment at one of our Fertility Associates clinics, you can either:
- call us on 0800 10 28 28, or
- request an appointment through our online form here.
To find a list of locations, contact details and maps to all our clinics take a look
here.
[+] Do I need to be referred from my GP?
You can arrange an appointment by either contacting us yourself, or if you like, you can get a referral from your GP. If you are considering applying for publicly funded treatment, you will need a referral from your GP.
[+] When pregnant, can I dye my hair?
There is little chance any dangerous chemicals are absorbed from hair dye. However, we would still recommend waiting until the second trimester if possible before dying or retouching your hair.
[+] When pregnant, can I fly?
Most airlines let you fly without a medical certificate up to 35 weeks.
Flying its self is not harmful to pregnancy, but you need to weigh up the risks of anything happening during the flight such as labour, bleeding, etc., and how easily that would be to manage.
Domestic travel is almost always no problem as most flights within New Zealand are 1 a maximum of one hour. However, long haul flights later in pregnancy are not recommended due to the increased risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT - or “economy class syndrome”).
[+] During fertility treatment or pregnancy, can I drink coffee, tea or alcohol?
Regarding tea and coffee, low doses of caffeine are not thought to be harmful in pregnancy. During fertility treatment we do recommend cutting down or stopping coffee as some studies have shown improved outcomes when caffeine is reduced.
With regards to alcohol, although the odd glass of wine is probably safe, because no one knows what the safest minimal dose of alcohol is, we recommend cutting it out altogether both during treatment and pregnancy.