When to Seek Help

Monash IVF is here to support you on your path to parenthood. Our team of specialists will present you with every possibility and is here to encourage you through every step of the fertility journey.

Our caring and knowledgeable team is here to guide you and when you’re ready to pursue your dream of a family, we will be there for you cheering you on.

When should I see a fertility specialist?

Infertility is commonly described as the inability to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse. The vast majority of couples will fall pregnant naturally within the first 12 months of trying however for approximately 1 in 6 couples they will experience difficulties trying to conceive.

Knowing that each person and couple have their own timeline, you may seek advice from a fertility specialist after a few months of trying to get pregnant or you may decide to consult with a specialist sooner. And when the time is right for you, we’ll be here for you.

Understanding more about infertility, may influence your decision and the timing as to when you decide to see a fertility specialist. Research tells us that infertility is defined as being unable to fall pregnant after:

  • 12 months of regular unprotected sex if you’re under 35
  • 6 months if you’re over 35

Knowing when to see a fertility specialist straight away

When trying for a baby, certain diagnoses make the need to see a fertility specialist that bit more urgent.

Females

For women, we recommend you book in with a fertility specialist if you’ve been diagnosed with or treated for:

  • irregular or absent periods
  • PCOS or endometriosis
  • tubal damage (or previous tubal ligation surgery)
  • recurrent miscarriage
  • known genetic concerns
  • fibroids
  • premature menopause
  • pelvic inflammatory disease
  • adenomyosis (resulting in painful intercourse)

Males

For men, we suggest seeing your fertility specialist if you’ve been diagnosed with:

  • low sperm count
  • poor sperm shape (morphology) or movement (motility)
  • known genetic concerns
  • anti-sperm antibodies
  • ejaculatory or erectile concerns
  • absence of sperm (azoospermia)
  • issues from a prior vasectomy

Frequently asked questions

To make an appointment with one of our fertility specialists please get in touch with us. We will help you select one of our team of experts according to your personal preference and circumstances. If you would like to learn more about our specialists before contacting us, you may visit Our Team page on the website HERE or simply call us at +65 6723 7889 or by email info.sg@monashivf.com and via whatsapp +65 9183 5371

During your first visit, you specialist will spend time getting to know you and you getting to know them. Your fertility specialist will begin with a review of your general health and medical history. This will help them decide which routine tests or procedures are best suited to you.

For women, tests may include:

  • a blood test on day two-four of your cycle to measure ovulation. This specific test will measure your levels of Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and Prolactin
  • a comprehensive antenatal blood test. This test measures your blood group, full blood count and immunity to rubella (German measles) and varicella (chickenpox). It also screens for thalassemia and STIs including VDRL (syphilis), HIV, Hep B and Hep C
  • an up-to-date cervical screening test
  • preconception genetic carrier screening
  • an AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) blood test to measure your ovarian reserve
  • a pelvic ultrasound (in the early follicular stage of your cycle)
  • for more complex cases, a patient may require a specialised pelvic ultrasound – such as a HyCoSy (used to examine the fallopian tubes and other pelvic organs) or a Sonohysterogram (a study of the uterus)

Your fertility specialist will start with a review of your general health and medical history. This will help them decide which routine tests or procedures are best suited to you.

For men, tests may include:

  • a blood test to assess male hormones
  • a blood test to screen for STIs including HIV, Hep C, Hep B
  • preconception genetic carrier screening
  • a semen analysis to check for sperm antibodies and possible infections
  • in the case of abnormal semen results – such as low sperm count, poor motility (movement) and/ poor morphology (shape) – some men will need to have two semen analyses completed
  • If you require two semen analyses, at least one of these tests should be done through Australian Clinical Labs (our affiliate lab).