Requirements for a pregnancy.
Medicine has made rapid progress in the field of reproductive medicine over recent years and decades. As a result, the wish for a child can be fulfilled for many couples for whom a “natural” pregnancy was not possible.
A good starting point
These conditions are favourable for fertility treatment.
The following conditions are favourable for a pregnancy with the support of reproductive medicine:
No acute or chronic infections
Uterus, ovaries
Organic health
Sufficient sperm quality
No genetic alterations present
A functioning hormonal cycle
If some of these points are not met, or only partially, our medical team decides which method offers the best prospects of becoming pregnant.
An important factor
The time factor matters.
The probability of a pregnancy is higher the earlier the cause of an unfulfilled wish for a child is identified and, where possible, corrected or treated by alternative means.
The earlier in life an unfulfilled wish for a child is treated, the more likely a positive outcome.
The type of treatment
It depends on the diagnosed cause of the fertility disorder. Every treatment at the Wunschbaby Institut Feichtinger therefore begins with a comprehensive analysis.
An approach based on the latest state of medicine uses the basic test results mentioned above to investigate the possible causes of an unfulfilled wish for a child. The insights gained from this determine the most effective therapy or combination of therapies.
Sometimes the wish for a child cannot necessarily be fulfilled at the exact moment a couple considers most suitable. It can take time for a new life to find its way. The wish for a child therefore also means having the confidence that it will succeed.
Due to various socio-cultural factors, family planning and starting a family are happening ever later in life. Numerous famous personalities such as Nicole Kidman, Monica Bellucci and Madonna illustrate the trend: they were all older than 40 when they gave birth to healthy children.
Age & fertility
The probability of becoming pregnant decreases with age.
Chance of spontaneous conception with regular unprotected intercourse – provided no relevant conditions are present:
≈ 30%
for women between the ages of 20 and 25 (within a few months)
≈ 2%
spontaneous pregnancy rate for women over 40
≈ 0.2%
spontaneous pregnancy rate for women over 45
Age-related causes
What changes with increasing age.
The causes of an unfulfilled wish for a child can be both age-related and age-independent. The age-related ones are mainly linked to the quality and number of egg cells and sperm.
Lower number of egg cells
Even fertilisation, implantation in the lining of the uterus or the further development of the embryo can be impaired or fail to occur.
Poorer quality of the egg cells
In each of a woman’s cycles, a larger number of egg cells matures in the ovaries, and nature brings the most suitable one to ovulation. However, the pool of egg cells from which this selection can be made becomes smaller with increasing age. Correspondingly, the quality of the “best” egg cell in each cycle declines.
Quality and number of sperm
Sperm quality parameters include, for example, count, motility and also sperm morphology. Declining quality and quantity ultimately mean that sperm do not reach the egg cell in the fallopian tube, or that their condition is unfavourable for fertilising the egg cell.
Age-independent causes
Age-independent causes include: blocked fallopian tubes, fibroids, endometriosis and hormonal disorders (e.g. PMOS, formerly PCOS), which make ovulation more difficult or even prevent it.
Your next step
Let’s talk.
The earlier the causes are clarified, the better the chances – we accompany you from the very beginning.
Or call us: +43 1 877 77 75