What are the chances of natural conception?Note:
Doctors usually recommend that couples try to have their families before they are in their 40s. |
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It can often take up to a year, even for healthy fertile couples, to become pregnant. A recent study looked at the time it took women who were wanting a baby to become pregnant naturally:
- About one third (38%) conceived in the first month of trying;
- About two thirds by the third month (68%);
- More than three quarters by the sixth month (82%);
- More than nine out of every 10 couples (92%) had conceived within a year.
About three to four per cent of couples who want to have children, remain childless at the end of their reproductive life phase.
A small number of men, who are subfertile and have at least some moving sperm in their semen, father children naturally, whether or not the infertility problem is treated. However, it can take longer and possibly a number of years before men with subfertility conceive.
About 30 per cent of subfertile couples get pregnant naturally in the first year after investigation for infertility with about 45 per cent by two years.  Back to top
What are the options if natural conception is not possible?If an infertility problem cannot be treated, or treatment is unsuccessful, and it is not possible to become pregnant through sexual intercourse, there are several options available to couples wishing to have a family.
These include:
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What is donor insemination?For men who do not produce any sperm or have been unsuccessful with ICSI, donor insemination using sperm donated by another (usually anonymous) male may be considered. About one in fourteen infertile couples need to use donor sperm to become pregnant.
With donor insemination, the child receives half its genetic material from the mother. The donor is the biological father, however, in all other ways the male partner will become the legal parent. Couples using donor insemination can still share the experience of pregnancy, birth and child-rearing.
Men who donate sperm undergo a major screening process before becoming a donor. Legislation regarding the availability of information about the donor varies around Australia. In some parts of the country, the law allows children born from donor insemination to contact their biological fathers in later life. This approach is likely to become the same across the country in the future. Back to top
What other options are available to be a father?Some infertile couples, who have either been unsuccessful when trying assisted reproductive technologies or do not want to have major medical treatment, choose to adopt, foster or provide permanent care to children.
Adoption is a permanent legal appointment of another person as the parent of a child, whose biological parents for some reason cannot care for them. There are very few babies available for adoption in Australia, however, there are some older children in need of families.
Some couples choose to adopt babies and children from overseas. There are many children, especially in war torn or developing countries, who are in need of families. State Government bodies are normally responsible for adoptions. For more information contact the local community or family services department.
Foster parenting is also a legal arrangement but normally only short-term. Many babies and children are in need of families who can care for them for varying lengths of time. More information can be obtained from local government agencies.
Permanent care is a long-term arrangement where couples or single people are given legal custody and guardianship of a child unable to live with their own family. However, the child’s name, birth certificate and inheritance rights do not change. More information can be obtained by contacting state community services departments. Back to top
What else can couples do?For some couples, adoption, the use of donor sperm or foster parenting are not on their agendas, but for others they will give time to consider them once they are certain that their own sperm can not be used to produce a child.
Deciding not to have children, or coming to terms with not having a family, can be a very emotional and stressful experience. Speaking to a trained counsellor and receiving psychological support at this time can be helpful. Back to top
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