What to do when a couple has problems conceiving

Abstract 

This review briefly assesses what a practitioner should do when a couple has problems conceiving. Around one in four couples present to their GP to discuss infertility, and the majority of them will ultimately have a child. It is therefore appropriate to take a positive approach, and to see this first consultation as an opportunity to discuss pre-pregnancy care. This maximises the couple's chances of having a healthy baby and provides an opportunity to assess factors which might affect their fertility. The review offers a number of brief questions and answers on how to assess ovulation indicators and referral, basic infertility treatments, assisted reproduction technologies and the relevance of the NICE national guidelines on managing infertility treatment.

Keywords:  Infertility , conceiving , sexual dysfunction , assisted reproduction technologies

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