Fertility facts for health professionals
Most people want and expect to have children sometime in their life. For some, age and lifestyle factors reduce their chance of having a baby. Health care professionals are in an ideal position to...
Age fertility and reproductive technology
In most high-income countries the age of childbearing is increasing. In Australia the average age at all births rose from 29.9 years in 2008 to 30.7 years in 2018.
Effects of caffeine, alcohol and smoking on fertility
There is increasing evidence that health behaviours affect fertility and reproductive outcomes.
Effects of mental illness and its treatment on fertility and pregnancy health
Optimum pre-conception health, including mental health, increases the chance of conceiving spontaneously and with assisted reproductive technology (ART) and...
Genetics and genomes
Applications of genetics and genomics are flooding into clinical medicine and personal genotyping will influence many medical and health decisions in the future.
Micronutrient (folic acid, iodine and vitamin D) supplements pre-conception and during pregnancy
The evidence relating to the use of folic acid, iodine and vitamin D supplementation to improve reproductive outcomes is reviewed...
Micronutrient (Zinc and Selenium) supplements and subfertility
Recent systematic reviews of the effects of micronutrients on male fertility have identified clear positive effects on basic sperm characteristics [1-3].
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are prevalent across Australia and the incidence of some STIs is rising. STIs can impact fertility in both men and women...
The effects of environmental chemicals on fertility and fecundity
There is increasing evidence demonstrating the negative effects of environmental chemicals, especially endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), on reproduction and development [1, 2], including several studies that have found elevated levels for several chemicals among those seeking assisted reproductive technologies...
The role of exercise in improving fertility, quality of life and emotional well-being
Overweight and obesity impair male and female fertility and reduce the chance of spontaneous and assisted conception. Weight management (preventing weight gain, achieving weight loss and maintaining a reduced weight) is crucial in preventing and treating infertility...
The role of complementary therapies and medicines to improve fertility and emotional well-being
Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and therapies are defined as‘practices and ideas which are outside the domain of conventional medicine in several countries’, and their usefulness as ‘preventing or treating illness, or promoting health and wellbeing’...
Reproductive carrier screening
Reproductive carrier screening (RCS) is the testing of healthy adults to determine if they have an increased chance of having a child with a severe recessively inherited...
Planting the seed – asking about pregnancy plans
This is a guide for asking patients of reproductive age about their pregnancy plans so you can help them either prevent an unplanned pregnancy or conceive a healthy child when the time is right for them