Dr Bronwyn Devine is an experienced obstetrician and fertility specialist. She understands how being able to get pregnant and knowing you are going to have a safe pregnancy is very important to women. “There are so many questions involved with pre-planning pregnancy, fertility and giving birth – and I aim to ensure my patients are at ease with all of the information that is on offer, especially with so many stories floating around from friends, family members and online articles” says Dr Devine.
After having helped so many women, she has seen it all. Here are some of the most common questions patients have had.
How long does it usually take to fall pregnant?
All pregnancies are different. Depending on your health, age and many other factors some ladies fall pregnant straight away while others take many months to conceive. Research shows that the probability of conception after six months is up to 80% and after 12 months is up to 90%.
What are some of the things that increase the risks of infertility?
There are a number of things that are known to increase the risk of infertility including: increasing age, stress, smoking, alcohol, sexually transmitted infections, health problems that cause hormonal changes, poor diet, athletic training and being overweight or underweight
Is my medical problem going to affect me falling pregnant?
It is important to understand a medical problem may impact on your pregnancy but also how your pregnancy may impact on your own health. It is beneficial to see your obstetrician before conceiving to ensure the correct medications and that you are in the best possible health to help to achieve our desired outcome…healthy mum and baby.
We were not expecting it to take this long for us to conceive?
There can be several reasons why a couple may have difficulty falling pregnant. A number of tests can be done to work out the cause and correct it, but in some, very frustrating situations, it is not possible to explain the reason precisely.
What are some of the reasons it’s not happening easily for us?
Things such as ovulation disorders, endometriosis, tubal factors, uterine abnormalities, medical disorders or a problem with low sperm count or shape.
What can I do right now to improve my chances?
Start tracking your menstrual cycle, take Folate one month before and 3 months after you conceive, manage your weight range, eat a healthy balanced diet and try to keep your fitness up. If you have any concerns or need extra guidance, it is worthwhile visiting your obstetrician before you plan to conceive.
Dr Bronwyn Devine will answer these questions and more in detail at the Facebook Live event on Thursday 5th November at 8pm.
Dr Bronwyn Devine is an obstetrician at North Shore Private Hospital
Rooms at Aveta Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Unit 27, 261 Condamine Street, Manly Vale. Phone: 9976 0552