Conception & Fertility

Getting pregnant can be overwhelming for many couples, especially if it is taking longer than you expected. If you are having trouble conceiving, you do not have to go through it alone. Seeking expert advice can be very helpful and our doctors can provide the support and advice you need. We highly recommend that you make an appointment with your GP to give yourself the best chance of falling pregnant, even before you begin trying to conceive.

Preparing for pregnancy
If you and your partner are thinking of starting a family, it is important to make an appointment with your GP at SmartClinics. Conceiving is easier when you have all the facts. Your doctor will perform a general health check before looking at specific factors that can affect your fertility. They will make sure that you are up to date with your pap smear and assess any medications that you are currently on. They will screen for infectious diseases such as rubella, chicken pox, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV. Sexually transmitted diseases can affect male and female fertility and they can remain undiagnosed for many years, so it is important to test both you and your partner before you start trying to conceive.

Your GP can also recommend any lifestyle changes that may increase your chances of falling pregnant, such as quitting smoking, diet, fitness, and reducing alcohol intake. A healthy lifestyle is important for both partners.

Conception
When it comes to getting pregnant, timing is everything. Your doctor can help identify the best time for you to have sexual intercourse every month to maximise your chances of conceiving. This time is called your fertility window and it refers to when your egg will be moving down the fallopian tube. If your period is quite regular, count back 14 days from your cycle’s usual first day to calculate your ovulation day. You and your partner should aim to have unprotected sex every second day during your fertile window, focusing on the two days before ovulation. You may notice physical symptoms during this time, including an increased libido and changes in the consistency of your cervical mucus.

Why can’t I get pregnant?
For both men and women, there are many causes of infertility. We are born with some, such as abnormal anatomy and testicular obstruction. Others are acquired over time, such as endometriosis and the production of sperm antibodies. In 40% of cases, the cause of infertility is attributed to a sperm factor; in another 40%, the cause is attributed to the female reproductive system. A third will have a combination of both male a female factors. The first step to helping you conceive is finding out what the problem is.

Some common fertility issues for women and men include:

Women:

  • Age
  • Irregular periods that may be related to ovulation disorders
  • Gynaecological conditions PCOS and endometriosis
  • Fibroids
  • Blocked fallopian tubes
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • BMI and general health

Men:

  • Abnormal sperm production
  • Blocked/absent vas deferens (tubes)
  • The presence of sperm antibodies
  • Genetic diseases

Fertility tests
If you have been trying to conceive for some time, your doctor will look for any signs of the health issues above and may request some additional tests such as:

Women:

  • Ovulation test
  • Egg count (AMH) test
  • Full blood count to determine blood group (this may be bulk billed)

Men:

  • A semen analysis which measures the number of sperm in a sample.

When to see your GP
Your GP at SmartClinics is ready for any fertility concerns you may have. There is no time too early to be examined in your fertility journey.

It is particularly important to consult your GP if you are under 35 years old and haven’t fallen pregnant after 12 months of trying, over 35 years old and haven’t fallen pregnant after 6 months of trying or have a history of conditions which may affect fertility such endometriosis or pelvic infection.

At SmartClinics, your GP’s primary goal is to help you fall pregnant as naturally as possible. They understand that every couple is unique and requires special attention. Your doctor can provide you with answers to your fertility questions and recommend the next best step for you to take.

Doctors Offering Conception & Fertility

Dr Rasika Sudusinghe 2

Dr Rasika Sudusinghe


English, Sinhalese


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Dr Renu Rayani

Dr Renu Rayani


English, Gujerati, Hindi, Punjabi


Clayfield


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Dr Dalia Muraleedharan

Dr Dalia Muraleedharan


English, Hindi, Malayalam


Mango Hill


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Dr Rohini Wickrama

Dr Rohini Wickrama


English, Sinhalese


Windsor


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Dr Tahmina Khatoon

Dr Tahmina Khatoon


Bengali, English


Arundel Parkwood


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Dr Preeti Gupta

Dr Preeti Gupta


English, Hindi, Punjabi


Corinda


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Dr Ankush Goyal

Dr Ankush Goyal


English, Hindi, Punjabi


Corinda


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Dr Mrunali Nar

Dr Mrunali Nar


English


West End


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Dr Anmar Aydami

Dr Anmar Aydami


English


Taigum


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Dr Farzana Rahman

Dr Farzana Rahman


Bengali, English, Hindi, Urdu


Manunda


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Dr Alice McNab


English


Carseldine


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Dr Dean Adit

Dr Dean Adit


English, Malay


Windsor


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Dr Janaka Abeysirigunawardana

Dr Janaka Abeysirigunawardana


English, Russian, Sinhalese


Mango Hill


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Dr Susan Swanston

Dr Sue Swanston


English


Manunda


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Dr Nav Brar

Dr Nav Brar


English


Mango Hill


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Dr Celina Chuo

Dr Celina Chuo


English, Malay


Annerley


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Dr Basantaraj (Bas) Rai

Dr Basantaraj (Bas) Rai


English, Hindi, Nepali, Urdu


Taigum


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Dr Debraj Mukherjee


English


Pullenvale


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Dr Afshan Bhagat

Dr Afshan Bhagat


English, Gujerati, Urdu


Pullenvale


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Dr Sandy Nandam


English


Windsor


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Dr Cheng Guo


English, Mandarin


Chermside


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Dr Hayley Waddell


English


Annandale


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Dr Daniel Lean


English


Deception Bay


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Dr Ashleigh Lazzarini

Dr Ashleigh Lazzarini


English


Taigum


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Dr Tripti Hazra


Bengali, English


Annerley


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Dr Madhu Lakshmaiah


English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu


Chermside


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Dr Stephanie Sheu


English, Mandarin


West End


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Dr Eileen Rafter


English, Spanish


Manunda


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Dr Chee Young


English


Manunda


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Dr Shahram Sadeghi


English, Farsi Persian, Kurdish, Turkish


Clayfield


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Dr Elizabeth Ayoola


English


Windsor


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Dr Kokila Kodithuwakku


English, Singhala


Deception Bay


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Dr Nicole Lewindon


English


Toowong


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Dr Sarah Qamar

Dr Sara Qamar


English, Hindi, Pashto, Urdu


Ipswich


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Dr Megan Rowe


English


Pullenvale


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Dr Raymond Collins


English


Carseldine


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Dr Maria Cheung


Cantonese, English, Mandarin


Toowong


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Dr Helen Tumusiime


English


Annerley


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Dr Ion Constantinescu


English, Romanian


Annerley


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Dr Vanessa Siu


Cantonese, English


Taigum


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Dr Abigail Reid

Dr Abigail Reid


English


Taigum


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Dr Suraiya Akter


Bengali, English


West End


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Doctor Sally Trenorden

Dr Sally Trenorden


English


Clayfield


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Dr Mara Christa

Dr Mara Christa


English, German


Windsor


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Dr Matt Mousavifard


English, Farsi Persian


Taigum


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Dr John Bennett


English


Toowong


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Dr Dilip Dhupelia


English, Gujerati


Toowong


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Dr Stewart McQuade


English


Arundel Parkwood


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Dr Ebby Patel


English, Gujerati, Hindi, Urdu, Zulu


West End, Toowong


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Dr Abid Vatani

Dr Abid Vatani


Danish, English


Annandale


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Dr Janan Al Bahadly


Arabic, English


Chermside


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Dr Gurpreet Singh-Sodhi


English, Hindi, Punjabi


Windsor


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Dr Gagandeep Sodhi


English, Hindi, Punjabi


Windsor


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Dr Yvonne Ho


Cantonese, English


Carseldine


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Dr-Helen-Browne

Dr Helen Browne


English


Corinda


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Dr Frank Occhin

Dr Frank Occhino


English, Italian


Corinda


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Dr Jacqui Kelly

Dr Jacqui Kelly


English


West End


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Dr Milivoje Tomasevic

Dr Milivoje Tomasevic


Bosnian, Croatian, English, Serbian


Arundel Parkwood


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Dr Dip Chand


English, Fijian, Hindi


Chermside, Carseldine


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