Support Meetings

Fertility problems are also sometimes called infertility. Infertility does not always mean that you cannot get pregnant. It just means that you may need help to get pregnant or get your partner pregnant. Around 1 in 6 heterosexual couples in Ireland have fertility problems.

Infertility affects 186 million people worldwide, and the male partner is the cause in about half of the cases.

A woman’s most fertile years are between her late teens and late 20s. By around age 30, fertility starts to slowly decline and by mid-30s the decline speeds up. But the decrease in chance of pregnancy after age 35 is gradual and more like a slope than a cliff, at least until age 40.A large study that followed women trying for a baby found the chance of pregnancy after 12 months was 87% for women aged 30-31. This dropped to 76% at age 36-37, and 54% at age 40-41.

Treatment options and success rates have increased dramatically, making fertility treatment possible for a range of patients who may not have had access in the past

https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/national-fertility-services/assisted-human-reproduction-services-information-booklet.pdf

To access the publicly funded treatment, you must first consult with your GP. If eligible, they may refer you for fertility assessment at a Regional Fertility Hub. After assessment, they may refer you to the publicly funded assisted human reproductive treatment (see lin to HSE booklet above)