Infertile Couples Left in the Dark by Expectant Management

WARWICK, England, September 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

40% of women with fertility issues leave their GP with no explanation as to why they are unable to get pregnant, and a staggering 70% don't know if they are ovulating in each of their cycles, according to research out today.  

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The survey, carried out on behalf of fertility monitor OvuSense, questioned 500 women with known fertility issues. Many of those questioned were told they may have common issues, but were given no formal diagnosis, and feel they are left in the dark about the implications.

Rob Milnes, CEO of Fertility Focus, the creators of OvuSense, said: "Our research highlights that there simply isn't enough proactivity when it comes to identifying why a woman is failing to conceive. With advances in technology and knowledge around infertility I think it's time to revisit the guidance on Expectant Management." Clinical evidence from March^[1] and Kousta ^[2] indicates that up to 20% of women have PCOS - the most common cause of ovulatory problems - but that up to half of all cases go undetected.

Under the current NICE guidelines, women under the age of 35 who approach their GP with concerns about fertility should continue trying to conceive for two years before being considered for treatment on the NHS.  

Kate Davies, Fertility Practitioner said: "Diagnosis is the key to being able to manage any medical condition or illness, we all know that, but with something as precious as childbirth the current guidance is to keep trying. It seems almost cruel to send couples away after having gone to their GP for help and proactive support. Even if couples did everything recommended for NICE Expectant Management 20% would never get pregnant, yet they are left out in the dark for up to two years - those two years could be vital."

So, it's perhaps unsurprising that couples have little diagnosis and assistance early on in the patient pathway. However, statistics from the body which regulates IVF treatment in the UK show that over 40% of couples reach the end of that pathway with 'unexplained infertility' ^[3]. That is, two in five of those receiving each £5000^[4] IVF cycle at an estimated annual cost of £120m to the NHS ^[3,4] don't know why they can't get pregnant naturally, and neither do their clinicians.

Rob continued: "HFEA's own statistics^[3] show that delaying treatment massively reduces the chances of successful pregnancy. The vast majority of couples who bother to go to their GP clearly have an issue conceiving, so why do we force them to wait?"

Notes to editors:

See http://www.ovusense.com/pages/new-consumer-research-for-ovusense for full research findings

For more information about OvuSense please visit - http://www.ovusense.com/

Nice Guidelines: http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg156/resources/guidance-fertility-pdf

[1] March WA, Moore VM (2010) The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in a community sample HumRep 25.2: 544-551. 

[2] Kousta E, White DM (1999) The prevalence of polycystic ovaries in women HumRep 14.11: 2720-2723.

[3] Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Fertility Trends and Figures 2011

[4] http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/IVF/Pages/Introduction.aspx

SOURCE Fertility Focus