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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What options are there for single women to fall pregnant?

    I am a women in my late 30's who is yet to find a life partner and I am considering having a baby as a single parent by choice.

    I have been researching and I am getting more confused I would like to find out what type of help can be offered for single people wanting to start a family to fall pregnant, ie IVF, what would be appropriate for my situation. I am in no doubt there is more than just IVf.
  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • Dr Joseph Jabbour

    Gynaecologist, Gynaecologist - Infertility (IVF) Specialist, Obstetrician

    Dr Joseph Jabbour is a specialist Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist with Monash IVF situated in Sunnybank (Brisbane Southside). Dr Jabbour has had the … View Profile

    Although IVF is an option that would be quite suitable for you, there are other methods you can try prior to IVF. Firstly you will require donor sperm. Depending on whether you are ovulating or not, an Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) can be performed. The sperm is processed and the most motile and healthy sperm is then directly injected into the uterine cavity. You can have the procedure done in either a natural cycle (if you are ovulating) or a stimulated cycle. In a natural cycle, you can check for ovulation with a urinary predictor kit. Once it is positive, you aim for the IUI about 24 hours later. In a stimulated cycle, the ovaries are stimulated in a controlled fashion either with oral tablets or injections afterwhich IUI is performed once ovulation is achieved.

    Prior to commencing IUI, you require to rule out any pelvic infections with swabs and rule out damaged tubes with imaging such as a hysterosalpingogram (Dye is infused into the cavity and the tubes are checked for patency).

    You can try 2-3 IUI cycles and if the third fail, I would recommend IVF. 

    I would recommend you seek help from a fertility specialist who can counsel you about all these options.

    All the best. 

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