Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fertility

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Nursing Management of Women’s Health

Abstract

Parenthood is something that many people assume will be part of their life trajectory. However, some people may experience unexpected delays in conception and subsequently seek infertility investigations. Infertility is a major concern internationally; the current prevalence of infertility lasting for at least 12 months is estimated to be around 9% worldwide for women aged 20–44 (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (2018) ART fact sheet. https://www.eshre.eu/Press-Room/Resources). The need for fertility services may also increase due to the trend towards delaying parenthood, as well as increased public awareness of treatment possibilities. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2017) Fertility problems: assessment and treatment. NICE guideline [CG156] 2013; updated Sept 2017. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg156) provides a series of evidence-based recommendations for fertility assessment and management to help guide clinical practice. Nurses may encounter people at various stages of their infertility journey and can play a pivotal role in ensuring people have access to accurate information and ongoing support to enable them to make informed decisions regarding their care and treatment. This chapter will identify the causes of infertility and explore investigations and treatment options. The role of the nurse in promoting high-quality care and ongoing support in both primary and specialist care arenas will be examined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2013) Fertility problems: assessment and treatment. NICE guideline [CG156]. Updated Sept 2017. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg156. Accessed 3 Jul 2018

  2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2017) Clinical knowledge summaries: pre-conception advice and management. https://cks.nice.org.uk/pre-conception-advice-and-management#!scenario:1. Accessed 2 Aug 2018

  3. Mills M, Rindfuss RR, Mcdonald P, Te-Velde E (2011) Why do people postpone parenthood? Reasons and social policy incentives. Human Reprod 17(6):848–860

    Google Scholar 

  4. Balasch J (2010) Ageing and infertility: an overview. Gynecol Endocrinol 26(12):855–860

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Baird DT, Collins J, Egozcue J, Evers LH, Gianaroli L, Leridon H et al. ESHRE Capri Workshop Group (2005) Fertility and ageing. Hum Reprod Update. 2005;11(3):261–276

    Google Scholar 

  6. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2018) Clinical knowledge summary: fertility. https://cks.nice.org.uk/infertility#!topicsummary. Accessed 2 Aug 2018

  7. Eniola OW, Adetola AA, Abayomi BT (2017) A review of female infertility; important etiological factors and management. J Microbiol Biotechnol Res 2(3):379–385

    Google Scholar 

  8. Raheem AA, Ralph D (2011) Male infertility: causes and investigations. Trends Urol Men’s Health 2(5):8–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Katz DJ, Teloken P, Shoshany O (2017) Male infertility—the other side of the equation. Aust Fam Physician. 46(9):641

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Jungwirth A, Diemer T, Dohle GR, Giwercman A, Kopa Z, Tournaye H et al (2015) Guidelines on male infertility, European Association of Urology guidelines. Arnhem

    Google Scholar 

  11. Mendiola J, Torres-Cantero AM, Moreno-Grau JM, Ten J, Roca M, Moreno-Grau S et al (2008) Exposure to environmental toxins in males seeking infertility treatment: a case-controlled study. Reprod Biomed Online 16(6):842–850

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Sharma R, Biedenharn KR, Fedor JM, Agarwal A (2013) Lifestyle factors and reproductive health: taking control of your fertility. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 11(1):66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Fawcett T, Rhynas S (2012) Taking a patient history: the role of the nurse. Nursing Standard 26(24):41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. World Health Organisation (2010) WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 5th edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  15. Stephenson J, Heslehurst N, Hall J, Schoenaker DA, Hutchinson J, Cade JE et al (2018) Before the beginning: nutrition and lifestyle in the preconception period and its importance for future health. Lancet 391(10132):1830–1841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Public Health England (2016) Rubella susceptibility screening in pregnancy to end in England. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rubella-susceptibility-screening-in-pregnancy-to-end-in-england. Accessed 7 Aug 2018

  17. Public Health England (2018) MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine): advice for pregnant women. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vaccine-in-pregnancy-advice-for-pregnant-women/mmr-measles-mumps-rubella-vaccine-advice-for-pregnant-women. Accessed 7 Aug 2018

  18. World Health Organisation (2018) BMI classification. http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?introPage=intro_3.html. Accessed 7 Aug 2018

  19. Chavarro JE, Ehrlich S, Colaci DS, Wright DL, Toth TL, Petrozza JC et al (2012) Body mass index and short-term weight change in relation to treatment outcomes in women undergoing assisted reproduction. Fertil Steril 98(1):109–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2014) Healthy eating and vitamin supplements in pregnancy. https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-healthy-eating-and-vitamin-supplements-in-pregnancy.pdf. Accessed 7 Aug 2018

  21. Department of Health (2016) UK Chief Medical Officers alcohol guidelines review: summary of the proposed new guidelines. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/489795/summary.pdf. Accessed 3 Aug 2018

  22. Hyland A, Piazza K, Hovey KM, Tindle HA, Manson JE, Messina C et al (2015) Associations between lifetime tobacco exposure with infertility and age at natural menopause: the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study. Tobacco control. tobaccocontrol-2015

    Google Scholar 

  23. Public Health England (2018) Health matters: reproductive health and pregnancy planning. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-reproductive-health-and-pregnancy-planning/health-matters-reproductive-health-and-pregnancy-planning. Accessed 7 Aug 2018

  24. Public Health England (2015) Health matters: smoking and quitting in England. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-smoking-and-quitting-in-england/smoking-and-quitting-in-england. Accessed 7 Aug 2018

  25. Lyngsø J, Ramlau-Hansen CH, Bay B, Ingerslev HJ, Hulman A, Kesmodel US (2017) Association between coffee or caffeine consumption and fecundity and fertility: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis. Clin Epidemiol 9:699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. World Health Organization (2016) WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. World Health Organization. p 152

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rich CW, Domar AD (2016) Addressing the emotional barriers to access to reproductive care. Fertil Steril 105(5):1124–1127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Allan H, Mounce G (2015) Managing infertility in primary care. Practice Nursing 26(9):440–443

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Kendall J (2008) Psychosocial effects of infertility. Practice Nursing 19(2):91–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. World Health Organisation (2018) Infertility. http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/infertility/keyissues/en/. Accessed 9 Aug 2018

  31. Quilliam S (2015) British infertility counselling association. J Fam Plan Reprod Health Care 41(2):154–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Royal College of Nursing (2018) An RCN education and career progression framework for fertility nursing. file:///C:/Users/DMU%20USER/Downloads/PDF-006690.pdf. Accessed 10 Aug 2018

    Google Scholar 

  33. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2013) Fertility: assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems (update): costing report: implementing NICE guidance. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg156/resources/costing-report-pdf-188496685. Accessed 9 Aug 2018

  34. European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (2017) A policy audit on fertility: analysis of 9 EU countries. file:///C:/Users/DMU%20USER/Downloads/PolicyAuditonFertilityAnalysis9EUCountriesFINAL16032017%20(3).pdf. Accessed 4 Aug 2018

    Google Scholar 

  35. Fertility Fairness (2017) Number of CCGs offering 3 IVF cycles has halved since 2013. http://www.fertilityfairness.co.uk/number-of-ccgs-offering-3-ivf-cycles-has-halved-since-2013/. Accessed 9 Aug 2018

  36. Boivin J, Gameiro S (2015) Evolution of psychology and counseling in infertility. Fertil Steril 104(2):251–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Domar A, Gordon K, Garcia-Velasco J, La Marca A, Barriere P, Beligotti F (2012) Understanding the perceptions of and emotional barriers to infertility treatment: a survey in four European countries. Hum Reprod 27(4):1073–1079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Gameiro S, Boivin J, Dancet E, de Klerk C, Emery M, Lewis-Jones C et al (2015) ESHRE guideline: routine psychosocial care in infertility and medically assisted reproduction—a guide for fertility staff. Hum Reprod 30(11):2476–2485

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (2017) Code of practice. 8th edn. HFEA: London. https://ifqlive.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-website/2062/2017-10-02-code-of-practice-8th-edition-full-version-11th-revision-final-clean.pdf. Accessed 10 Aug 2018

  40. American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2018) Third-party reproduction. https://www.asrm.org/topics/topics-index/third-party-reproduction/. Accessed 10 Aug 2018

  41. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (2017) Donation. https://www.hfea.gov.uk/donation/. Accessed 16 Aug 2018

  42. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (Disclosure of Donor Information) Regulations 2004. (S.I. 2004 No. 1511). http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/1511/pdfs/uksi_20041511_en.pdf. Accessed 14 Aug 2018

  43. Nuffield Council on Bioethics (2013) Donor conception: ethical aspects of information sharing. http://nuffieldbioethics.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Donor_conception_report_2013.pdfn. Accessed 26 Jul 2018

  44. Joy J, McCrystal P (2015) The role of counselling in the management of patients with infertility. Obstetric Gynaecol 17(2):83–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Joint Formulary Committee (2018) British National Formulary, 75th edn. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London

    Google Scholar 

  46. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Fertility treatment 2014–2016. Trends and figures. 2018. https://www.hfea.gov.uk/media/2563/hfea-fertility-trends-and-figures-2017-v2.pdf. Accessed 16 Aug 2018

    Google Scholar 

  47. Royal College of Nursing (2017) Fertility preservation: clinical professional resource. RCN, London. file:///C:/Users/DMU%20USER/Downloads/PUB-005986%20(1).pdf. Accessed 10 Aug 2018

    Google Scholar 

  48. Anderson RA, Mitchell RT, Kelsey TW, Spears N, Telfer EE, Wallace WH (2015) Cancer treatment and gonadal function: experimental and established strategies for fertility preservation in children and young adults. Lancet Diab Endocrinol 3(7):556–567

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Chambers GM, Ledger W. The economic implications of multiple pregnancy following ART. In: Seminars in fetal and neonatal medicine 2014. vol 19, no. 4. WB Saunders, pp 254–261

    Google Scholar 

  50. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2016) Green-top guideline no. 51. Monochronic twin pregnancy management. RCOG, London

    Google Scholar 

  51. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (2016) Multiple Births: what you need to know. https://ifqlive.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-website/1315/2017-02-24-multiple-births-leaflet-final.pdf. Accessed 16 Aug 2018

  52. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2016) Green-top guideline no. 5. The management of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. RCOG, London

    Google Scholar 

  53. Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2016) Fertility drugs and cancer: a guideline. Fertil Steril 106(7):1617–1626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Human Tissue Authority (2018) Guide to quality and safety assurance for human tissues and cells for patient treatment. https://www.hta.gov.uk/sites/default/files/HTA%20guide%20to%20Quality%20and%20Safety%20Assurance%20for%20Human%20Tissue%20and%20Cells%20for%20Patient%20Treatment%20v2%20April%202018.pdf. Accessed 16 Aug 2018

  55. European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (2018) ESHRE certification for nurses and midwives. https://www.eshre.eu/Accreditation-and-Certification/Nurses-Midwives-Certification.aspx. Accessed 19 Aug 2018

  56. Inhorn MC, Patrizio P (2015) Infertility around the globe: new thinking on gender, reproductive technologies and global movements in the 21st century. Hum Reprod Update 21(4):411–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Rooney KL, Domar AD (2018) The relationship between stress and infertility. Dialog Clin Neurosci 20(1):41

    Google Scholar 

Resources

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Leicester School of Nursing and Midwifery, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

    Wendy Norton

Authors
  1. Wendy Norton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wendy Norton .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Guy’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Debra Holloway

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Norton, W. (2019). Fertility. In: Holloway, D. (eds) Nursing Management of Women’s Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16115-6_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16115-6_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-16114-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-16115-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation