Fertility expert's most-frequently asked questions
Our fertility expert Dr Richard Fisher has been helping New Zealand parents for more than two decades. But many of the …
Main Area
Conception
Advice for couples trying to conceive. Learn about fertility cycles, ovulation timing, and what else you can to do to improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Infertility doesn't have to be a lonely experience
Infertility is often a taboo subject, making the experience of those going through it unbearably lonely. Holly Jean Brooker …
The power of preconception nutrition
Dietitian Claudia Vavasour explains how eating well can boost fertility – for both him and her! Infertility affects up to …
What can you do to prime yourself for pregnancy?
Getting pregnant is something that most of us take for granted, but conceiving isn't always easy. However, there are things …
Natural family planning
Revolutionised birth control has supposedly brought women greater freedom. But what is the real cost of managed fertility, …
Improve your fertility naturally
Hidden health issues may be hurting your chances of pregnancy so get healthy and improve your fertility at the same time, …
How does my age impact my fertility
What is the optimal age to get pregnant? With the average age of New Zealand women having a child now at an all-time high of …
How and when to take a pregnancy test
How do you know when it is best to take a pregnancy test? A woman’s body can be hard to read sometimes. Nausea, tender or …
Fertility facts for your forties
We’re starting our families later and later, but our body clocks remain the same. Pippa Henderson looks into why fertility …
Top 9 fertility boosting foods
Clinical nutritionist and mum of four, Gina Urlich explains how nutrition plays a vital role in fertility, and shares her top 9 foods. When we plant a seed we provide an optimal environment for it to sprout and grow, we use nutrient rich soil, …
How to increase your chances of conceiving
If you're trying to get pregnant, you've likely been inundated with advice on what you should be doing to increase your chances of conception. Fertility specialist Dr Richard Fisher looks at the options. Most of us plan for events of significance …
Fertility expert busts baby making myths
If your man is smoke-free, eats only organic food and wears baggy underpants will you have a better chance of conceiving? We asked fertility expert Dr Andrew Murray to bust some myths and deliver the facts. People once believed the world was flat. …
Making baby making fun
We understand the basics of conception, but how much of the process is guesswork or a gamble? Fertility specialist Dr Richard Fisher offers some tips to enhance your chances of conception. Normally I write about trying to conceive for those who are …
10 best tips for babymaking
For many women and couples, the decision to start a family comes after a number of years of actively trying to prevent pregnancy. So it can come as a bit of a rude shock to learn that the human reproductive system is not all that efficient and that …
Naturopathic tips for conceiving & pregnancy
Asti Renaut and Natasha Berman offer naturopathic tips for successful conceptions, smooth pregnancies and thriving babies. Want to make a baby? Want to make a healthy baby? Most people who answer “Yes” to the first question will of course answer …
The amazing race of conception
Heroic distances, daunting obstacles and fierce competition — the conception journey defies the odds. In fact, as Dr Andrew Murray, explains it’s a miracle any of us are here at all. In my role as a fertility specialist, I suppose I get quite a …
Conception: timing it right
An ovarian cycle lasts around 28 days. For a baby to be conceived you must have sex around the time of ovulation -which lasts around several days. In a regular menstrual cycle this occurs about midway between periods. The most reliable signs of …
Five things experts want you to know if you’re trying to conceive
We asked the experts at Fertility Associates for their most important tips on maximising your chances of conceiving. For more great advice go to fertilityassociates.co.nz KEEP THE BOYS COOL Excess heat through tight underwear or having your …
What happens when you stop taking the pill?
Thinking of stopping the pill? Here's what to expect... The obvious! You may get pregnant The most obvious one! Fertility returns to “normal” as soon as you stop taking the pill (so be prepared!) You can start ovulating sooner than you …
Conception: the basics
Dr Andrew Murray from Fertility Associates lays out tactics for a good-quality and successful conception (it’s a bloke thing). To make a baby you need three ingredients: eggs, sperm and the ability to get them together. This is true for any type …
How to optimise your chance of conception & a healthy pregnancy
How do you optimise your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy? OHbaby! fertility specialist Dr Andrew Murray explains. Most of us have heard of the term 'biological clock', but what influence does this worrisome timepiece have over the …
Trying to conceive ... second time around
All pregnancies are different, and this is also the case when trying to conceive. Accessing expert advice and information is the very best thing you can do. Consultation We often see couples who after conceiving easily have concerns with their …
What’s baby doing in the two-week wait?
If you’re trying to conceive, then you’ll know that time seems to stop in those two weeks since doing the deed to finding out whether it was a success. Say. Hello. To. The. Longest. Two. Weeks. Ever! Science suggests you have a 15-25% chance of …
Moment of ovulation
Here, the moment of ovulation was accidentally witnessed during a robotic surgery. Previously, ovulation was thought to be a sudden pop but this actually took place over fifteen minutes. Pretty cool huh?! …
The impact of age on conception
It’s generally considered less than polite to ask a lady her age. But in the world of fertility, it will be the number one question you’re asked. That’s because female age is one infertility factor we can do little to combat. While Hollywood might …
What she said: translating mum-talk
Excuse me, but what’s that acronym? Conception, pregnancy and parenting open up a whole new world of information, including a seemingly foreign language. Christine Stride translates. Mummy message boards have their own language, so you’ll need to …
Useful Fertility Links
Here are some useful 'preconception' related links. fertilityassociates.co.nz The official website of Fertility Associates, one of New Zealand's premier authorities on fertility and infertility. Fertility Associates conduct both public and private …
History of Pregnancy Testing
Be thankful for the modern wonder of the home pregnancy test, because as Sarah Tennant discovers, in days gone by confirmation of conception was far from convenient. For drama and suspense in real life or TV, you can’t go past a pregnancy test. …