GPs could be doing more to help couples struggling to conceive, according to a new report.
The report, Epidemiology and Management of Infertility, is written by experts from the universities of Sunderland, Durham and Newcastle, and NHS researchers, and is based on almost 800 infertile couples in 58 GP practices in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.
It concludes that if GPs had a better understanding of infertility treatment options, they "could save years of anguish and heartache for couples desperate to have children".
The report found that infertility rates have not changed over the past two decades – about 0.9 couples per 1,000 total population. However, women are seeking help from their GPs at an older age but after a shorter duration of infertility.
When couples are referred by their GP a to secondary care fertility unit, a significant proportion of the units could not provide treatment such as In vitro fertilisation (IVF). Full results are published in the journal Family Practice.
Author Dr Scott Wilkes explains: "The problem is that GPs only see one or two infertile couples per year, so there is little opportunity to rehearse the skills necessary to manage the infertile couple.
"Nationally, because there is no system of full evaluation for infertile couples in primary care, GPs do not have the opportunity to root out those couples who have fertility disorders such as sperm problems or blocked tubes, who require assisted reproduction in specialist IVF fertility centres."
He recommends that GPs advise young couples with no identified problem to keep trying, but to refer people who need specialist treatment directly to an appropriate unit.
Wilkes, S. et al. Epidemiology and Management of Infertility: a population based study in UK primary care. Family Practice, published online June 17, 2009.
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