I Love Children (ILC), the community group behind the annual Know Your Fertility Wellness Campaign, released recommendations today, urging more couples to be aware of their fertility health earlier by going for fertility health checks and to make these checks more accessible.
This is in line with the launch of ILC’s Fertility Awareness Campaign 2021, which focuses on reminding couples that good general health does not mean good fertility health, and that fertility issues are shared by both females and males.
In a recent poll with 222 couples who took part in I Love Children’s Fertility Wellness Campaign in 2020, it was revealed that:
- 91% of those who went for fertility health checks because of the campaign are now planning for a baby earlier: Knowing their own fertility health motivates couples to plan for a baby earlier, increasing chances of conceiving!
- Of those who received a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) fertility health consultation, 70% said they would not have gone for the consultation prior to the campaign: Couples with increased awareness are more open to going for a TCM fertility consultation!
- Of those who were not given fertility health checks from the campaign, only about 37.5% went on to pay for their own fertility health checks and of those who were given fertility health checks, 41% indicated that they would not have gone for one if not for the campaign. With most of them stating cost as their reason: The cost of fertility health checks could be a key deterrent for couples!
According to the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), fertility issues affect approximately 15% in couples today in Singapore, and among this group, 50% are males with fertility issues.
KKH also revealed that female fertility potential is highest before 30 years old, but it steadily declines with age, especially after 35 years old.
After 40 years of age, only 10% to 15% will be able to conceive, even with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Therefore, the success rate of a woman at or over 40, having a baby through natural conception is even lower.
“Couples deserve the right to be informed and aware of their fertility health as it can affect their choices and future. According to a survey conducted by ILC in 2019, we noted that there is a lack of fertility health awareness amongst Singaporeans with more than half of Singaporean couples not having heard of it. If fertility issues were discovered earlier, couples could have a higher chance of conceiving. Therefore, it is critical that we encourage more couples to go for fertility health checks as early as possible. We have taken baby steps in this area for too long and it is time for us to boldly change our approach in order to help more couples have children,” said Mrs Joni Ong, President of I Love Children.
“With the goal to increase Singapore’s birth rate, we believe more can be done to ensure fertility health checks are made more affordable and accessible to all couples. Families and employers can also do their part to “gift” a fertility health check to the newlyweds.” she added.
“A fertility health check is for all couples and not just those who are having difficulties conceiving although it is common that people do not think much about infertility until it happens to them. Fertility health checks are able to help couples to understand their fertility health in order to seek timely treatment and optimise their chances of conception before it is too late,” said Dr Janice Tung, Consultant O&G at Thomson Fertility Centre.
“Many patients assume that they would have no or little issues having children beyond the age of 35 and only begin seeking fertility consultation or treatment after trying for one or more years. The average age of women patients that we see seeking help is 35 years old. We need to highlight that the outcomes of fertility treatments are affected by age and it is more successful for those who come for help earlier,” said A/Prof Yong Tze Tein, Head and Senior Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Singapore General Hospital.
Key initiatives from Know Your Fertility Wellness 2021
1. I Love Children Know Your Fertility Wellness Visuals
This year’s campaign will feature a call-to-action to encourage couples to sign up for fertility health checks and webinars on fertility-related topics.
The campaign visuals depict two pillows, representing a couple in bed, having an intimate conversation that illustrates the common misconceptions about fertility health.
These visuals include respective captions and scenarios that provide fertility-related information. They will be visible on MRT stations and inside train cabins, advising commuters to go for fertility health checks.
2. Know Your Fertility Wellness Webinars
To educate Singaporeans and raise awareness on fertility, I Love Children will be organising two live Zoom webinars for couples on:
- 12 November, 8pm featuring doctors from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore General Hospital
- 19 November, 8pm featuring doctors and experts from Thomson Fertility Centre, Thomson Chinese Medicine and Thomson Medical Centre.
The webinars are free and for the first time this year, attendees will also get to hear from a psychologist who will be sharing on the topic of ‘Staying Positive While Trying to Conceive’ and how couples can support each other while trying to conceive naturally or through treatment.
Interested couples can register for the webinars at https://ilovechildren.sg/event/know-your-fertility-wellness-2021-webinar.
3. Fertility Checks and Consultations
To make fertility health checks more accessible, Thomson Fertility Centre will be giving 200 fertility health checks to couples for them to better understand their fertility health and Thomson Chinese Medicine will be giving 50 TCM fertility consultations to couples.
Fertility Health Check
Each fertility health check comprises of two to three trips to the clinic. Couples would need to go for hormone blood tests for the wife, and semen analysis for the husband.
Upon completion of the tests, the results will be reviewed, together with an ultrasound scan, during a consultation session with the doctor.
TCM Fertility Consultation
Each TCM fertility consultation session consists of a TCM diagnosis for both husband and wife to better understand their body constitution, identify suitable TCM treatments and to be advised on their dietary habits and lifestyle recommendations.
An acupuncture session (up to 30 minutes) will also be included for either the husband or wife. The acupuncture session will help to improve blood flow to reproductive organs, release endorphins for mental/emotional wellbeing and enhance sleep quality.
Note: TCM fertility consultations are suitable for Muslim couples. Although TCM medications are not halal certified, only botanical herbs will be used for Muslim patients.
Interested couples can sign up for the package at https://ilovechildren.sg/fertility-health-check-2021. Each fertility health check and Traditional Chinese Medicine Fertility Consultation is worth S$400 and S$200 respectively.
4. Experts to Share about Fertility Wellness on TikTok
To heighten awareness amongst a younger and wider group of target audience, doctors and experts from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, Thomson Fertility Centre and Thomson Chinese Medicine will be sharing educational fertility-related facts and information through a series of videos on I Love Children’s TikTok page. Couples can tune in to learn more about fertility health.
5. Fertility Go Initiative for Corporates
To further promote and generate awareness on fertility health among employees who are newlyweds or trying to conceive, ILC is seeking companies to take the ‘I Love Children Fertility Go Pledge’, to be a pro-family company in Singapore.
In support of ILC’s vision, Thomson Fertility Centre will be offering fertility health checks (U.P. S$450) at a special corporate rate of S$200 for companies to purchase and a special rate of S$250 for employees to purchase.
Companies can take part by:
- Pledging to give all newlywed employees, a fertility health check to help them better understand their fertility health
- Encourage employees not to delay parenthood
- Provide resources and parenthood related support to employees
“Over the past year, APRW has been giving out fertility health checks as gifts to our soon-to-wed and newlywed employees. We are proud to be one of the first few companies in Singapore to take the Fertility Go pledge. Our employees who received the fertility health checks have found it to be especially useful in planning the future together with their spouse. We encourage more workplaces to join us in helping to improve accessibility to fertility health checks so that couples can make informed decisions about when to start their family and to seek medical attention earlier rather than later.” said Ms Cho Pei Lin, Managing Director at APRW.
Interested parties can register their interest for the pledge at fertilitygo@ilovechildren.org.
I Love Children’s Know Your Fertility Wellness Campaign is supported by Thomson Fertility Centre, Thomson Chinese Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, and APRW.
For more information, please visit www.ilovechildren.sg.