When Should You See a Fertility Specialist?

If you and your partner have been trying to have a baby for a long time with absolutely no success whatsoever, then this is when you should see a fertility specialist.

Firstly, you are not alone; failing to conceive after multiple tries is a common problem among many. Did you know that around 10% of women, making up about 6.1 million of the US population, face this problem? Most of them are either trying to get pregnant or having trouble staying pregnant.

To understand this issue better, let’s acknowledge the reasons behind its cause.

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When Is the Right Time to See a Fertility Specialist?

Some of the common signs which indicate that you should visit a fertility specialist are discussed as follows:

1. You Are in Your Late 30’s or Early 40’s

Living in the age of medical advancement, it's now safe to give birth in your late 30s and even early 40s, but there are a few complications attached. In this age group, women are technically in the high risk-pregnancy category, and the chances of suffering miscarriages are also elevated.

2. You or Your Partner Have a History of STDs

Some of you may also refer to it as sexually transmitted infections. You can get STD through sexual contact. The parasite, bacteria, or virus that causes STD can pass from one person to another through semen, blood, vaginal, and any other bodily fluids. It results in infection or inflammation.

It can affect men through recurrent infections, which damage sperm function, mobility, and sperm count. And, in women, it scars the fallopian tubes, which prevents the sperm and egg from ever meeting. These are symptoms to consult a fertility specialist.

3. You Have a History of More Than Three Miscarriages

A miscarriage does not directly reflect infertility. In general, a miscarriage occurs within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. It can even be due to an inaccurate number of chromosomes in the egg or sperm, for which the fertilized egg failed to develop normally.

Some other causes of miscarriage include anatomic problems, genetic issues, altered hormone levels, cervical issues and infections. Thus, if you have had multiple miscarriages, you should seek a fertility specialist's advice to identify the underlying cause.

4. Your Partner Has Severe Erection Issues

A severe erection issue in your partner is a sign of a neurological problem. Neurological defects in men can lead to semen abnormalities, ejaculatory dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction, causing infertility.

Congenital spinal abnormalities, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and pelvic surgery are some of the major conditions for erection issues. Thus, these serve as a few indicators to consult a fertility specialist who can assist you and your partner in finding a solution.

5. You Have an Irregular Menstrual Cycle

If you have irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or no period, these are often signs of infertility. The best thing you can do here is to consult your gynecologist or visit a fertility specialist.

A 'no period' situation means you are not ovulating, while irregular periods can occur due to wrong hormone signals or an ovulation disorder. On the other hand, very heavy periods occur mainly due to endocrine abnormality or uterine fibroid. Any such prevailing conditions are signs to consult a fertility specialist.

6. You Have Thyroid Conditions

Thyroid issues are a common cause of infertility among women. There is a direct link between hypothyroidism and infertility in women that requires minute observation of a fertility specialist.

An underactive thyroid, sometimes known as hypothyroidism, causes irregular menstrual cycles that further impact ovulation. An underactive thyroid gland interferes with how your ovary releases an egg and impairs fertility. Other causes of hypothyroidism, like autoimmune or pituitary disorders, also impair fertility.

7. You Have Cancer

As a woman, if you have been diagnosed with cancer and are going through the treatment, it will impact your ability to get pregnant. Moreover, your treatment type, medications and age also directly affect your pregnancy.

Therefore, you should see a fertility specialist who will advise you to adopt proactive measures for preserving fertility. In case you have already undergone cancer treatment, also consult a fertility specialist to determine if your fertility was impacted or not.

8. You Had Unprotected Sex for More Than a Year

Furthermore, if you and your partner have been having unprotected sex for more than a year and failing to conceive repeatedly, then you should undergo a fertility evaluation. Your fertility specialist will determine the cause behind this difficulty and advice you accordingly.

Moreover, you should take their advice seriously and commit to the prescribed medication and treatment procedure.

9. Other Chronic Medical Conditions

Apart from the conditions mentioned above, other chronic diseases act as indicators to consult a fertility specialist. Some of them are mentioned below:

Kidney disease
Heart disease
Hypertension
Genetic disorder
Diabetes

Now that you are well aware of when to see a fertility specialist, understand how to choose the right one.

How to Choose the Right Fertility Specialist?

For starters, narrow down your search to reputable and competent specialists who hold records of high success rates. Further, consider the following factors to choose the ideal one:

Get detailed knowledge of the facilities and services offered.
Communication is the key; thus, ensure that the specialist will be around to answer your queries.
Fertility treatment is not very cheap. Therefore, find out all about the offered pricing packages.
Most importantly, find out if you can make an appointment as per your schedule, or you have to fit into your doctor’s schedule.
Lastly, take into consideration the location and how convenient the commute is for you.

In a nutshell, pregnancy is a heavenly experience. Therefore, do not take a casual approach if you notice difficulty in conceiving. Instead, consider all the factors mentioned above that assist you in understanding when you should see a fertility specialist and proceed further wisely.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How long should you wait to see a fertility specialist?

If you are 35 years old and it's been almost 12 months since you and your partner have been trying to conceive, do not wait any longer. In case you are above 35 years, do not wait for more than 6 months before seeing a fertility specialist.

What are the signs of being infertile?

Generally, it takes 5-6 months of regular unprotected sex to become pregnant, so if you have been trying and still not conceiving, it is a clear sign of infertility. Apart from this, other signs of infertility can be absence of menstruation or an abnormal menstrual cycle. In men, abnormal hormones and erectile dysfunction are often signs of infertility.

How is fertility in a woman tested?

Some of the common ways to test a woman’s fertility include pelvic test, ultrasound imaging, and blood tests to check ovarian reserve and hormone levels.