When is it time to see a fertility specialist?

There are a number of factors to take into account when deciding when it’s time to see a fertility specialist. The general belief is if after one year, conception has not occurred, then it may be time to get help. But that doesn’t take into account your age, your partner’s age, your health, your the method of birth control you’ve been using up until the point you decided to try and get pregnant, family medical history etc.

According to the American Society For Reproductive Medicine, a woman over thirty-five who has been trying to conceive unsuccessfully for more than six months should make an appointment to see a fertility specialist. This is because as a woman ages and reaches the end of her child bearing years it become understandably more difficult for her to conceive, thus shortening the window for when she could conceive on her own versus when should seek help from a specialist.

If you or your spouse already have a pre-existing condition that may hamper conception, chances are it’s best to not even wait to see a fertility specialist. Conditions such as PCOS, Lack of Ovulation, Endometriosis, Cancer, Irregular Menstrual Cycles, Fibroids, Three or more Miscarriages.

Testing

Reasons for infertility are found after infertility testing. Most of these tests can be completed within 4-6 weeks. After infertility testing about 85% of couples will have one or more reasons for their infertility. When no cause is found, the diagnosis is "unexplained infertility".

Other, less common causes of infertility

• Infertility associated with immunological problems
• Uterine problems
• Previous tubal ligation surgery - tied tubes
• Previous vasectomy surgery

Some Common Fertility Tests

FSH - Blood test done on the third day of a menstrual cycle to check the ability of the ovaries to respond to fertility medication and to determine the ovarian reserve

Insulin Resistance - check insulin levels

TSH - A test to check on thyroid function

HIV

HTLV-1 & II - A virus that can cause leukemia and neurologic disease

VDRL/RPR - Test for syphilis

Hep B S Ag - Test for Hepatitis B

Hep C Ab - Test for Hepatitis C

CMV-IgM - Test for Cytomegalovirus that can cause fetal damage if a woman is pregnant with active infection

Rubella - Check for rubella immunity

ABO/Rh - Blood type

-Hysteroscopy
-Sonohystero-gram
-Hystero-salpingogram
Tests to check on the status of the uterus

Semen Analysis - A test to check sperm count, motility and morphology

What is the Definition of Infertility?

In 2008, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine released a revised definition of infertility.

• Infertility is a disease, defined by the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected intercourse.
• Earlier evaluation and treatment may be justified based on medical history and physical findings and is warranted after 6 months for women over age 35.

Infertility Facts

1. Infertility affects 6.1 million American women and their partners — about 10 percent of the reproductive age population.
2. Infertility is a disease that affects the male or female reproductive system with almost equal frequency.
3. Recent improvements in medication, microsurgery and in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques make pregnancy possible for more than half of the couples pursuing treatment.
4. Twenty-five percent of infertile couples have more than one factor that contributes to their infertility.
5. In approximately 40 percent of infertile couples, the male partner is either the sole cause or a contributing cause of infertility.
6. Fallopian tube blockage and/or peritoneal factors (abdominal wall) account for approximately 35 percent of all female infertility problems.
7. Irregular or abnormal ovulation accounts for approximately 25 percent of all female infertility cases.
8. Endometriosis is found in about 35 percent of infertile women who have laparoscopy as part of their infertility assessment.
9. Approximately 30 percent of couples who have a complete assessment are diagnosed with unexplained infertility because no specific cause is identified.
10. More than 70,000 babies have been born in the U.S. as a result of all assisted reproductive technologies, including 45,000 as a result of in vitro fertilization.