If you're ready to start a family, you want it to happen right away, but that's not always possible. In fact, one in six people worldwide deals with infertility.
But when is it appropriate to seek infertility help? OB/GYN John Paul Roberts, MD, offers infertility evaluations and treatments for women in the Plano, Texas, area. Dr. Roberts provides testing to determine the cause of your infertility to help you conceive as soon as possible.
Infertility is the inability to achieve pregnancy after trying naturally for some time. Infertility can stem from a female or male reproductive problem or both. Some of the common causes of women's infertility include:
Men's infertility problems also affect a woman's ability to achieve pregnancy. Some male issues include a low sperm count, testicular problems, and a varicocele.
The key to ending infertility is to seek treatment as soon as you suspect a problem. The sooner you seek treatment, the more likely you are to achieve pregnancy.
It doesn't hurt to try for a couple of months to get pregnant on your own. You can track your cycle and use ovulation tests to help you determine when to try to conceive.
But if you don’t get pregnant after several months, it's frustrating and upsetting, especially when everyone around you seems to be having children. Knowing when to seek infertility help is essential to getting the treatment you need.
Most couples can try to conceive for a year before seeking infertility help. But that's not true for everyone. Women over 35 should get fertility help after trying for six months without success.
Other reproductive issues should signal you to get help sooner as well. Reasons to seek fertility help before a year is up include:
There's no set time limit on when you can seek infertility help. If you've been trying to get pregnant for a few months and are frustrated, you can discuss your options with Dr. Roberts.
The older you get, the less likely it is that you'll get pregnant naturally, especially after age 35. Those chances drop significantly after age 40.
When you first come in for an infertility appointment, Dr. Roberts asks you questions to understand your infertility journey. He asks you about your menstrual cycles, how long you've been trying to conceive, and other pertinent information about you and your partner's sexual health.
Once he has an idea of your concerns, he orders diagnostic testing in the form of bloodwork, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a semen analysis for your partner. When these tests come back, Dr. Roberts makes a diagnosis and forms an infertility treatment plan to help you conceive.
The treatments may include timed intercourse, medications to help you ovulate, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization. The treatment course depends on your specific diagnosis and what might work best for you and your partner's needs.
Call our office in Plano, Texas, today to schedule an infertility appointment, or use our convenient online booking tool to request a consultation.
