Calling on the experts
Raise your hand if you have been told by your general OBGYN “Just have fun trying for 6-12 months and if nothing happens, I’ll refer you to an infertility clinic”? And raise your other hand if you walked out of that appointment feeling a bit unsatisfied?
Both of my hands just went up.
Speaking for myself, a type-A planner, I didn’t want to “just try” something for 12 months before moving onto the next step. But I felt stuck because I thought I needed my OB to refer me to a clinic.
Anyone else been there?
Well, it turns out I didn’t have to wait for my OB to refer me. . . who knew!?
Women can call most fertility clinics at any point in their journey; after one month, after twelve, or even before they get started… even before they are in a relationship!
An initial consult can arm you with more information about your egg quality, egg reserves, hormone levels, your partner’s sperm motility and quality and can identify potential problems before they arise.
Okay, wow, that is a lot of information. Don’t worry, that is why we are here. We are here to untangle the ABCs of fertility together and coach you through what you need to know (or would like to know).
Now, let’s talk about the people who may want to prioritize seeing a fertility expert (besides us type-A planners):
If you have irregular cycles. Woman with irregular cycles may not be ovulating. Without an egg each month, it’s darn near impossible to conceive. With a few quick tests, we can have most women up and running with regular cycles and confirmed ovulation after one short consult.
If frequent intercourse is difficult. Couples who are unable to have frequent intercourse around the time of ovulation can feel like conceiving is an impossible task. But there are ways around this, you just might need a little extra help from the experts.
If you have a medical history. If you have had abdominal surgery (as a woman) or testicular or penile surgery (as a man) or a history of chemotherapy or radiation, talking to a specialist sooner rather than later will help your chances of conceiving.
If you have high blood pressure. This one may surprise you. Men with high blood pressure who take calcium channel blockers, could be hurting their chances of conceiving because sperm need functioning calcium channels to penetrate an egg. There are a range of medications that can help your high blood pressure without making it harder to conceive.
If you’re over 35. It can take longer for women over 35 to conceive. That, combined with a declining ovarian reserve, means your “fertile window” may be shorter than you think. We recommend scheduling a consult whether you are trying or not. We can make an individual plan with options that are comfortable for you and your family goals.
These are just a few common examples. We could go on and on, but you get the idea.
Taking the plunge and scheduling a consult can feel like an intimidating step (and a financial commitment), but just remember, you are not signing up for or committing to aggressive testing or treatment. . . you are only having a chat with a professional who wants to help you learn more about yourself and make a plan for your family.
Whether you are single, in a committed relationship, trying or not… when was it ever a bad thing to arm yourself with information?
So let’s get started! We look forward to seeing you soon!
