When is it time to seek help with fertility?
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Sponsored by Fertility Specialists of Texas
Written by Dr. Rebecca Chilvers
So you want to have a baby?
For many people conceiving a child is straightforward; remove hormonalbrand physical barriers to conception and let nature take its course. Nine monthsbrafter a missed period the baby arrives. brHowever for millions of intended parents, this simple recipe does notbrproduce the desired result. You may bebrasking yourself how patient you should be before consulting with a fertilitybrspecialist, also known as a reproductive endocrinologist.
Classically speaking, infertility is defined as not having conceivedbrdespite 12 months of unprotected intercourse. brSo if you are young, have regular menstrual cycles, and have nobrgynecologic problems, you may elect to wait 12 months before obtaining a formalbrevaluation. For women 35 years of agebrand older, it is generally recommended that one see a fertility specialistbrafter 6 months of trying to conceive.
However, if you or your partner have a known medical condition that maybrmake it difficult to conceive, then it is wise not to wait but to have anbrevaluation as soon as you desire to conceive in order to see what is occurringbrand what treatment options are available. brFor instance, endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of thebruterus is shed not only vaginally but also through the fallopian tubes backbrinto the lower abdomen where it produces pain and inflammation, which adverselybraffects embryos and can cause scar tissue/adhesion formation leading tobrimpaired function of the fallopian tubes. brHeavy bleeding in a female may be due to irregular or absent ovulationbror due to benign tumors in the uterus called fibroids, and both conditions canbrinterfere with fertility. A male who hasbrhad prior chemotherapy may have a significantly reduced sperm count and needbrmedical assistance to allow his remaining sperm to fertilize an egg. For each of the example conditions above,brthere are specific remedies available.
Other factors that point to the need to seek a specialist are thosebrthat involve lack of critical components for conception. Eggs, sperm, fallopian tubes, and a uterusbrare all needed for conception. brFortunately, with today's technology, there are donor sources of eggsbrand sperm that can be used in such procedures as IVF and intrauterinebrinsemination. Many women are willing tobrbe gestational carriers (also incorrectly known as surrogates) allowing theirbrwombs to be used for another couple trying to conceive. Diseased or absent fallopian tubes can bebrbypassed using IVF.
Furthermore, some patients have been able to conceive but have not beenbrable to maintain a pregnancy. After twobrconsecutive miscarriages, it is accepted that a consultation is appropriate forbrthese women. In addition, if a couplebrhas a medical condition in their family that they would like to avoid in theirbrchildren, then genetic testing of embryos can be done in combination with inbrvitro fertilization (IVF).
At Fertility Specialists of Texas, we understand each patient andbrcouple is unique and that they have specific needs and preferences. We strive to work with you to fulfill yourbrdesire for pregnancy in a caring and efficient manner. Currently we have three offices (in Frisco,brDallas, and Grapevine) to conveniently provide patients with access to see ourbrfertility specialists. With pregnancybrrates among the highest in the nation, the goal of conception is morebrattainable than ever. If you arebrconsidering consultation, please visit our website at Fertility Specialists ofbrTexas to learn more or call us at (214) 618-2044.
Recognized for pregnancy rates among the highest in the nation, the team at Fertility Specialists of Texas shares a passion for helping create families. Dr. Jerald Goldstein established the practice in 2005 with the goal of providing world-class treatments and highly individualized patient care. Dr. Dorette Noorhasan and Dr. Rebecca Chilvers, both fellowship trained in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, joined the team of specialists in 2012. The practice areas of expertise include in vitro fertilization, recurrent pregnancy loss, polycystic ovarian syndrome, donor egg, fertility preservation and male factor infertility issues.