Getting Help With Infertility

If you and your partner have been trying to conceive for more than twelve months, or if you are over the age of 35 and have been trying to conceive for more than 6 months, you might need to discuss infertility option’s with your doctor. Unsuccessfully conceiving within these time frames is usually an indication of infertility issues. While there are many ways in which you can get help with infertility, you first will actually need to be diagnosed with infertility.

Infertility Appointment

Your first step should be making an appointment with either an OB/GYN or other doctor. Make sure that both you and your partner attend this appointment as the doctor will need to ask both of you for a medical history. Questions the doctor will ask include:

“How old were you when you first started menstruating?”

“Are your cycles regular?”

“Have you had any pelvic inflammatory diseases or trauma inflicted on your pelvic area?”

“Are your cycles long and heavy, or short and light?”

“How often do you have intercourse?”

“Have you ever had Mumps?”

More Questions? Ask Our Experts About Getting Help With Infertility

The answers to these questions will help with infertility identification. They will also assist the doctor in determining whether or not you are ovulating each month. The doctor may diagnose endometriosis if the answers to these questions indicate that your cycles are exceptionally heavy and painful. Conversely, the doctor may also want to know whether the male partner has sustained any type of injury, infection or trauma to the testes. These can all lead to a low sperm count, making conception extremely difficult.  Other answers that the doctor may want to know are how much alcohol you and your partner drink on a daily basis; and what your smoking habits are like. Quitting smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages can both help with infertility.

Initial Infertility Tests

The doctor may also decide to run a few tests during your initial appointment. Women will receive a pelvic examination to check the uterus and ovaries. Any pain or tenderness should be expressed to the doctor at this time. The doctor will also check to see if there any internal infections present.

However, don’t think for a minute that the male partner is going to escape an examination! Remember it takes two to make a baby. To best help with infertility concerns, the doctor may examine the husband’s testes and prostate to rule out any infections or abnormalities. Regardless of whether or not there are any concerns, the doctor may request for a semen analysis to be done. The male partner will usually be requested to provide a sample of his semen during the appointment.

The Results

Approximately one to two weeks after the initial doctor’s appointment, you will receive the results back from the examinations and the semen analysis. The doctor should then request another appointment with you and your partner to discuss possible treatment options to help with your infertility.