When a couple dreams of starting a family but has been struggling to conceive for a year or more, the situation can be disappointing and quite disheartening. Making an appointment with a fertility specialist could be the first step on the road to a successful pregnancy. There are a number of conditions that can prevent a woman from becoming pregnant, such as ovulation problems, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and abnormalities with the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. A fertility specialist may also be able to diagnose the reason why a woman has had several miscarriages and suggest ways to prevent this from happening again.
Fertility specialists can also help women who have been diagnosed with cancer understand fertility options to have a healthy pregnancy in the future. Women who are over the age of 35 years may also benefit from IVF. IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies (ART) can also help same-sex couples start a family.
Couples who are under the age of 35 and in good health should wait a year before talking to a fertility specialist. Young couples should may wait up to twelve months to become pregnant. There are ovulation predictor kits that will help understanding timing more accurately.
In the world of fertility, women who are over the age of 35 are understood to be at an advanced maternal age. This is because the chance of becoming pregnant begins to decrease slowly because women’s egg supply begins to deplete. In this case, if a woman has not conceived within six months, a fertility specialist should be consulted.
Women over 40 who are trying to conceive should make an appointment with a fertility specialist straight away. After 40 a woman’s eggs not only decrease in number but also in quality. At the age of 40 and over, around 50% of a woman’s embryos will contain an abnormal number of chromosomes, and are more likely to need assistance from fertility treatments.
Women who have been diagnosed with a reproductive issue such as PCOS, endometriosis, abnormal fallopian tubes, uterus, or ovaries, or ovulation problems should see a fertility expert as soon as possible. In these cases, waiting six to twelve months may not be productive, because in some cases, such as PCOS, the woman may not be ovulating at all. If this is the case, fertility medications will be necessary. There are a number of options available to women wanting to conceive that have not been available on the past. Consult with a physician if any of these medical conditions have been mentioned before with regards to reproduction issues.
