Is It Time to See a Fertility Specialist?

by FertilityFertility SpecialistInfertility

The first two or three “negatives” on the home pregnancy test are disappointing but not earth-shattering. By the 6th, 9th, 15th – it can start to feel hopeless.

But is it hopeless? Or do you just need to be more patient? When is it time to keep trying, and when is it time to seek help from a fertility specialist? 

Signs You May Be Facing an Infertility Diagnosis

Infertility factors are more common than you think. The current data tells us that about 12% – or one in eight couples – will struggle to get pregnant. The brunt of infertility diagnoses are shared equally between men and women (called multiple factor infertility), so do make sure that the two of you are making equal efforts to promote fertility health, and both of you should be tested if you’re not getting pregnant within a reasonable time frame.

You’re timing it correctly, and things still aren’t “working”

People mistakenly believe you have to time conception with ovulation. While you do have to ovulate to conceive, waiting until you ovulate means you’re waiting too long because the egg only “lives” for about 12- to 24-hours. The sperm, however, live much longer.

Read, Timing Matters: How to Increase Your Odds of Conception, to make sure you’re “doing it right.”

You’ve been trying for 12-months or more

The reality is that age definitely matters when it comes to both quality and quantity of eggs, so after age 38, time is of the essence, particularly if there’s an unknown-to-you infertility factor in the mix.

  • If you’re 35-years or younger, and you’ve been trying to get pregnant for 12 consecutive months (or longer), it’s time to seek fertility assistance. Odds are, something is requiring specialized attention.
  • If you’re 36- to 40 years old, you should seek help after six consecutive months of trying.
  • If you’re 40-years or older, give yourself three- or four months and then seek help more immediately.

You have a known infertility factor

Conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, or fibroid tumors are leading causes of female infertility. The caveat is that they aren’t an infertility diagnosis on their own because plenty of women with these conditions get pregnant without assistance. However, suppose you have a diagnosis known to cause infertility. In that case, your doctor will probably want to refer you to a fertility specialist sooner rather than later if you aren’t getting pregnant on your own.

You’ve been pregnant before…but now it’s not working

One of the best things about getting pregnant quickly the first time around is that you have a sense of assurance that you don’t have an infertility problem. Unfortunately, secondary infertility (the inability to get pregnant when you’ve already had a baby) is twice as common as primary infertility – partially the result of age and partly the result of other factors.

If you got pregnant fairly quickly the first time around but are struggling this time – it’s worth checking in with your doctor.

You’ve miscarried for the 3rd (or more) time

One or two miscarriages aren’t that uncommon (but are devastating, just the same). However, three or more miscarriages – particularly in succession – are a sign that something diagnosable is the cause. This could be an anatomical abnormality, or it could be the sign you’re a carrier for a chromosomal or genetic birth defect. Identifying the cause of the miscarriages will help you get pregnant – and stay pregnant – via testing, treatment, and/or an assisted fertility treatment.

Mt. Naomi Women’s Health is here to promote your fertility health and support you through healthy conception, pregnancy, labor, and delivery. If we think an infertility factor is blocking you from getting pregnant, and we aren’t able to treat it, we’ll refer you to the best fertility specialists in the area – and then look forward to providing exceptional prenatal care once you conceive.

conception schedule

Timing Matters – How to Increase Your Odds of Conception

by ConceptionFertilityInfertilityOvulation

conception scheduleQuestion: What’s the best time to have sex if you want to get pregnant?

If you’re like most women, you probably answered, “When you’re ovulating….” This is sort of true – however, having sex for the several days leading up to anticipated ovulation is even better. Here’s why:

Ovulation & Fertility – Open That Narrow Window as Wide As Possible

Ovulation is the point in your menstrual cycle when an egg is fully mature and is released into the fallopian tube. This magical moment occurs at different times for every woman. The average menstrual cycle lasts anywhere from 28 to 32 days. This span of time is counted from the first day of one menstrual cycle to the first day of the next. Typically, women ovulate anywhere between day 11 and 21 of their cycle.

To narrow that timing down, it’s always a good idea to track your menstrual cycle each and every time. In the old days, we told women to monitor their waking body temperature using a basal thermometer (which measures body temperature in small increments). An elevation in body temp can signal ovulation. However, these days, we say get online and download an ovulation and fertility tracking app, like Glow, which will begin predicting your most fertile windows based on the information you enter regarding your periods, temperature, and cervical conditions.

Once you have a handle on your cycle, you can begin timing sexual intercourse accordingly.

Increase Chances of Conception By Having Sex BEFORE You Ovulate

Here’s the thing: sperm can live anywhere from two to five days inside your body after you have intercourse. Your mature and freshly released egg(s) only live for about 12 to 24 hours. Thus, the more sperm in place – ready to race to the egg – the better chances you have of getting pregnant.

If you want to conceive naturally, your best bet is to track your menstrual cycle for several months so you can get a better idea of which day you will ovulate. Then, time your sexual encounters such that they occur about five days before the egg will be released and then a few times until you’re sure you’ve already ovulated.

Typically, fertility specialists will recommend that the male half of the equation only ejaculate once, every other day, during this period to increase sperm count and motility. Frequent sex means less sperm available in the semen, so having intercourse every other day – rather than as many times as you possibly can – may increase your odds.

Other things that can increase your odds of conception include:

  • Eat well. The healthier your body, the more willing it is to be pregnant – so eating a healthy, well-rounded diet is always a good idea. Increasing studies have also linked common pesticides and household chemicals with infertility, so we recommend eating a diet as organic and pesticide/hormone-free as you can and minimizing packaged, canned, and processed foods.
  • Exercise regularly. Optimally, you should be exercising for about 30-minutes a day, at least three to four times per week. Do keep in mind that over-exercising can decrease fertility rates. If you are an athlete or observe a more rigorous exercise routine, take it back to a moderate level while you’re trying to conceive and throughout your pregnancy.
  • Schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN. If you’re ready to get pregnant, it’s important to observe your annual exam schedule to ensure that your reproductive organs are healthy and address any issues or symptoms that may indicate a fertility problem.

Contact Women’s Health Associates for more information on conception and pregnancy and cultivate a relationship with a team of doctors and midwives eager to help you achieve optimal health and well-being.

The post Timing Matters – How to Increase Your Odds of Conception appeared first on Women’s Health Associates | Kansas City Women’s Health Providers.

woman with fertility issues

A Quick Guide to Fertility Treatment Options

by Artificial InseminationDonor EggsFertilityFertility MedicationFertility TreatmentIn Vitro FertilizationInfertilityIVFPregnancyReproductive SurgerySperm DonationSurrogate

woman with fertility issuesTrying to get pregnant and having trouble conceiving can leave you feeling left out. Seeing women with baby bumps, cars with “Baby On Board” signs, and pregnancy announcements can be upsetting when you’re struggling with your own fertility.

But you’re not alone. According to the CDC, as many as 12% of all couples have infertility issues that prevent them from getting pregnant.

If you are concerned that infertility may be an issue for you and your partner, schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN to share your concerns and discuss your options. They may recommend the use of infertility treatments if you:
– Have been trying to conceive for more than 12 months
– Are over the age of 35
– Have an existing condition, like endometriosis or PCOS, that is known to interfere with fertility.

Infertility treatments come in a wide range of forms, from oral medications to hormone injections that increase your chance of ovulation to in vitro fertilization (IVF).  Your OB/GYN can refer you to a fertility specialist to help determine which treatment option is best for you.

7 Common Fertility Treatment Options

Here is a list of seven common fertility treatment options.

1. Fertility Medications

The majority of fertility medications are designed to enhance your body’s ability to release mature eggs naturally. In most cases, this will mean releasing more than one egg, which increases your chances of multiple births. If they do not work, you may be referred to a fertility specialist for further evaluation and recommendations.

2. Artificial Insemination (AI) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Also known as “artificial insemination,” this method means that technicians inject sperm directly into the uterus to make sure sperm get closer to where they need to go. IUI is often done in conjunction with fertility medications.

3. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

With IVF, your eggs are retrieved after taking fertility medication, and then they are fertilized by your partner, or donor, sperm to create viable embryos. The viable embryos are then implanted into your uterus at a specific point in your menstrual cycle to increase the embryo’s chances of implantation and result in pregnancy.

4. Natural Cycle IVF

Natural cycle IVF is in vitro fertilization without hormone injections.  Your natural cycle will be monitored, and when you’re ready to ovulate, a single egg is retrieved and fertilized and is then transferred to your uterus.  You may want to consider this option if you would like to avoid hormones and rule out the risk of multiples.

5. Donor Eggs

Donor eggs are ideal for women with zero to very low ovarian reserves, whose eggs test positive for compromised DNA (which increases the chances of miscarriages or babies being born with congenital defects), or for older women whose chances of IVF success are compromised by age. If you are over the age of 35 and use a younger woman’s eggs regardless of your age, you benefit from the same success rate as women who undergo IVF in the egg donor’s age bracket.

6. Egg Freezing

Egg freezing is a process by which 10-20 of a woman’s eggs are retrieved using a procedure similar to IVF.  The eggs are then frozen and stored for later use.  The eggs are thawed, fertilized, and implanted in your uterus when you’re ready to get pregnant.  This option can be beneficial if you want to wait to have a baby or you have other health issues such as a family history of endometriosis, early menopause, or ovarian cysts.

7. Surrogate or Gestational Carriers

If you’ve tried many treatment options or have a physical impairment that prohibits pregnancy, you may opt to use a surrogate or gestational carrier. Surrogate carriers are typically used for women who do not have eggs of their own and/or cannot carry a baby full-term for whatever reason. The surrogate serves as the egg donor and is impregnated via IUI or IVF. Then, she carries the baby for you. Gestational carriers agree to donate their womb via IVF, using a separate sperm and egg.

If you are concerned you may require fertility treatments to help you have a baby, schedule a consultation with Women’s Health Associates.

The post A Quick Guide to Fertility Treatment Options appeared first on Women’s Health Associates | Kansas City Women’s Health Providers.

Couple experiencing infertility

When Should I Worry About Infertility?

by EndometriosisFertilityGynecologyInfertilityPCOSPelvic Inflammatory DiseasePeriodPregnancyWellness

Couple experiencing infertilityTrying to get pregnant can be one of the most exciting times in a couple’s life. But when the ‘–’ sign on the pregnancy test repeats month, after month, after month the excitement can quickly morph into worry, concern, frustration and even depression. But, before you go labeling yourself “infertile”, there are a few things you need to know.

Conceiving is a complex process and – usually – it all revolves around timing and egg/sperm viability. Contrary to what pop culture and the media tells you, conception typically takes about six months to a year for most healthy couples.

The Facts About Fertility: When Do You Know You Have a Problem?

Most doctors will not begin looking into fertility issues unless a couple has tried to get pregnant for 12-months or more without success. Even timing intercourse with ovulation is not an automatic recipe for success. You and your partners bodies are very aware of any genetic mutations in the egg and/or sperm, and will either prevent conception from occurring, or will eliminate the joined egg and sperm. This often occurs before you would ever know you were pregnant. If you are 35 years or older, you will want to speak with your doctor if you have tried to conceive for six or more months. Age matters and, in this case, the sooner any potential infertility issues are addressed, the better.

Here are some of the signs that you may have a fertility problem:

  1. You’ve been timing intercourse without results.

Timing your intercourse to coincide with ovulation will typically result in a successful pregnancy within 12 months. To do this, you need to understand your menstrual cycle and start tracking it. This is something that has been made easy by tracking apps. The average menstrual cycle is about 28-days, but they can range from 21 to 35 days. Ovulation typically occurs between days 11 and 16. Because everyone is different, tracking your cycle helps you find the right window for your body. While an egg is only available for fertilization for about 24-hours, sperm can live for several days. Because of this, we advise clients to have sex every other day for the days leading up to your estimated ovulation day (Days 8, 10, 12, 14).  If you’ve been timing intercourse for more than a year without any success (6 months if you’re 35 or older), it’s time to have a chat with your OB/GYN for a more thorough fertility workup and to discuss potential solutions.

  1. You have irregular periods.

Since ovulation is directly related to your menstrual cycle, irregular periods are a sign that something might be abnormal. If you notice abnormal cycles, talk to your doctor. It may simply be that you have a much shorter or longer cycle than most, but knowing that can help you plan for ovulation. However, you may also have endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), both of which are common causes of infertility. A more thorough pelvic exam and diagnostic approach can be used to see the potential cause. Infertility is spread pretty evenly between men and women (30% men, 30% women and the rest of the cases are shared or remain a mystery) so your partner may want to consider having their sperm analyzed as well.

  1. You’ve already been diagnosed with PCOS, Endometriosis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, etc.

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS, endometriosis or other anatomical or physiological conditions linked to infertility, your doctor may want to follow your path to conception more closely. They may want to introduce fertility options earlier than normal to give you additional assistance.

  1. You have a history of miscarriages.

Have you miscarried in the past, or had more than one miscarriage? This information is important to disclose to your doctor. If you’ve miscarried before and are having difficulties conceiving now, your doctor may recommend fertility testing sooner than “normal”. Recurrent miscarriages (three or more in a row) are typically a red flag that something else is amiss and your doctor will refer you to a fertility specialist if they are unable to diagnose the problem via traditional diagnostic procedures.

  1. Your job places you in contact with toxins or contaminants.

If you work with radiation or with substances known to have an effect on female or male infertility, you may need to speak with your doctor about more serious protective measures. Research continues to illuminate and expose the regular, everyday chemicals and toxins linked to infertility, so minimizing your exposure to these substances is important.

In most cases, the first step in the fertility journey is oral fertility medications, such as Clomid, which stimulate ovulation. Depending on your situation, Women’s Health Associates may recommend trying Clomid with timed intercourse. In others, we may recommend Clomid in partnership with intrauterine insemination (also called artificial insemination) to increase your odds. If oral fertility medications are ineffective, we are happy to refer you to one of several reputable fertility specialists here in the Kansas City area.

Above all, remember that you are not alone. Talking to your doctors openly and honestly is especially important. We are an all-female OB/GYN office and we will work closely with you along your fertility journey. Contact us if you need a referral or have any questions.

The post When Should I Worry About Infertility? appeared first on Women’s Health Associates | Kansas City Women’s Health Providers.