As many as 1 in 10 couples are infertile, defined as failure to achieve pregnancy after one year of properly timed intercourse. There are many reasons for infertility, and once a couple has been trying for more than 12 months (or 6 months if the female is older than 35), a visit to an infertility clinic may be in order.
Identifying Fertility Problems
An obstetrician or gynaecologist can do basic screening procedures to determine whether or not female hormones are at appropriate levels and whether a woman is ovulating. Beyond these basic tests, more advanced procedures are usually conducted by reproductive endocrinologists or fertility specialists who work at infertility clinics. These can include outpatient surgery to investigate the female reproductive tract, tests to ensure that the fallopian tubes are open and other diagnostic procedures.
What to Expect at an Infertility Clinic
In addition to sophisticated diagnostics, infertility clinics can provide a number of services to help couples achieve pregnancy. These procedures range from minimally invasive, such as artificial insemination, where sperm is simply injected into the appropriate place in the uterus to the very invasive, like in vitro fertilization, in which eggs are harvested, fertilized with sperm outside of the body and implanted directly into the uterus. At your first visit to the infertility clinic, expect to provide a lengthy medical history, focusing on reproductive issues, past history of sexually transmitted disease and some family history to determine if your infertility might be genetic. Additionally, be prepared by bringing the results of any tests that have already been conducted and also any temperature charts or other cycle documentation you may have. This will help the professionals at the infertility clinic to provide the most expert advice they can.
What to Look for In an Infertility Clinic
When choosing an infertility clinic it is most important that you and your partner feel comfortable with the professionals who will be treating you – after all you will be spending a lot of your time (and hard-earned money) seeking treatment from them.
Some questions to consider asking during your initial visit to the infertility clinic include the success rate of various procedures, the types of insurance that are accepted and also how many patients are typically being treated at any given period of time. It is important that you not feel like a number while you are going through difficult fertility treatments.
In addition to taking the clinic’s word for it, you can also find out more information about infertility clinics on the website for the Center for Disease Control. Statistics regarding the number and type of procedures conducted, as well as their success rates are available for nearly all infertility clinics in the country.
Pic by emilianohorcada.
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