3 Things You Should Know Before Approaching a Fertility Center

3 Things You Should Know Before Approaching a Fertility Center

If you’re struggling to conceive, you’re not alone by any means. According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 13 percent of couples are currently living with fertility issues. This report goes on to point out an estimated 10 percent of women have difficulties becoming pregnant or carrying fetuses into the twenty-fifth week of pregnancy when their chances of survival outside the womb are improved. If you’re among the many considering turning to a fertility clinic, it’s important to keep these three things in mind before approaching a fertility center.

• Patience is a Virtue

Countless couples spend only a few months trying to conceive before turning to a fertility centre. Once they make the initial appointment and visit this fertility center, they find no actual fertility issues are present, and they simply need to keep trying. Sure enough, a few months down the road, they successfully become proud parents of a healthy, beautiful baby.

Numerous elements can affect a woman’s ability to become pregnant. One example, in particular, would be birth control. Traditional birth control pills, intrauterine devices, and arm implants generally prevent pregnancy by altering a woman’s hormone levels and bringing ovulation to a halt. During the process, the lining of the uterus thins out because of the reduced estrogen production brought about by those birth control methods.

In some cases, restoring standard hormonal levels, menstruation and ovulation only take a few weeks. For others, especially those who’ve been on birth control for several years, this may take several months. Conception isn’t likely to occur until the body reverts to its pre-birth control condition.

If you’re under the age of 35, there’s no real cause for concern until you’ve been off birth control and actively trying to conceive for at least a year. For those 35 or older, experts recommend visiting a fertility specialist after six months of stopping birth control and unsuccessfully attempting to become pregnant.

• Be Prepared in Advance

Reproductive endocrinologists look at a wide range of factors when determining how to proceed with those who are experiencing possible fertility problems. Your general health, as well as that of your partner, will certainly come into play. Obtain copies of past medical records before your first trip to a fertility clinic or have your primary care physician, OB/GYN, and other doctors forward your medical records to the clinic in advance.

Another step you can take at home to be better prepared for the initial visit is to spend a few months tracking your ovulation schedule beforehand, before approaching a fertility center. Numerous fertility, menstrual cycle and ovulation tracking apps are now available for this purpose, and they provide in-depth instructions on their use. Be sure to have your insurance card on hand as well. Though not all policies cover fertility treatments, some cover at least a portion of these types of services.

• It’s Not a One-Step Process

An initial visit to a fertility specialist is only the first step of the process. Reproductive endocrinologists perform numerous tests to determine the reasons a couple is having trouble conceiving. In at least 25 percent of cases, multiple fertility issues are present. Each problem requires a specific treatment approach, and multiple trips to the fertility clinic are often necessary during the testing phase alone.

From there, treatments can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the fertility issues at hand, the age of the woman receiving treatments and other factors. Though assisted reproductive technology has a high success rate, initial treatments aren’t always fruitful. Sometimes, two or more treatments are required before achieving the desired results.

• All Things Considered

Millions of couples are currently struggling with infertility due to a number of issues. Being prepared before approaching a fertility clinic can alleviate some of the stress and worry involved and help get treatments off to a good start. Even so, it may be a drawn-out process. Having said that, success rates are high and continually climbing for fertility treatments, and the end results will be well worth the wait.

Guest Article.