When to Go to the Doctor

If you’ve been trying for a baby for a while, with no results, there will probably come a point when you wonder if it’s time to call for reinforcements. Here’s what you need to know about seeking medical help, and how to find an infertility specialist that’s best for you.

Is It Time to Call the Doc?

Impatient couples trying for their first baby might be anxiously considering calling their GP a few weeks after having unprotected sex without conception. Such hurriedness is expected from those looking forward to starting a family, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect nature’s plan. According to Harvard Medical School, young, healthy couples should try for pregnancy for a full twelve months before considering medical help.

There are other red flags and factors that may mean you should seek medical help before waiting a full year, however. A past history of sexually transmitted diseases may have affected you or your partner’s fertility. Thyroid problems, pelvic inflammatory disease, an undescended testicle, or exposure to known environmental toxins are all reasons to call your doctor for a fertility screening.

Women who are older than 35, or who show signs of hormonal problems or issues with ovulation, should also consult their doctor. Irregular periods may point to hormonal problems. If your home fertility monitor or basal body temperature show that you haven’t been ovulating regularly, you should definitely medical help.

Who Should I See?

The best place to start is your general practitioner or other primary healthcare provider. They can look over your medical history, discuss any potential fertility issues they might suspect, and help you find the appropriate specialist. General practitioners can often run diagnostic tests for common causes of infertility and do initial infertility screenings with you and your partner.

If you need further evaluation, there are several medical specialists who might be of help to you. A reproductive endocrinologist is an OB/GYN specialist who has special certification and training in reproductive issues. For the male partner, an andrologist, a special type of urologist focusing in men’s reproductive issues, can be of help.

A reproductive surgeon is another type of specialist, who can potentially help resolve fertility issues that require surgery; they are generally either an OB/GYN or urologist with additional surgical training.

To determine which specialist is best for you and your partner, seek advice from your general healthcare provider, and consider contacting medical boards or medical schools for fertility specialists who consult in your area.

Medical Boards and Medical Societies:

• The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Sources:

Conditions that affect fertility. (2011) Harvard Medical School.