When to Seek Professional Help

Understanding when to seek help is important for your fertility journey. Here are some guidelines to help you decide when it’s time to consult a specialist.

General Guidelines for Couples

• Under 35 Years Old: If you have been trying to conceive for over a year without success, it’s time to seek help.
• Over 35 Years Old: If you have been trying to conceive for six months without success, you should see a specialist.
• Over 40 Years Old: Seek help immediately if you are trying to conceive.

When Women Should Seek a Specialist

Women should consider seeing a fertility specialist if they experience any of the following:

• Irregular Menstrual Cycles: No period for over a month, cycles longer than 38 days, or varying cycle lengths.
• Abnormal Periods: Periods lasting more than a week, heavy bleeding, or spotting between periods.
• Pain: Experiencing pain during menstruation or intercourse.
• Previous Miscarriages: Multiple miscarriages.
• Medical Conditions: Diagnosed with PCOS, thyroid issues, endometriosis, or family history of early menopause.
• Other Symptoms: Changes in sex drive, preparing for cancer treatment, or diagnosed with vaginismus.

When Men Should Seek a Specialist

Men should consider seeing a fertility specialist if they experience any of the following:

• Fertility Concerns: Past or current use of testosterone supplements, or partner experiencing infertility.
• Sexual Health Issues: Difficulty ejaculating, erectile dysfunction, or changes in sex drive.
• Medical Conditions: Preparing for cancer treatment, undescended testes, hormonal problems, varicocele, genetic issues, previous testicular injury, or use of steroids.
• Low Sperm Quality: Low sperm count, poor sperm movement (motility), or abnormal sperm shape (morphology).
• Other Health Issues: Frequent urinary tract infections or history of STDs.

Primary Symptoms of Infertility

Infertility affects one out of six couples. You are not alone. Early consultation with a specialist can help identify and address the causes of infertility, increasing your chances of conception.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

• Comprehensive Review: We will review your medical, surgical, family, and gynecological history.
• Partner’s Health: We will also review your partner’s medical and surgical history.
• Testing: Based on the initial consultation, we may recommend tests to determine the underlying cause of infertility.

Common Concerns Addressed

• Menstrual Cycle Issues: Irregular periods, spotting, or heavy bleeding.
• Age Factors: Increased risk of infertility and miscarriages for women over 35.
• Stress and Infertility: Stress can contribute to infertility but is often linked with other factors.
• Ovulation Problems: Normal cycles without ovulation, or failed ovulation detection with kits.
• Miscarriages: Investigating genetic, uterine, age-related, and hormonal causes.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Impact on fertility due to past STDs and fallopian tube damage.
• Ovarian Health: History of ovarian surgery or endometriosis affecting egg count.
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Lack of ovulation and associated infertility.
• Male Factors: Issues such as low sperm count and the impact of testosterone supplements.

If you have any of these concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help you on your fertility journey.