Possible obstacles and necessary examinations
It can be frustrating when friends and relatives repeatedly ask you when you plan to start a family. It can be worse when everyone around you seems to be getting pregnant without even trying. But you are not alone. In accordance with Resolve, According to the National Infertility Association, infertility affects 1 in 8 couples in the United States - 12.5 percent. In this article, we describe the possible obstacles that prospective parents who want to achieve their dream of starting a family may face.
The Alexandros Traianos Center for Reproductive Medicine and Fetal Medicine has all the International Certifications, the necessary experience and the appropriate scientific collaborators, so do not hesitate to make an appointment if you have questions or need more information.
When your efforts to get pregnant are unsuccessful and you start to feel hopeless and lost, you know that there are many treatments that can help you achieve your dream of starting a family. Ongoing developments in assisted reproductive technologies, many of which take place at our Center, provide fertility specialists with the research, tools and protocols they need to help prospective parents overcome their barriers so they can make plans for to start their own family.
Most of the time, couples struggling to achieve a pregnancy can ignore an underlying condition, in one or both partners, that can prevent conception. That is why it is important for each partner to be evaluated by a breeding specialist as soon as possible.
If you are a woman up to the age of 35 and have had unprotected sex with your partner for more than a year and you are not pregnant, it is time for both of you to see a fertility specialist. Women over 35 and their partners should see a specialist after six months of testing or earlier, as they are more likely to have age-related fertility problems.
Aging and Fertility
The primary reason women struggle to conceive as they grow older is that the quality and quantity of a woman's eggs, or "ovarian reserve," decreases over time. A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have in her life, between 1 and 2 million, but when she reaches adolescence, that number drops to about 300,000 and, of these, only about 300-400 will ovulate during its reproductive life .
Age is also a factor for men, as the number of sperm decreases over time. However, men can have problems with sperm count, shape and motility at a young age. In fact, fertility issues affect men as often as women, so it is important for both partners to consult a Reproductive Medicine specialist if they have trouble conceiving.
Identification of medical barriers in pregnancy
While some cases of infertility are unexplained, most barriers to pregnancy can be identified with some basic tests. They may sound simple, but a sperm test for a man and a blood test and vaginal ultrasound for a woman - often the first tests a fertility doctor has to ask for - return a huge amount of information about a patient.
Blood tests
Blood tests not only reveal the type of blood, but also the hormone levels in a woman's body and how they relate to her fertility. The two most important hormones that doctors control are Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) .
Sperm analysis
Sperm analysis is a simple microscopic examination of a man's sperm to determine information about a man's sperm.
Many men are ashamed of this test, but it can be done by collecting sperm in the office or at home if it is more comfortable. Doctors check for sperm count, motility and morphology, along with other factors.
Low sperm counts can often be detected in either low or extremely high testosterone levels, certain medications, a blocked duct, or medical conditions that force sperm to return to the bladder.
As many ailments can be treated, men with concerns may want to talk to one of our Center's urologists, who specialize in treating a wide range of male-related conditions.
Physical examination
For a woman, a physical exam usually involves a routine vaginal ultrasound which often takes place on the first visit. This allows a basic evaluation of the uterus and ovaries that can detect cysts or fibroids.
It is also important to check the trumpets so that one can be ordered hysterosalpingogram (HSG) by the Reproductive Medicine specialist to see the fallopian tubes, as any blockage would explain why the sperm cannot reach the egg during a natural effort to get pregnant. HSG can be performed during the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle.
A physical examination for a man is similar to an annual diagnostic test, but with a more detailed discussion of the medical history so that the doctor can check for fertility-related abnormalities.
Some conditions can be resolved with medication or minor procedures.
However, for patients with chronic or untreated conditions, doctors usually recommend In Vitro Fertilization treatment (IVF), as IVF can bypass many medical problems. The close supervision and scientifically supported protocols offered by IVF treatment can give patients a sustainable, safe and successful route to achieve family building goals when efforts prove difficult.
* The content on this blog is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health care providers with questions you may have about medical conditions.
