Since one in six couples who are trying for a baby need to see a fertility specialist, fertility treatments are more commonplace that you might think. As a general rule, if you are under 35 years of age and have been having regular unprotected intercourse for 12 months without a pregnancy, then this is considered an appropriate time to seek the advice of a fertility specialist.
Patients are also advised to see a specialist if they are over 35 and have been trying to conceive for 6 months, or if they are over 40 and have been trying to conceive for 3 months. Both partners should be tested in order to establish why there are problems with conception.
For females it is important to gather a little information about your menstrual cycle, such as how long it lasts, how regular it is, and when the next one is due to start, before you see a fertility specialist. Our testing on the female partner usually involves an ultrasound scan (to check the ovarian reserve and basic pathology) whilst the main male test is a semen analysis.
For your initial consultation, it’s worth being as prepared as possible. Bring along any medical history notes or menstruation cycle details. It is also a good idea to note down your concerns and questions to help you make the most of your appointment. The more knowledge that you gain from your consultation, the easier it will be for you to make your decision about how you wish to move forward.
We hold Fertility Open Mornings or evenings, every few weeks. These are a great idea if you would like to visit our clinic, before booking an appointment. They start with a presentation or private meeting, usually with our medical director, to discuss typical infertility issues and how we can help. Then, once you have a better idea how we may be able to help, our nursing or patient services staff will be give you information documents detailing how the treatments proceed and their timings and costs. Finally, if you wish, we are happy to show you round the clinic so that you can see where you would be treated.
If you just don’t know where to start or simply want to meet us first, please come along.
