Do You Really Need to See a Fertility Specialist?
Infertility is an extremely common issue. It’s estimated that one in eight U.S. couples experience infertility, and it can affect men and women alike. However, because infertility often doesn’t present visible or obvious symptoms, it can be difficult to know if there’s a problem.
You can boost your fertility by making lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, and reducing your caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol intake.
But how do you know when you just need to make some adjustments, and when it’s time to see a fertility specialist? Here are some leading signs that might mean you should reach out to a professional.
A Year of Unsuccessful Attempts
One or two unsuccessful attempts to conceive does not constitute infertility. Especially if this is your first time trying to get pregnant, it can take many attempts over six months or more to conceive. If you’ve had regular, unprotected intercourse without success for a year and the female partner is under age 35, or you have been trying for six months and the female partner is over age 35, get in touch with a fertility specialist to determine whether you should undergo fertility tests.
For heterosexual couples, both male and female partners may need to consider fertility testing. Despite the misconception that infertility is only or primarily a woman’s issue, studies suggest that about a third of cases can be attributed to male fertility issues.
Two Consecutive Miscarriages
Miscarriages are very common, and are not cause for concern on their own: March of Dimes estimates that up to 50% of all pregnancies result in a miscarriage (though the exact figure is difficult to determine, since many may occur before the woman even knows she’s pregnant).
However, recurrent or repeat miscarriages, which refers to two or more consecutive miscarriages, are much rarer. If you’ve had two or three unexpected losses of pregnancy in a row, get in touch with a fertility specialist.
Women Over Age 35
While the age of fertility loss is different for every woman, fertility typically begins to decline in your 30s. If you are over the age of 35, you might want to speak to your provider about your fertility and lifestyle habits to determine whether you should speak to a specialist.
You should also know that age doesn’t just affect women’s fertility. Around age 40, men’s sperm begins to decrease in quality, making it more difficult to conceive and increasing the risk of pregnancy or childbirth complications.
Get in Touch With Aspire
If you think you may need to see a fertility specialist or want to learn more about male and female infertility, reach out to Aspire Fertility today.
