Planning Your Fertility Journey for the New Year
For the vast majority of people, the coming of a new year signifies an opportunity to hit the reset button and forge a new path toward their goals. In most cases, these New Year’s resolutions end up being forgotten or abandoned by the time the doldrums of February roll in. However, sometimes, our goals for the new year are too important to become nothing more than well-intentioned wishes. Your fertility journey is one such goal.
In the upcoming year, you can improve your chances of turning your family-building resolutions into a reality by mapping out a strategy, making a plan, and keeping yourself organized. Here are our tips for getting (or keeping) your fertility journey going in 2021.
Beginning Fertility Care
Before you take the first step in your fertility journey, you need to know what your starting point is. To establish where you are in terms of fertility, you and/or your partner should make an appointment with a specialist and have your fertility evaluated. For men, this means having a semen analysis done. For women, this could mean undergoing a wide range of diagnostic tests, including:
- Blood tests
- Pap smear
- Basal body temperature test
- Ultrasound
Once your specialist and you have a clear understanding of your fertility, you can work together to come up with a treatment plan that works for you.
Getting Everything Together
There are a lot of moving parts and details that go into fertility care. Keeping track of everything and staying organized will help you manage your stress levels and maintain your motivation. Some ideas for staying organized include:
- Having all of your important paperwork (insurance, estimates, etc.) organized in a single folder
- Having a specific notebook dedicated to recording any questions you think of
- Keeping thorough documentation of your body, including menstruation and temperature
- Having a dedicated folder on your computer or phone for any online research you do
Now is also a good time for you to think about whether or not you plan on talking about your fertility journey with other people and, if so, who you will share it with. Having a game plan about whom you’re going to tell what will help you avoid any conversations that you don’t want to have.
Getting a New Perspective
For individuals and couples who are already on their fertility journey but haven’t yet conceived, your fertility goals may need a change in direction. It might be helpful for you and/or your partner to take a step back and reevaluate your overall family planning goals. For some people, this could mean taking a break from fertility treatments or simply talking to your specialist about a possible new treatment angle. You could also consider seeking out support from a group or counselor who can help you rethink your family-building plans.
No matter where you are in your fertility journey, Aspire Fertility can help. For more information, contact us today.
