Should we see a fertility specialist? This is among the top 3 most frequently asked questions we get at babyMed!

The good news is that if you are just starting out and are healthy with no medical problems (endometriosis, fibroids, etc…), assuming that you have regular menstrual cycles, and also that your partner has no issues, then you should try to get pregnant for one full year (or 6 months if you are 35 or over) before seeing a fertility specialist.

It’s also important to educate yourself on how to get pregnant: how to identify if and when you ovulate along with the You can also improve your pregnancy chances by having sex regularly during the 5-6 fertile days.

If you reach a year of trying with no success, a fertility specialist will begin testing both you and your partner to possibly diagnose infertility, identify a cause, and devise a treatment plan.

It’s worth noting that treatment depends on the cause of fertility problems. Despite popular belief, the first treatment for infertility is not always in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other options include pills, artificial insemination, or surgery are available.

Do you know circumstances might warrant seeing a specialist sooner? Here are some key points:

• As a woman reaches 40 and beyond her fertility is so low that there is a less than 10% chance of getting pregnant and having a baby.
• Having a history of infertility makes it more difficult to get pregnant.
• A history of fibroids decreases the chance of getting pregnant without additional help.
• A history of recurrent miscarriages decreases the chance of getting pregnant without additional help.

Dr. Amos Grunebaum, who created this quiz recommends seeing your OB-GYN for a periconception visit as soon as you start trying to get pregnant before there are problems.

Answer the following questions and find out if you should see a specialist regarding your fertility!