Understanding The Difference Between A Fertility Specialist And OB/Gyn
Motherhood is perhaps the most beautiful feeling that a woman can experience. When you are genuinely trying to have a baby but face fertility issues, it might lead to an emotional roller-coaster. The frustration keeps building, the sooner you see a fertility specialist, the better it is. Some medical help to tackle your fertility issues can give you a ray of hope and assist you while you try to add a new tiny one to your family.
An obstetrician or gynaecologist is generally your first go-to-place for any female reproductive health issues. However, when you are specifically seeking some medical aid to get pregnant, an obstetrician or gynaecologist may not come to your rescue. They need to have some specialised qualification to help patients with fertility issues. It is important to understand the distinction between a fertility specialist and Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, so that you consult the right medical expert for your fertility issues. Fertility specialists are obstetrician or gynaecologists who have undergone specialised training for reproductive endocrinology. They undergo extra training to assist patients who are struggling with fertility issues.
When to see a fertility specialist?
While you have been trying to conceive a baby, but your efforts are unsuccessful, you can reach out to your obstetrician or gynaecologist. They suggested ways to improve your chances of conception, and perform some necessary check-ups to identify where the problem lies. They may also suggest you to keep a check on your ovulation cycle so that you try conception at the right time. But if you experience any of the following issues, you should consult a fertility specialist, because there is a limitation to what an obstetrician or gynaecologist can do.
1. If you have been trying to have a baby for over a year, but the conception did not happen, a fertility specialist will run a series of tests on you to identify the problem and may put you on certain medications.
2. If you have a history of miscarriages, there is a greater possibility that you have a reproductive issue if you have had repeated miscarriages, three or more, consecutively.
3. If you have been diagnosed with fertility issues or inappropriate uterus environment
4. If you are more than 35 years and you wish to conceive a baby. It is important to understand the possible health issues at an age when the natural biological clock starts to slow down.
5. If you or your spouse have conditions which do not favour conception like PCOS, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, undescended testicles, low sperm count or any other medical condition causing infertility.
How can a fertility specialist help?
When natural conception is taking longer, your fertility specialist will also tell you ways about artificial conception like IVF (in-vitro fertilization). For this, they may have to dig a little deeper by running some tests. When the actual problem is diagnosed, the fertility specialist will guide you towards assisted reproduction. Physical examinations such as clinical breast exams or pap smear are conducted on women. Ultrasound and other diagnostic tests are also conducted to get to the accurate results.
When you approach a fertility specialist, the first thing your specialist does is to conduct a natural diagnosis of your problem. Once your fertility issue is identified, your specialist may suggest medications or procedures that may aid in conception of a child. They help you and your partner understand the possible course of treatment. They are your guiding experts who assist you throughout the procedure and are available to clear out any doubts that may arise. They persistently monitor your health if you have undergone any assisted reproduction procedure.
Depending upon how far you can go to have a baby, you must immediately reach out to a fertility specialist. There is so much that they can do, to help you get your little bundle of joy.