|
Finding An Infertility Specialist
From The National Women's Health Information Center
Experts generally advise a couple try to conceive on their own for at least one year before seeking help. But if home ovulation tests or your basal body temperature indicate you're not ovulating, or you or your partner have any medical conditions that impair your fertility, such as irregular periods, a history of sexually transmitted infections, cancer treatment, exposure to environmental toxins, an undescended testicle, or maternal age 35 or over — consider seeing a fertility specialist without delaying one year.
A good place to start is with your own family practitioner or gynecologist and or for men, your urologist. They will encourage both partners to be evaluated for common causes of infertility and may arrange initial testing and intervention. Alternatively, they may recommend a referral to an infertility specialist, a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology or a urologist whose subspeciality is treatment of male infertility. There are three types of specialists to consider, depending on your specific type of infertility problem. Both you and your partner will need evaluation because infertility may be due to a male factor, a female factor or some combination.
For female hormonal disorders, look for a reproductive endocrinologist who is board certified in reproductive endocrinology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This certification means that the doctor has had additional years of training beyond the standard OB/GYN residency; has passed rigorous exams; and demonstrated competency in treating reproductive disorders.
If either you or your partner has a fertility problem that may require surgery, consider a reproductive surgeon, who is either an OB/GYN or urologist with specialized training in repairing anatomical disorders that impair reproduction. These could include scarring from pelvic infection or endometriosis, and varicoceles or other male anatomical problems.
A third type of specialist in the field is an andrologist, who may be a specially trained urologist who specializes in disorders of male reproductive functioning.
To find the right specialist for you:
- Start by discussing your situation with your primary health care professional. He or she may provide you with one or more specialists to consider.
- Contact the local medical society, medical schools and university medical centers for a list of fertility specialists in your area.
After you've found potential specialists, contact their offices, and inquire about their credentials, facilities and success rates.
|
