Should I Get Fertility Tested?

Trying to get pregnant can be stressful, especially when weeks turn into months, and every flip of the calendar feels like another failure. While patients who come to the Viera Fertility Clinic often want to get pregnant as quickly as possible, the truth is that even if there is nothing serious preventing pregnancy, most young couples don’t get pregnant immediately when they decide to have a baby.

Did you know . . .

The average time it takes young couples – those 37 years of age and younger – to conceive is between four and six months.

About 85-95 percent get pregnant within 18 months from the time they start trying.

The odds of conceiving naturally slowly declines with age until there is just a 2-4 percent chance of achieving pregnancy by the time a woman’s biological age hits 42.

Why Can’t You Get Pregnant?
Many things affect fertility – age, overall health, previous surgeries and family history of endometriosis, miscarriage and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are common reasons people can’t get pregnant naturally. Diet, exercise, traumatic injuries and stress may also play a role in how long it takes to conceive. And, some chronic medical conditions, including chronic liver or kidney disease (CKD), may impair fertility because they affect pituitary gland functions.

This isn’t a complete list by any means, but you get the idea, getting pregnant isn’t as easy as it may seem, even when all your friends are showing off a growing baby bump and decorating the nursery.

When Should You Get Fertility Tested?
If you’re taking maintenance medication, have a family medical history that includes any of the above conditions, or had/have cancer, you may want to get fertility testing done before or soon after you start trying to have a baby to improve your chances of conceiving and protect the growing baby.

For everyone else, here are a few guidelines.

#1 As a rule of thumb, we tell couples who are generally healthy and younger than 35 years old, to try not to worry until they have been trying for at least a year, six months for people 35 and older. The Viera Fertility Clinic staff in Melbourne, FL understands that is easier said than done, but remember that stress won’t elevate your chances of getting pregnant, and may delay conception.

#2 If either partner has or had an STD, or is over- or underweight, consult a board-certified gynecologist or a fertility specialist before you start trying to get pregnant. A comprehensive medical exam may identify underlying reasons for painful periods, irregular cycles, and sporadic ovulation interfering with fertility and weight management.

#3 Remember that both men and women face reproductive health challenges. Seeking tests and treatments is appropriate for both partners.

While there is a heavy focus on what goes wrong in the ovulation, fertilization and egg implantation stages in a woman’s body, roughly one in five men have reproductive health problems.

The most common male infertility issues are:

Low sperm count

Poor sperm quality

Problems with sperm transportation

Infections

Hormone imbalance/pituitary gland dysfunction

Drug abuse, including anabolic steroid misuse

Sperm antibodies, from known causes like a vasectomy or injury, and unknown causes. It should be noted that while sperm antibodies are found in about 6 percent of infertile males, the presence of sperm antibodies does not always reduce fertility.

Fertility testing helps millions of couples overcome barriers to achieving successful pregnancies each year. While some reproductive health problems are more challenging than others, Dr. Chamoun has years of experience testing and treating infertile couples who long for a child of their own. If you are having trouble getting pregnant, or are concerned about medical conditions that may reduce fertility, call the Viera Fertility Clinic to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive exam. While reviewing test results with you, Dr. Chamoun and his helpful staff will explain how medications and assisted reproductive technology have helped thousands of patients just like you finally achieve their dreams of parenthood.