Here are a few facts to consider before making your first visit to the fertility specialist:
- One in six couples may confront problems with infertility. That is a fact. Some couples may have no issues having children earlier in life. Then they may face problems later in life or after an illness or accident. Some couples have trouble from the very beginning. The only way to address these problems is to make a visit to the doctor and start looking for potential problems.
- It is important for both partners to participate in the diagnostic and evaluation procedures. Many times, the man in the relationship is reluctant to get through the testing at an infertility doctor. They think it is the woman's problem needs to be fixed. However, a significant number of problems relate to male sperm count and viability.
- Forty percent of infertility problems end up being problems with the female partner. This may involve problems with egg production, egg viability, blockages, or problems with the uterus itself. There are other factors as well that can cause problems with carrying a baby full term. Many of these may be aggravated by matching problems on the male side.
- Up to 40 percent of infertility problems, end up being problems with the male partner. The sperm count may be too low for successful fertilization. There may be a blockage between the testicles and the ejaculate. There may be abnormalities with the sperm itself. There are procedures that can correct many of these problems.
- Twenty percent of infertility problems end up being either a combination of the man and the woman, or unexplainable. Couples can both have issues that affect the ability to get pregnant. However, in a few rare cases, the answer may be no detectable problem that is causing the fertility problems. It can stump even the best infertility doctor.
- Half of couples experiencing infertility can achieve pregnancy with the help of oral medications or minor surgical procedures. These are often the first procedures attempted before anything major goes through. The infertility doctor can often arrange for these on the very first visit.