When A Couple Should See A Fertility Specialist

Making the decision to have a child is one of the most important choices that any couple will ever make together. After all, bringing a child into the world means being able to support the child both financially and emotionally. Some couples who are ready to have a child, however, are not able to for a variety of different reasons.

At some point, the couple will need to consider whether or not they should consult with a fertility specialist. However, become a fertility specialist comes into the picture, it will be important for the couple to evaluate all of the possible ways that their lifestyle factors might affect their ability to conceive.

Theoretically, if a couple is having unprotected sex on a regular basis, they should be able to conceive within a year of trying. Some couples do end up conceiving, but also face several miscarriages. If this is something that the couple is experiencing, then it is best to see a fertility specialist right away.

How could lifestyle habits affect a couple's ability to conceive? First of all, it is important to consider the possibility fertility problems that a man could have. Some men, because of stress issues, have low sperm counts. The extreme stress that the man is feeling affects his hormonal system, which in turn hinders his sexual performance.

Stress can also be a fact when it comes to the ability of a woman to conceive. Women who are constantly stressed out will find that their menstrual cycles will be irregular, and at times might not menstruate at all. So, in order to conceive naturally, it is best that a stressed out couple first work on becoming more relaxed. It goes without saying, but drugs and alcohol can also lead to lots of problems with conceiving. For example, men who are under the influence of either of these substances can experience erectile dysfunction.

If a couple is reasonably relaxed, and does not indulge in drugs or alcohol, then after a year of trying the couple should seek out a fertility specialist, so that he or she can determine what it causing the conception problems. First of all, the specialist will ask for a sperm sample from the male. This way, the sperm can be analyzed and checked for irregularities, or a low sperm count.

Then, the female will be asked a series of questions about her menstrual cycle, as well as any miscarriages that she might have had. Once both parties have had thorough examinations, it is then time to discuss the options. The available options will all have to do with the specific conception issues that the couple might have.

One of the most common ways to help couples with conception problems is to do in vitro fertilization. However, if the woman has had miscarriages in the past, then surrogacy is also an option, as is adoption. One thing that couples should not do is worry. Medical technology really has come a long way, and with patience, the couple will be able to start their family.

What to Expect at an Egg Donor Clinic

Some women just know that they are not the kind of people who wish to have children. They are healthy and in careers, and they would rather focus on that then on children. However, some women become intrigued with the idea of donating their eggs to couples who are unable to have their own children.

So, these women will need to seek out an egg donor clinic in order to get the process started. There are many different ways that a woman might come in contact with an egg donor clinic. One of those ways is through a local newspaper, or even through a national woman's magazine, since clinics have a tendency to advertise through those mediums. They can also ask their doctor to refer them to one that they might know of.

The egg donor clinic will have any prospective donor fill out an application form. On this application form there will be questions asking about mental, physical, and sexual health (such as whether she has regular periods, etc.). They will also have a doctor from the clinic examine the woman.

If the woman is deemed a good candidate, then an appointment will be made for the woman to talk with a representative from the egg donor clinic. The representative will have the woman sign various legal documents relinquishing any rights to the eggs after they have been donated. The clinic will pay for the minor surgery that is required to extract the eggs, and the woman will be paid for her donation.

Important Resources

American Society for Reproductive Medicine 

The site of this medical society has an extensive section for patients with frequently asked questions, fact sheets and booklets addressing many fertility issues.

Fertility Counseling and Gamete Cryopreservation Program (FCGCP) at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center 

Information on fertility issues facing cancer survivors and the sperm banking program at the University of Michigan.

fertileHOPE 

The site of a non-profit organization dedicated to helping cancer patients faced with infertility. Includes detailed information on fertility risks, fertility preservation and financial assistance.

Listservs

CANCER-FERTILITY is the e-mail discussion group focusing on fertility issues associated with Cancer, hosted by the Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR).