When to consult a fertility specialist?

IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic has recommended that couples consult a fertility specialist after a year of unsuccessful pregnancy attempts to avoid wasting more time, especially as the fertility rate in females drops dramatically after the age of 35.

Women who are 35 years of age or older are advised to go to counseling six months after the attempt.

“There are some questions that can be asked with a fertility expert to better understand the situation,” said Dr. Francisco Ruiz, medical director of IVI Middle East Clinic in Muscat. “These questions can serve as evidence and help make the most of the appointment. the first".

Here are a couple of questions that couples need to know and some short answers:

1. After a general assessment and preliminary assessment of potential risks and problems, what other relevant tests should my husband and I have to help diagnose and treat?
Dr. Ruiz says that after reviewing the history and discussing the health status of both spouses, the doctor will decide if additional tests are necessary to determine reproductive health.

If your doctor recommends a full gynecological examination, you should undergo it. For example, a wife should undergo an ultrasound (sonar) test, which may show the need to take medication to enhance her pregnancy chances, along with recommendations for lifestyle adjustments as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to raise fertility.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout the entire medical process not only increases the chances of conception, but also supports child health.

The doctor will discuss with the wife appropriate treatment for fertility, necessary medications, and other additional medical tests required during the treatment.

2. What treatments are recommended on the first visit?
Treatment depends on the couple's medical history and current data, so each case has its own treatment plan. An appropriate treatment for a person can be intrauterine insemination (IUI), in which sperm are prepared in the laboratory, and then placed directly into a woman's uterus to increase sperm access to the egg and fertilize it.

In other cases, the solution is to use IVF, a technique in which the fetus is synthesized by fertilizing the egg with sperm in the laboratory.

If IVF is chosen, couples may also be advised to undergo PGS before attempting embryo transfer to increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy. In general, the doctor's recommendation will depend on the patient's health status and test results.

3. Do we need surgical procedures?
Depending on the results of the couple's assessment, fertility doctors may recommend surgery to further investigate the cause of infertility or to repair the root of the problem. For example, your doctor may recommend surgery for your wife due to complications from fibroids, obstruction of the fallopian tubes, removal of benign tumors, thickening of the endometrium, and other things that hinder pregnancy.

In contrast, the husband may need surgery to treat the condition, which hinders his ability to conceive.

How long will it take to treat fertility?
Each case is different, and it is not possible to specify a specific duration and circulate it to all couples; in some cases it may take only one cycle for the occurrence of pregnancy, and in other cases may require several attempts before reaching a successful pregnancy.

5. Will the treatment be successful?
The field of reproductive medicine is one of the areas that have achieved great developments recently, and research and studies continue to inform us every day on the new way to achieve the dream of parenting.

Although the chances of conception through assisted reproductive techniques do not achieve 100% success rates, there are many reasons to be optimistic, given the rapid advances in reproductive medicine, which have given us the opportunity to dramatically improve treatments and outcomes. .

It is also important to inquire about the costs of necessary tests and remedial procedures. When couples seeking pregnancy get all the necessary information, it helps them to make the right decision.