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When to Start Fertility Treatment

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It’s not uncommon for couples to decide they’re ready to have a baby only to find that pregnancy doesn’t always automatically happen. If you’re among the many people who are struggling, you may feel alone with this problem, but you’re not. Difficulty conceiving affects as many as 10 to 15 percent of couples who want to have a baby. So, how do you know when to start fertility treatment?

Couples who are concerned about their ability to conceive don’t have to struggle alone. The team at the Center for Reproductive Health is available to answer questions and guide couples to find their best options for attaining a successful pregnancy.

How Long Should It Take to Get Pregnant?

While every couple is different, many couples are able to conceive within five to six months of having unprotected sex. Couples that have been trying for a year or more without success may have a problem with infertility. The older you are, the more likely you may struggle with getting pregnant. If you’re older than 35 years of age, it’s a good idea to consult fertility experts if your efforts to conceive aren’t successful within six months. If you’re older than 40 years of age, you may want to talk to a fertility specialist within three months.

Age isn’t the only factor that may affect your ability to conceive. People that have had two or more miscarriages should consider working with fertility experts. If you have conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or irregular periods, they may affect your ability to get pregnant. It’s a good idea to talk to a fertility expert to find out how any of these or other health conditions could be affecting you.

What to Expect During a Fertility Consultation

Infertility has many possible causes. There could be problems with the man, the woman, or both, and many infertile couples have more than one factor affecting their ability to conceive. At a fertility consultation, you discuss both partners’ medical histories with a specialist. You may be asked questions about how long you’ve been trying, whether you’ve been tracking ovulation and whether you have unhealthy habits that could affect your ability to have a healthy pregnancy such as smoking or substance use.

Diagnostic testing and a complete physical exam are usually recommended to try to pinpoint factors affecting your ability to get pregnant. Once these factors are known, a customized treatment plan can be created. You’ll then have the opportunity to discuss all the available options and ask questions about what to expect.

There are more options for treating infertility than ever before and if you’ve been frustrated at your inability to get pregnant for quite a while, it may be time to consider starting fertility treatments. When you work with the experts at the Center for Reproductive Health, you’ll find a team dedicated to providing compassionate and effective care. If you’re ready to find out more about fertility treatments, schedule a consultation today.

See Dr. Mor’s Publications

Eliran Mor, MD

Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA
Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA Doctor Mor received his medical degree from Tel Aviv University-Sackler School of Medicine in Israel. He completed a four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Subsequently, Dr. Mor completed a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility […]
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FAQ

What does a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist do?

Reproductive endocrinology and Infertility is a sub-specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to managing medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the female reproductive tract, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility (REI) specialists undergo additional years of training to provide fertility treatments using assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization.

Reproductive endocrinologists receive board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

When should I see an REI specialist?

In general, patients should consider consulting with an REI specialist after one year of trying unsuccessfully to achieve pregnancy. The chance of conceiving every month is around 20%, therefore after a full year of trying approximately 15% of couples will still not have achieved a pregnancy.

However, if a woman is over the age of 35 it would be reasonable to see a fertility specialist earlier, typically after 6 months of trying.

Other candidates to seek earlier treatment are women who have irregular menses, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), women who have had 2 or more miscarriages, or problems with the fallopian tubes (prior ectopic pregnancy).

What are the reasons we are having trouble conceiving?

Approximately 1/3 of the time cause for infertility is a female factor, 1/3 of the time a male factor, and the remaining 1/3 a couples’ factor.

At CCRH, we emphasize the importance of establishing a correct diagnosis. Both partners undergo a comprehensive evaluation including a medical history and physical exam.

Furthremore, the woman’s ovarian reserve is assessed with a pelvic ultrasound and a hormonal profile. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) will confirm fallopian tube patency and the uterine cavity is free of intracavitary lesions. A semen analysis is also obtained to evaluate for concentration, motility, and morphology of the sperm.

Additional work up is then individualized to direct the best possible treatment option for each couple.

What is IVF? What is the process like?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the process that involves fertilization of an egg outside of a woman’s body.

The process starts with fertility drugs prescribed to help stimulate egg development. In your natural cycle, your body is only able to grow one dominant egg, but with stimulation medication we can recruit multiple eggs to continue to grow. After about 8-10 days of stimulation, the eggs are surgically retrieved and then fertilized with sperm in a specialized laboratory. Fertilized eggs are then cultured under a strictly controlled environment within specialized incubators in the IVF laboratory for 3-5 days while they develop as embryos. Finally, embryos (or an embryo) are transferred into the uterine cavity for implantation.

Should I have IVF?

Before deciding if IVF is the right choice, it’s important to sit down with an REI specialist to discuss available treatment options. For some people, other methods such as fertility drugs, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be the best first choice treatment. At CCRH, we believe each individual couple is unique and not everyone needs IVF.

Is the IVF procedure painful?

While not painful, the fertility medications may some side effects including headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, and bloating. The injection sites may also bruise.

Will IVF guarantee a baby?

Unfortunately, no. Many people think once they start IVF it’s a matter of time that they will be pregnant and have a baby. But according to national statistics per the Society of Assisted Reproduction (SART), on average 40% of assisted reproduction cycles achieve live births in women under age 35. The chances of success then continue to decrease with advancing age.

At CCRH, we employ only evidence-based interventions to ensure patient safety and optimal outcome. While we cannot guarantee a baby, we guarantee that you will receive the best, most advanced, personalized care to help you maximize your chance of a baby.

What is the success rate for IVF?

The average IVF success rate (success measured in live birth rate) using one’s own eggs begins to drop around age 35 and then rapidly after age 40. This is due to the decline in egg quantity and egg quality as a woman ages.

Our clinic’s success rate consistently beats the national average year after year.

Do insurance plans cover infertility treatment? How much does IVF cost?

Individual insurance plans often do not have any coverage for infertility treatments. If you have a group plan, you can call members services to see if they have coverage for infertility (including consultation/workup and IVF).

After your consultation with our REI specialist, one of our dedicated account managers with sit with you to go over the cost of treatment.

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