You’ve just gotten an infertility diagnosis from your doctor, and you probably have a wealth of questions. What does it mean? What can you do? What’s next? What kind of infertility treatments are available? Discover answers here.
Here, we’ll discuss what to expect following your diagnosis. First, we’ll define infertility as being unable to achieve pregnancy after one year if a woman is under 35 years of age, and after six months if a woman is over 35 years of age. Women who can get pregnant but are unable to stay pregnant may also be infertile.
DON’T PANIC!
Being diagnosed as infertile does not definitively mean that you will never have children. It only means that it can be more difficult or timely for you to do so. It’s important to keep in mind that human beings are the most inefficient mammals when it comes to reproduction. In any given month, a perfectly healthy couple (good eggs and sperm, a healthy uterus and open fallopian tubes) only has a 15-20% chance of conceiving.
But don’t give up hope!
INFERTILITY TREATMENTS
Many women don’t want to wait it out, especially older women. Whether you’re 35 or older, or if you’re simply ready to start exploring your options for infertility treatments sooner than later, there are many treatment options to choose from, ranging from basic to advanced ones. Basic treatments include:
- Timed intercourse
- Ovulation induction
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
More advanced fertility options include:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- A frozen embryo transfer (FET)
- Genetic testing (PGT)
The causes of infertility vary widely, so it’s important to consult a fertility specialist in order to narrow down which infertility treatments may be best for your situation.
BE KIND TO YOURSELF!
It’s an emotionally taxing experience to struggle with pregnancy. There is nothing that can make you feel more alone, exhausted, frustrated, and all-around stressed out than trying to conceive without success. It is a disappointment that can’t be described unless you have experienced it. It’s normal to feel anxious during this trying time.
WHAT HELPS ALONG THE WAY?
Here are some coping mechanisms to help you through:
- Journaling
- Read inspiring success stories
- Take turns carrying the burden with your partner
- Talk about it. Seek support from those you trust.
- Feel your feelings – you’re allowed to be frustrated and disappointed during the lows of trying to conceive. Let yourself be sad, and then pick yourself back up.
- Focus on what you do have – like a spouse or family member who is willing to stand by you during this hardship.
- Believe in the “impossible.”
KINDBODY IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!
Pregnancy isn’t always the journey you expected. Sometimes it takes longer than you’d hoped to get pregnant, especially if age or physical issues are factors. It is never too early to get a reproductive check-up. You should be empowered to ask questions and get answers sooner rather than later. In other words, there’s nothing wrong with getting checked out no matter where you are in the process of trying to conceive.
At Kindbody, our mission is to help our patients find their way to fertility health and treatment with the highest chance of success by providing them with innovative, scientific, cutting-edge treatment options along with an unparalleled patient experience.
Fertility health, infertility treatments, and starting with a new medical practice all lead to many questions. We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get most frequently. Hopefully, these will help set your mind at ease. If you still have questions before you are ready to schedule an appointment or come in for your first appointment, just let us know. We are here to support you every step of the way!
If you still have questions, or if you’re ready to start getting some answers, schedule your consultation today!
