Ask These Questions at Your Infertility Consultation 

Getting pregnant seems to come so easily for some couples. But even though you have a 25% chance of conceiving each month, becoming pregnant can be incredibly complicated for many women.

Female infertility is typically diagnosed when you’re unable to get pregnant after having consistently unprotected sex for one year if you’re under the age of 35, or six months if you’re over the age of 35.

Infertility can be a terrifying word. But with so many infertility services and treatments available, know that struggling with infertility doesn’t mean that you’ll never be able to get pregnant. 

At Women’s Specialty Care in Lake Forest and Grayslake, Illinois, our team led by Karen Mass, MD, FACOG, understands that the world of infertility can feel frustrating, so we want to give you a list of important questions to ask when you come and see us for an infertility evaluation.

What’s causing my infertility?

Infertility can have a wide range of causes, and how it’s addressed depends on the root cause. You may be having difficulty getting pregnant due to more than one factor. So it’s important to first discuss what’s inhibiting you from conceiving. 

We can test for common infertility causes such as:

• Uterine issues such as polyps or fibroids
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Irregular ovulation 
• Low egg count and quality, known as diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)

Other health conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), endometriosis, untreated infections, thyroid function issues, or autoimmune diseases can all impact your ability to get pregnant. We also examine any medications you’re taking, since some prescription drugs can cause infertility. 

What are my treatment options?

To boost your fertility, we need to treat the underlying cause of your infertility. 

If you’re having trouble conceiving due to polyps or fibroids, surgically removing them should effectively treat your infertility and increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Untreated infections of your reproductive organs can be overcome with antibiotics. 

Infertility caused by underlying health conditions such as thyroid function issues, endometriosis, or autoimmune disease can be treated by managing the health issue at fault. Irregular ovulation can often be improved by taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

However, if POI or DOR are keeping you from becoming pregnant, intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) might provide better chances for conceiving. 

Can I do anything to improve my chances of conceiving? 

Most causes of infertility can’t be prevented; however, you can boost your chances of getting pregnant by supplementing fertility treatment with a healthy lifestyle. This includes doing all of the following: 

• Eating a nutritious diet full of fruits and vegetables 
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy weight 
• Getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night 
• Reducing alcohol consumption 
• Quitting smoking

If you struggle with irregular ovulation, you may also want to consider a menstrual cycle tracking app to help you monitor signs of ovulation like cervical mucus or basal body temperature. Using home ovulation kits can also help detect your most fertile days.

To schedule an infertility evaluation with our expert and compassionate team, simply call either office location, or book online today.