An infertility specialist specializes in female reproductive health. As such, they have undertaken the usual education and training of medical doctors.
What Kinds of Services Does an Infertility Specialist Offer?
An infertility specialist offers a variety of services to help someone have a child. They can include the following:
• Counseling
• Egg/sperm donation
• In vitro fertilization
• Gestational carrier
• Intrauterine insemination
• Frozen embryo transfer
What is Intrauterine Insemination?
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a fertility treatment in which the infertility specialist will use a catheter to insert sperm in the patient’s uterus. It is most commonly used if a man is infertile. It may also be used if the woman has conditions affecting her cervix that would make it difficult for the sperm to reach her uterus.
When Should Somebody Consult an Infertility Specialist?
The answer depends partly on the woman’s age. For example, a healthy woman who is under 35 should call an infertility specialist if she and her partner have been trying to have a child for over a year. A healthy woman who is between 35 and 39 should call the professional after six months of trying, while a woman who is over 40 should call the infertility specialist after three months.
Couples in which one partner has known health issues should consult the specialist as soon as they start trying to have a child.
Examples of such issues in women include the following:
• History of difficult pregnancies, miscarriages, or stillbirths
• Irregular periods
• Surgery in the pelvic or abdominal area
• History of STIs
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Thyroid problems
Men should consult an infertility specialist if they have any of the following:
• History of STIs
• History of infections like mumps
• Surgery or injury to the genitals or groin
• Problems with ejaculation
• Erectile dysfunction
• Swelling or lump in the testicles
To learn more about infertility treatments, simply schedule an appointment with an infertility specialist at Aurora OB-GYN in San Antonio. We would be more than happy to sit down with you and discuss your case. Contact us today to book your initial consultation!