by Dr. Deborah Wachs
Patients come to us many different ways. Some are referred from their Ob/Gyns or primary care physicians, some hear about us from their insurance carriers, some have friends who tell them “you HAVE to go see my doctor at RSC,” and some simply find us on their own to see how they can best achieve their dream of having a family.
But sometimes it’s not entirely clear if you need to be seeking the advice of a specialist. So how do you know if it’s time to see the Reproductive Endocrinologist????
If any of these scenarios sound familiar, you should consider seeking the advice of a fertility specialist:
You are 35 or younger and you have not conceived after one year of unprotected intercourse
You are over 35 and you have not conceived after six months of unprotected intercourse
You have irregular periods and can’t tell if you are ovulating each month
You had a pelvic infection, a ruptured appendix, or a previous ectopic pregnancy in the past and you aren’t sure if your fallopian tubes are open
You don’t have a male partner (haven’t met the right one or prefer not to have one ) and plan to use donor sperm to conceive
Your male partner has had a sperm test that showed low count or motility
You’ve been diagnosed with moderate or severe endometriosis and have not been able to conceive
You are in your early- to mid-30s and think that you’d like to wait for a while before having children but want to make sure that you preserve your fertility options
You are 40 years old or older and are concerned that your biological clock is ticking away
You just want to make sure that nothing is wrong with you or your partner so that you can have peace of mind as you begin to try to get pregnant
You have tried 3 or more clomid, injectable, or IUI (insemination) cycles and have not conceived
You’ve been told that your FSH is high and you’re not sure what that means for your chances of having a baby
You or your partner have been diagnosed with cancer and need to have chemotherapy or radiation treatment and you want to make sure that you do everything that you can to have a family some day
You don’t really understand when you are supposed to try to get pregnant each month and wish someone could explain this “fertile window” to you
You have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and don’t know how this will impact your ability to get pregnant
You can always start the conversation about having a family with your Ob/Gyn or primary care physician and even do some of the initial testing or early treatment with him/her. Whenever you feel that you would benefit from a conversation with a fertility specialist, we are always here to help you through the journey.
Deborah Wachs, MD, is a fertility specialist at Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Wachs completed her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California, San Diego. During that time she received extensive clinical training in reproductive surgery, ovulation induction, and in vitro fertilization. She also participated in several federally funded research studies focusing on polycystic ovary syndrome and its pathophysiology. Dr. Wachs is the author of several scientific research papers published in peer-reviewed journals and textbook chapters on this topic.
