For many couples, trying to get pregnant is one of the most exciting journeys of their lives. You daydream about what your nursery will look like, spend hours on baby name websites, and find yourselves obsessing over things like what kind of changing table to buy. It’s one of those moments in life when you can actually feel a new chapter beginning.
For some couples, however, something more serious starts to overshadow the excitement. For some couples, many couples actually, it is a struggle to become pregnant.
The first thing to know is that many encounter unexpected challenges on their way to starting a family. Difficulty conceiving or carrying a baby to term is a common problem. In the United States alone, 7.3 million women have gone through some form of fertility treatment.
But when should you seek fertility help? And what should you do to maximize your chances of getting pregnant? Some women delay seeking fertility help because they don’t know the answers to these tricky questions.
The importance of seeking fertility help early cannot be underestimated. Here are just a few reasons why seeking early fertility help will be beneficial:
1. Your Age
“I tell my patients all the time, maternal age is the single most important indicator of fertility potential. As you get older, getting pregnant becomes more difficult. As a result, the amount of time you should try conceiving on your own before seeking a fertility consultation depends on your age,” advises Shady Grove Fertility board certified reproductive endocrinologist, Jason G. Bromer, M.D. of our Frederick, MD office.
If you’re under 35 years of age and have a regular period, it’s reasonable to try for a year of unprotected intercourse before you seek fertility help.
- If you’re between 35 and 39, you should only try for 6 months before reaching out for help.
- If you’re 40 years or older of age, a fertility center should be part of your planning from the start. You shouldn’t wait to schedule a consultation.
“Age is even more critical for women who have known issues that could impact fertility. If you experience irregular cycles, have painful periods or have any known gynecological issues that might affect fertility, you should pursue a fertility evaluation right away,” Dr. Bromer adds.
“No matter your age, if you’ve been trying to conceive on your own for a year or more but haven’t been successful, you have less than a 2 percent chance of success each month if you don’t reach out for support,” reminds Dr. Bromer.
Bottom line: Trying longer isn’t the answer. Getting a simple fertility workup is best.
“By tailoring your family planning to the unique aspects of your age, you can minimize the possibility of surprises and delays,” says Dr. Bromer.
2. Your Emotional Wellbeing
A 2016 survey of over 1,000 SGF patients revealed that 65 percent said they wish they had seen a fertility specialist sooner.
To bring that home, most of us feel as if we have a degree of control over the important aspects of our lives. Couples dealing with infertility often feel a loss of control when it comes to growing their family. And this absence can take its emotional toll.
“The desire to regain control is one of the reasons why nearly 50 percent of the couples who come to us for support don’t wait for an OB/GYN referral before doing so,” explains Dr. Bromer. (Most insurance plans and self-pay do not require a referral in order to see a fertility specialist at SGF.)
And while nothing can entirely eliminate the emotional sting associated with infertility, many couples find some relief in getting answers. They’re able to identify underlying problems possibly preventing conception and can get on a path to parenthood. After all, knowledge is power, and a fertility specialist can provide it.
“I often find myself reminding my patients, you will experience uncertainty when dealing with infertility. But by developing a deeper knowledge of what’s going on in your body sooner, you can reduce this uncertainty and the potential emotional strain of a longer journey toward pregnancy,” says Dr. Bromer.
3. Decreased Cost of Conception
Another benefit of early intervention is reduced cost. Once you discover you may face challenges becoming pregnant, the sooner you explore your options the less expensive the process is likely to be.
“For women who are older, it may be to bypass some of the less invasive—and often less expensive—treatments and be more aggressive in their attempts at conception,” says Dr. Bromer.
“Similarly, couples who are already quite emotionally taxed by their attempts at conception often elect to move on to the options that, while more expensive, have a higher success rate,” Bromer adds.
Both of these factors result in a higher cost of conception.
If you’re hesitating to explore seeking fertility help out of worry over cost, remember that delaying likely will result in a higher cost of care, and Shady Grove Fertility has many affordable solutions to make treatment more accessible, in addition to 30+ insurance plans in our network.
4. Improved Overall Health
The inability to become pregnant can result from an untreated—and, commonly, undiagnosed—medical condition. While some conditions only impact fertility, others will have an effect on other facets of your life as well.
“Thyroid disease, for example, commonly makes itself known as we begin our efforts in understanding a woman’s fertility struggles. Generally presenting in women in their late 20s and early 30s, thyroid disease’s side effects can include fatigue, muscle weakness, and weight gain.
By treating this disease, which we would have discovered sooner had the individual not delayed treatment, we can reduce or even eliminate these side effects. At the same time, we can enhance a woman’s ability to become pregnant,” explains Dr. Bromer.
5. Greater Likelihood of Successful Fertility Preservation
Getting older doesn’t necessarily have to mean giving up your dreams of parenthood anymore. Now, women can opt to preserve their fertility through egg freezing.
“If you delay seeking fertility help, you don’t just miss your window for conception, you also miss your window to potentially preserve your fertility for later by freezing your eggs. So even if you’re not ready to become a parent right now, you can still benefit from seeking fertility help by freezing your eggs. Doing so means the likelihood of achieving the goal of parenthood will become greater if and when you decide you’re ready,” Dr. Bromer advises.
Medical contribution by Jason G. Bromer, M.D. of Shady Grove Fertility’s Frederick, MD office.
Early intervention offers the best chances of success, so let us help you get started. To learn more about our simple fertility evaluation or to schedule an appointment, please call our New Patient Center and one of our New Patient Liaisons will happily assist you. Please call 1-877-971-7755 or click to complete this simple form.
