Washington, D.C. — Throughout May, physicians from Shady Grove Fertility will host a variety of free education events for information seekers with topics ranging from infertility basics and knowing when to see a fertility specialist to menstrual cycle warning signs, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and much more. The information sessions offer participants the opportunity to ask questions directly of physician experts in person during the seminars or anonymously online during the webinars.

The seminar ‘What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting,’ hosted by SGF physicians throughout the month in various regions across the Mid-Atlantic, is designed to answer questions, provide guidance about what to expect during the fertility testing and treatment process, reduce anxiety, and arm couples with accurate, reliable information.

“Our goal is help our patients feel more comfortable and confident with their decisions. Having the chance to meet one another at an informal seminar and answer some of those initial questions often gives patients the needed peace of mind to move forward. We’re here to provide guidance at every step of the process,” said reproductive endocrinologist Natalie Stentz, M.D. who sees patients in SGF’s MariettaBuckhead-Piedmont, and Atlanta, GA locations.

“Maybe you’ve been trying on your own for some time and not sure where to turn. Should you see a specialist for a fertility evaluation? The answer is, it depends. Maternal age, health history, lifestyle habits, how long you’ve been having unprotected intercourse without conception, miscarriage history, and much more all affect our ability to conceive. The good news is, there are now treatments available to help nearly every couple become pregnant, and it’s not all about in vitro fertilization (IVF). In fact, nearly 50 percent of the treatments performed at SGF are what we consider low-tech or more basic, and may involve timed intercourse along with medication and/or a simple intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure,” said board certified reproductive endocrinologist Brad Swelstad, M.D. who sees patients in SGF’s Woodbridge and Fair Oaks, VAlocations.

Whether a couple is just suspecting infertility or further along with an already established diagnosis, SGF physicians will provide insight on how reproductive endocrinologists define infertility, common causes of infertility in men and women, four simple tests that help to establish a diagnosis, treatment options, success rates, financial and insurance options, and much more.

“I often remind my patients how much timing matters. In fact, while male factors account for 40 to 50 percent of infertility cases, a female’s age is one of the most important indicators of her likelihood to conceive. Seeking help early provides the best opportunity for a positive outcome, which is having a baby. As women age, so too comes a decline in her fertility and an increase in the likelihood of genetic, chromosomal, or metabolic changes in her eggs. Couples can maximize their chances of achieving a successful pregnancy with the appropriate and timely care of a specialist,” reminds Dr. Stentz.

May Fertility Seminars: What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting
May 1 | Woodbridge, VA | Dr. Brad Swelstad
May 1 | Leesburg, VA | Dr. Naveed Khan
May 7 | Washington, D.C. | Dr. Barbara Osborn
May 8 | Atlanta, GA | Dr. Natalie Stentz
May 8 | Rockville, MD | Dr. Sandy Li
May 14 | Mechanicsburg, PA | Dr. Melissa Esposito
May 18 | Columbia, MD | Dr. Joseph Osheroff
May 22 | Richmond, VA | Dr. Anish Shah
May 22 | Chesterbrook, PA | Dr. Isaac Sasson

May Fertility Webinars
May 15 | Online | In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) | Loretta Trumble, CRNP 
May 21 | Online | Getting Started | Dr. Brianna Schumacher 
May 30 | Online | What Your Menstrual Cycle Says about Your Fertility | Wende Allen, PA-C

May Egg Freezing Seminar 
May 14 | Washington, D.C. | Shana Perman, PA-C 

While all SGF in-person and online events are complimentary, interested parties must register to attend by visiting the Shady Grove Fertility calendar of events.

To view SGF’s library of free, on-demand webinars, E-books, and other education resources on topics such as endometriosis, PCOS, low-tech treatment options, weight and infertility, and much more, visit https://www.shadygrovefertility.com/resources/educational-resources.