How Common is Infertility?
Infertility is a more common medical problem than most people realize. Recent statistics estimate that approximately 1 in 6 couples have issues relating to infertility. This number may actually be underestimating the true incidence since many couples never end up seeking care. According to statistics maintained by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) account for slightly more than 1% of total U.S. births. There were 148,055 ART cycles reported in 2008 and 61,426 infants born as a result of ART cycles in 2008. Only births of babies that were conceived via in-vitro fertilization procedures are reflected in these statistics. Many couples are able to successfully conceive with simpler and much less expensive treatment than in-vitro fertilization. Seeking care early is of utmost importance so that appropriate interventions and treatment can be done in a timely fashion. Age of the female partner is one of the most important factors governing the chances of successful conception. Additionally, the emotional toll of prolonged infertility can keep couples from getting the care they need.
When Should I Seek Help?
Current recommendations are that if the female partner is under age 35 and the couple has been attempting conception at least for a year without success, then they should consider undergoing an evaluation to diagnose factors that can contribute to infertility. It would be best to seek an evaluation after 6 months of trying if the age of the female partner is greater than 35 yrs. If there are known causes of infertility present such as blocked tubes or lack of ovulation or poor sperm etc, then evaluation should be sought as soon as possible. Evaluation can be initiated either with one’s own ObGyn doctor or primary care physician, or go directly to see a reproductive endocrinologist. There have been studies showing that time to pregnancy is shortest under the care of a specialist. Once pregnant, the patient is usually followed by the reproductive endocrinologist until about 8-10 weeks gestation and then referred back to their ObGyn for continued obstetric care.
Exceptional Pregnancy Rates
In summary, infertility is a very common problem and many causes of infertility are amenable to simple treatment options. Chances of successful conception are high for many couples. If in-vitro fertilization is needed, current laboratory advances have led to exceptional pregnancy rates compared to before. Seeking care in a timely fashion is crucial. It is extremely important for patients obtain all the information they may need about their diagnosis and treatment options, so as to make well informed decisions on how they want to proceed to build their family.
-Dr. Mehta, Frisco Infertility of Plano
