Some of the common signs which indicate that you should visit a fertility specialist are discussed as follows:
1. You Are in Your Late 30’s or Early 40’s
Living in the age of medical advancement, it's now safe to give birth in your late 30s and even early 40s, but there are a few complications attached. In this age group, women are technically in the high risk-pregnancy category, and the chances of suffering miscarriages are also elevated.
2. You or Your Partner Have a History of STDs
Some of you may also refer to it as sexually transmitted infections. You can get STD through sexual contact. The parasite, bacteria, or virus that causes STD can pass from one person to another through semen, blood, vaginal, and any other bodily fluids. It results in infection or inflammation.
It can affect men through recurrent infections, which damage sperm function, mobility, and sperm count. And, in women, it scars the fallopian tubes, which prevents the sperm and egg from ever meeting. These are symptoms to consult a fertility specialist.
3. You Have a History of More Than Three Miscarriages
A miscarriage does not directly reflect infertility. In general, a miscarriage occurs within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. It can even be due to an inaccurate number of chromosomes in the egg or sperm, for which the fertilized egg failed to develop normally.
Some other causes of miscarriage include anatomic problems, genetic issues, altered hormone levels, cervical issues and infections. Thus, if you have had multiple miscarriages, you should seek a fertility specialist's advice to identify the underlying cause.
4. Your Partner Has Severe Erection Issues
A severe erection issue in your partner is a sign of a neurological problem. Neurological defects in men can lead to semen abnormalities, ejaculatory dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction, causing infertility.
Congenital spinal abnormalities, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and pelvic surgery are some of the major conditions for erection issues. Thus, these serve as a few indicators to consult a fertility specialist who can assist you and your partner in finding a solution.
5. You Have an Irregular Menstrual Cycle
If you have irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or no period, these are often signs of infertility. The best thing you can do here is to consult your gynecologist or visit a fertility specialist.
A 'no period' situation means you are not ovulating, while irregular periods can occur due to wrong hormone signals or an ovulation disorder. On the other hand, very heavy periods occur mainly due to endocrine abnormality or uterine fibroid. Any such prevailing conditions are signs to consult a fertility specialist.
6. You Have Thyroid Conditions
Thyroid issues are a common cause of infertility among women. There is a direct link between hypothyroidism and infertility in women that requires minute observation of a fertility specialist.
An underactive thyroid, sometimes known as hypothyroidism, causes irregular menstrual cycles that further impact ovulation. An underactive thyroid gland interferes with how your ovary releases an egg and impairs fertility. Other causes of hypothyroidism, like autoimmune or pituitary disorders, also impair fertility.
7. You Have Cancer
As a woman, if you have been diagnosed with cancer and are going through the treatment, it will impact your ability to get pregnant. Moreover, your treatment type, medications and age also directly affect your pregnancy.
Therefore, you should see a fertility specialist who will advise you to adopt proactive measures for preserving fertility. In case you have already undergone cancer treatment, also consult a fertility specialist to determine if your fertility was impacted or not.
8. You Had Unprotected Sex for More Than a Year
Furthermore, if you and your partner have been having unprotected sex for more than a year and failing to conceive repeatedly, then you should undergo a fertility evaluation. Your fertility specialist will determine the cause behind this difficulty and advice you accordingly.
Moreover, you should take their advice seriously and commit to the prescribed medication and treatment procedure.
9. Other Chronic Medical Conditions
Apart from the conditions mentioned above, other chronic diseases act as indicators to consult a fertility specialist. Some of them are mentioned below:
- Kidney disease
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Genetic disorder
- Diabetes
Now that you are well aware of when to see a fertility specialist, understand how to choose the right one.