When to Seek Care for Fertility Challenges
How Long Should You Wait To Seek Care For Fertility?
As a midwife and women's healthcare specialist for 15+ years, I sit across from patients daily who have been told to wait a least A YEAR before reaching out to their health care provider with concerns about fertility.
Is this WRONG advice? No.
Is it the BEST advice? Definitely NOT.
Deciding to start trying to conceive is an exciting time, filled with enthusiasm and hope!
Sometimes, once you start trying, it can be filled with a lot of questions and emotions. This is why it is a perfect reason to surround yourself with positive, compassionate care from early on in your baby making process.
Surround Yourself With Compassionate Care During Your Fertility Journey!
According the the World Health Organization and the Mayo Clinic, infertility:
“A disease or condition of the reproductive system often diagnosed after a couple has one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse or if the woman suffers from multiple miscarriages. If a woman is over the age of 35, the time of trying to conceive is reduced to 6 months. Infertility can be male or female related.”
I want to believe that organizations (like WHO, Mayo Clinic and ACOG that come up with these statements) are well meaning and are trying to be helpful and provide guidance to already overworked and overbooked health care providers who don't have the time to spend with every couple just getting ready to start their baby making journey.
How Long Should You Wait To Seek Care For Fertility?
In truth, trying for a FULL year without conceiving can be extremely exhausting, emotionally draining and often by the time they are sitting across from me in the exam room, the women is desperate. Seeing this kind of pain made me question why we make patients wait and if their could be a different approach…..
The answer is an enthusiastic YES! There can be a more proactive approach to conception, much much sooner than a YEAR!
This is not only for couples trying to conceive their first baby but their second baby and beyond!
There can be a more proactive approach to fertility!
My goal is to arm couples with sound, scientifically-based, practical advice that will help them conceive without ever needing to experience the stress and despair that I see so frequently in couples that have been trying for a year (or longer!).
Here are just a few of the recommendations that I offer patients who are entering into their baby making journey:
1. Fill your diet with fertility rich foods- they exist!!!!
2. Take a prenatal vitamin and other fertility promoting supplements.
3. Establish yourself with an acupuncturist that specializes in fertility
4. Fertility Yoga- yep, it also exists.
5. 3 S's- Sleep well, de-Stress, have (enough) Sex :-)
These are NOT suggestions emphasized in medical or midwifery schools. These are interventions that are low cost, good for overall health, and backed by an amazing amount of research!
Interested in learning more about optimizing your fertility? Or have you been trying for a while and are looking for advice and support?
I am excited to help support, encourage and provide scientifically backed recommendations for baby making journey!
About The Author
Dana Ramsey is a Certified Nurse Midwife and has spent the past 15 years helping women navigate their gynecology, pregnancy, postpartum and menopausal challenges. Dana is dedicated to helping her patients overcome conditions impacting their ability to conceive and maintain a successful pregnancy.
