Getting pregnant and having a family is a dream of many and most people are able to realize this dream. Unfortunately, getting pregnant and carrying a baby to term is not always as simple as we thought it would be. It can be frustrating month after month not to become pregnant or to have miscarriage after miscarriage. Many doctors urge couples to keep trying, but try as we might it just doesnt seem to happen for some women.

It can take as long as 12 months for perfectly healthy and fertile couples to become pregnant. As frustrating as it may be, your doctor will usually not start fertility tests or refer you to a fertility specialist until at least a year has passed and some will wait a bit longer, still. When 12 months have passed, most doctors will begin testing to see if the woman is ovulating, if her eggs are viable, and if she has cervical mucus that is conducive to pregnancy. These issues may have been discussed before and the doctor may have recommended that the woman begin tracking her basal temperature to determine if she is ovulating each month. If all of these tests com back normal the doctor will likely examine the uterus through ultrasound to be sure that there are not any abnormalities that will prevent pregnancy. In addition to this the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and cervix may be examined as well.

Luckily, there are a lot of different treatments that have been developed to help a woman become pregnant if she has any issues preventing her from becoming pregnant. Sometimes the woman simply needs to change her diet or take some supplements to help with cervical mucus. Other times drugs can be taken to help a woman ovulate more regularly. With so many options there is hope for a couple that has had a hard time getting pregnant on their own.

If all appears to be well with the woman the male will undergo testing for sperm count and also to determine the health of the sperm. Changing the diet and taking some medications can help with sperm count and motility which may allow the couple to become pregnant soon after the changes have been made. If low sperm count or motility is the issue doctors will often consider an artificial insemination where the sperm and the egg are implanted in the uterus after fertilization has taken place.

As you can see, you will probably need to try to get pregnant on your own for several months or more before you truly get your fertility assessed. If you are one of the couples that cannot seem to get pregnant within the time set forth by your doctor there is still a lot of hope. Fertility issues are very common but they do not have to keep you from being a parent, you may need just need to be a bit more patient than most!

Posted in Trying to Get Pregnant

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