When trying to select infertility clinics, it is essential that you find a doctor you trust and respect. The health issues you are facing may already be overwhelming you, and you have to find the right doctor to address those issues. When dealing with infertility, one place many people start is with a reproductive endocrinologist.
Reproductive Endocrinologist Defined
A reproductive endocrinologist is an obstetrics and gynecology physician who has a surgical subspecialty. This doctor addresses hormonal issues that impact reproductive medicine. This physician is typically selected to help correct hormonal issues that are causing infertility. In addition to infertility issues, a reproductive endocrinologist may also treat other hormonal dysfunctions. A reproductive endocrinologist sees both male and female patients.
Infertility Issues a Reproductive Endocrinologist Treats
When you are struggling to conceive, your general practitioner or an OB/GYN may recommend that you seek the advice of a reproductive endocrinologist. A reproductive endocrinologist can perform a variety of tests to help determine if a hormonal issue is causing the infertility. Through a host of tests, a reproductive endocrinologist can help diagnose and treat many hormone issues that cause infertility. Many of the most common causes of infertility in both men and women are hormone related. The most common infertility problem in women, polycystic ovary syndrome, is caused by the ovaries producing too much testosterone. This elevation can prevent ovulation.
How to Find a Reproductive Endocrinologist
When struggling with infertility, couples need a physician that they trust. One place to start is to ask your gynecologist or general practitioner for a referral to a reproductive endocrinologist that they recommend. Another option is to contact your country’s licensing board. You want to ensure that the physician you are seeing is a licensed practitioner. You may also want to ask if any friends or family have had success with a reproductive endocrinologist in the area. Furthermore, when selecting a reproductive endocrinologist, pay attention to success rates. These success rates help prove that your reproductive endocrinologist is accomplished at her job.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
During the initial visit with your reproductive endocrinologist, a range of test may be recommend to provide you with a full hormonal and health workup. Not everything will be conducted at your first visit but a plan should be established to schedule all necessary tests. This helps your doctor gather all the necessary information to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. A hormone analysis, which is a blood test, will help give your reproductive endocrinologist clues into the health of your ovaries and uterus.
Male patients may undergo a semen analysis to count and access the morphology of the sperm. A female may also need to undergo a vaginal ultrasound to visually assess the ovaries and uterus. This test can help diagnose PCOS, twisting of the ovaries, infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, and uterine fibroids.
