Ob/Gyns and healthcare providers

When you’ve been trying to get pregnant for long enough and decide to seek medical help for infertility, your search generally begins with your primary healthcare provider or obstetrician/gynecologist (Ob/Gyn). Ob/Gyns are trained in diagnosing and treating general disorders of the female reproductive system, and in caring for women during and after pregnancy. Most Ob/Gyns are not board certified infertility specialists, but some do offer limited infertility services.

how ob/gyns address infertility

Ob/Gyns who provide limited infertility services will typically start by doing a full medical exam for the woman and recommending a semen analysis for the man. He or she will review both partners’ medical histories, and will order a battery of standard infertility tests.

For women, tests generally include testing for blood hormone levels and ovulatory function. The Ob/Gyn may do a post-coital test, transvaginal ultrasound, hysterosalpingogram (HSG) and a laparoscopy. For men, standard testing includes a physical exam, hormone tests and semen analyses.

An Ob/Gyn may recommend some initial treatments for infertility, ranging from gaining or losing some weight to prescribing fertility drugs, such as clomiphene citrate.

when to see a fertility specialist

If preliminary tests and treatments done by your Ob/Gyn have not resolved your infertility problem, it may feel like a huge setback. But it may be easier to think of it as time to take your next step towards your goal of getting pregnant. Consulting a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) is the next natural step, and is highly recommended. And keep in mind that if the woman is 35 years or older, there is even less time to waste and a specialist should be consulted sooner.

An RE is an Ob/Gyn who has had additional training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. REs generally complete a two- to three-year fellowship program, and are certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Such specialization is important in the constantly evolving field of infertility, where physicians must stay abreast of new tests, drugs and treatment options.

When looking for a RE, try to find one practising at a comprehensive fertility clinic that offers assisted reproductive technology. The clinic you choose should be a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), which holds its members accountable to strict guidelines for data collecting and reporting, resulting in information that is accurate and understandable.

You can refer to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) for more information about finding a certified RE near you and to compare U.S. fertility clinic success rates. The American Infertility Association (AIA) can also help you find a referral, or try our Clinic Locator tool to search for a clinic near you by clinic name, state or zip code.