Pregnancy Prepartion
If you are concerned about
infertility because you have not been able to conceive a child, remember that
conception is a very complex process.
In fact, there is only about a 25% likelihood that an average couple
will conceive in any given month...and this percentage declines as a woman
ages.
Some couples may require more time and careful planning to
achieve their goal of having a child.
Before you and your partner turn
to fertility testing there are some steps you can take to improve your chances
of conceiving.- Keep a calendar of your menstrual cycles. You may
want to use an ovulation predictor kit (which you can buy over the counter at
most pharmacies) and have intercourse during the time of peak ovulation.
- If you are a smoker consider treatment options to assist
you in quitting. Research has shown that cigarette smoking is harmful to the
ovaries and can cause increased depletion of the eggs as well as impair their
ability to produce estrogen.
- If you are overweight, begin a weight loss program.
Obesity can interfere with your body's hormonal function and impede
fertility.
- Limit (or eliminate) alcohol use as this may also affect
fertility.
- Discuss with your doctor the effects of any medications
you may be using. Ask if they might interfere with fertility or pregnancy.
- Begin taking prenatal vitamins. These can be purchased
over the counter or by prescription. The time to begin taking prenatal vitamins
is before you become pregnant.
- Caffeine is controversial, but several studies have shown
that it may increase the risk of miscarriage. (New. England Journal of
Medicine, 343 (25): 839-25, 2000
Timing is important: A woman and her eggs are the same
age
More and more women are having their first child after the age of
35. This time also coincides with the natural decline in fertility potential.
One of the most challenging clinical scenarios is the impact of the aging egg
on pregnancy chances.
Many couples may not be aware that a woman's age
can play such a significant role in her ability to become pregnant. The decline
in fertility potential, or "ovarian reserve", is the natural consequence of the
aging process on human eggs and has little to do with how healthy or fit a
woman may be. As you plan your future, just remember to include this fact as
you plan your family.
Initial infertility evaluations should be
individualized, taking into consideration the medical history of the couple and
the age of the female partner.
We recommend the following general
age-based guidelines for infertility evaluation:- Women less than 35 years of age: Begin after one
year of trying
- Women 35-39: Begin after approximately six months
of adequately timed intercourse or inseminations.
- Women 40 and over: Begin after three months.
These guidelines were developed because we recognize that
female age is one of the most important predictors of subsequent conception.
When female age is a factor, moving more aggressively towards completing the
evaluation and initiating treatment can help to maximize the chances of
pregnancy.
|  | Fertility Specialists of
Dallas
Phone: 214.750.5500
Presbyterian Hospital of
Dallas
8230 Walnut Hill Lane Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75231
Click here for
Directions
Presbyterian Hospital of Plano
6300 W.
Parker Rd
Bldg II, Suite 424
Plano, TX 75093
Click here for
Directions
Texarkana Satellite
1002 Texas Blvd Suite 401
Texarkana, TX 75503
903.793.5500
Click here for Directions |
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