QuestionHi joseph, my name is Sana. Me and my husband have been trying to conceive for 1 and half year now but no success. I have been really worried and want to conceive so badly. I consulted with one doctor and did an ultrasound. My follicular count was 3 to 4 in each ovary. My menstural cycle is disturbed as well since 5 to 6 months. Its been usually delayed. This month I havnt got my periods for 20 days. I did two home pregnancy test, both were negative. Then i did blood test, it came negative too and my hcg was 0.01. I need to ask that do i have something to worry about? What do you think I should do next? I need to do something as this is the only thing im thinking about these days. Please help.
Sana.
AnswerHello Sana from Pakistan,
You have a diagnosis of infertility because you have been unable to get pregnant within 1 year (which is the criteria for this diagnosis). You now need to find out the cause for your infertility. The next step is to go see a fertility specialist so that you can undergo a basic infertility evaluation. This will find the problem or problems and then a treatment can be determined to treat the problems found. If you do this, and see the proper doctor, you have a good chance of achieving pregnancy within the next 12 months. If you see the wrong doctor, you may end up wasting a lot of time and money, and get nowhere. A fertility doctor is one that can do ALL levels of fertility evaluation and treatment. This doctor should be able to do both IUI (insemination) and IVF. If the doctor you see does not do these procedures, then he/she is NOT a fertility specialist.
Good Luck,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf and facebook @montereybayivf
