There are many women who have trouble getting pregnant. If you are trying hard to get pregnant, but continue to see no results, you may feel anxious. Many of you may be wondering if you should undergo infertility treatment.
When your fertility activities are not going well, it is important to consult with a medical institution. However, if you don’t know the best time to start treatment, it’s hard to decide if you should go to the hospital in the first place.
In this article, we will explain in detail the timing of starting infertility treatment. If you are worried that your infertility is not going well and that you may be infertile, please refer to this article.
The Basic Guideline is One Year
First of all, the definition of infertility is when a healthy man or woman is unable to get pregnant after a certain period of time without using contraception. It is difficult to say exactly how long this period of time is, as it is affected by the age of the couple.
However, as a general guideline, the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the World Health Organization (WHO) defines infertility as a person who has been infertile for one year, and testing and treatment are recommended.
In addition, if the couple is older, they are encouraged to see a doctor at an earlier stage. Couples who have been trying for more than a year and are still unable to get pregnant should consider seeing a medical institution.
Sometimes it is better to start infertility treatment even after less than a year.
As mentioned earlier, if the couple is older, it is recommended to see a doctor at an earlier age than the basic guidelines. In fact, in addition to age, there are other cases where men and women are each urged to start treatment earlier. This has to do with “risk factors for infertility”.
If any of the following apply to you, you may want to consider seeing a doctor even if you have been trying for less than a year. In particular, if you have risk factors and are over the age of 35, or if you do not have risk factors but are over the age of 40, it is recommended that you see a doctor within the first 6 months of infertility.
Risk factors for Women
– Abnormal menstruation
If the interval between menstrual periods is more than 39 days, or sometimes not more than 90 days, or if the interval is extremely short, such as less than 24 days, it is possible that you are not ovulating. The same is true if the menstrual flow is extremely low or the period is as short as two days.
If the menstrual flow is heavy or lasts for more than 8 days, the inner vagina of the uterus may be deformed. If you have had an abortion or miscarriage in the past, and your menstrual flow and duration are abnormal, you may have adhesions in the inner vagina of the uterus.
These patients are considered to be at high risk of infertility and are advised to see a doctor as soon as possible. If you are experiencing painful menstruation or diarrhea, you may be suffering from endometriosis, which is thought to increase the risk of infertility.
– Sexually transmitted diseases and pelvic peritonitis
If you have ever had a sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, or pelvic peritonitis, your risk of infertility due to the fallopian tubes is increased. Those who have developed peritonitis or intestinal obstruction after undergoing abdominal surgery should also be cautious.
– Uterine fibroids and endometriosis
If you have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids or endometriosis in the past during a physical examination, an early medical examination is recommended. In particular, if you have endometriosis and have a chocolate cyst of the ovary, you may find that your eggs are aging faster than your age.
Risk factors for Men
– Childhood history
Men who have undergone hernia or cryptorchidism surgery as children may have blocked sperm-carrying tubes or decreased sperm volume. In addition, if you have undergone treatment for cancer or other diseases, or if you have had a high fever or orchitis after the mumps, your ability to produce sperm may be impaired. This is a history that warrants early medical attention.
– Adult-onset diseases
Diabetes can cause sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems. As the disease progresses, the function of sperm production itself may be affected. It is recommended that pregnant women with diabetes undergo a semen analysis at a urologist or obstetrician.
Before starting infertility treatment
Even if you don’t fall into any of these categories, you should make it a habit to record your basal body temperature if you are trying to get pregnant. Knowing when you are hypothermic and hyperthermic will help you to predict when you are ovulating so that you can try the “timing method” of sexual intercourse, and will also be useful when starting infertility treatment.
It is also important for couples to have a thorough discussion before starting infertility treatment. Since infertility can be caused by either a man or a woman, as a general rule, treatment should be done in the presence of the couple.
If the couple does not agree on the idea of having a baby or undergoing infertility treatment, it may lead to differences and quarrels later on. Please make sure to understand each other’s thoughts and cooperate with your spouse so that the infertility treatment can go smoothly.
Conclusion
Infertility can be caused by a variety of factors, and the timing for starting treatment differs from couple to couple. The Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology defines infertility as a basic infertility period of one year, but depending on your age and the presence of risk factors, you may be advised to see a doctor even if it has been less than one year.
If you suspect that you are infertile, please check if any of the following apply to you. It is also important to keep a record of your basal body temperature and discuss it with your spouse before starting fertility treatment. It is also important to keep a record of your basal body temperature and discuss it with your spouse before starting infertility treatment.
