If you’re wondering what to ask your family doctor about infertility, here’s some helpful information. Many women who have trouble getting pregnant often see their family doctor first, before they see an OB/GYN or reproductive endocrinologist (RE).
What is a family doctor?
Before you know what to ask family doctor about infertility, it’s important to understand all about a family doctor. This general practitioner is more commonly called a “primary care physician.”
As such, your family doctor is often the primary gatekeeper of your medical care. This healthcare professional knows the specialists you see and may be the one that makes referrals to other doctors. The family doctor should have on record all the medications, including over-the-counter drugs, you take. Ideally, the family doctor is the one who raises red flags if there’s a possible drug-drug interaction between different medications.
Family doctors are concerned with your overall health and well-being, including physical, mental and emotional problems. Your family doctor keeps track of your height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and other key health measurements. This doctor prescribes any necessary medications or treatments for general health problems.
Also, a family doctor does basic gynecological testing such as annual exams, breast exams, and PAP tests. Some family doctors are trained in obstetrics and gynecology and care for pregnant women, even delivering their babies.
The family doctor is familiar with all aspects of general medicine and should be a good diagnostician. Your family doctor may see all members of your family (family medicine) and often provides “cradle to grave” care.
What to ask family doctor about infertility?
If you are having problems getting pregnant, it’s important to know what to ask family doctor about infertility.
Talk openly with your family doctor about your pregnancy concerns. Ask questions about your medical history. Make sure your partner is with you during this discussion as male factor infertility is frequently a problem when getting pregnant.
Sometimes infertility and hormone problems with PCOS run in families. Your doctor should know your family history. In addition, talk about your menstrual cycle and ovulation and see if your cycle is normal.
After the discussion, your family doctor may order lab tests to see if there are imbalances in your hormones or other problems. Then the family doctor may refer you to an OB/GYN or reproductive endocrinologist for further testing.
In addition to providing treatment for your general health problems, many family doctors work closely with OB/GYNs and reproductive endocrinologists when a referral is needed. When it comes to what to ask your family doctor, your questions will be the beginning of meaningful dialogues that may grow to include other specialists along your path to parenthood.
