Fertility Specialist Overview
If your biological clock is ticking away and high-tech fertility treatment options are needed to help you get pregnant, a reproductive endocrinologist will be able to provide answers and guide you.
You’ve probably heard a reproductive endocrinologist referred to as a fertility specialist, fertility doctor or even as an “RE”. Don’t be confused! They’re all the same – it’s a doctor who specializes in fertility diagnostics and treatment.
Reproductive endocrinologists
A fertility doctor has the same formal education and medical requirements as an OB/GYN. Yet a fertility specialist has also completed further courses and training in reproductive endocrinology.
A reproductive endocrinologist receives training in both male and female infertility and may be the best professional to explain options and coordinate efforts for couples.
Fertility testing and treatment
For women, your fertility specialist will do a physical examination, take your medical history and perform specific blood tests to evaluate your hormones. Your doctor may also test for other female and male infertility problems.
Once a proper diagnosis is made, the fertility doctor will create a customized treatment plan that gives you the best chance of having a baby.
Fertility treatment options
Your fertility doctor may use fertility drugs, surgery, or high-tech fertility treatment options such as:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- Intracervical insemination (ICI)
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- Donor sperm or egg donation
A fertility specialist can give you hope
If you have been trying to get pregnant for a year (or six months if you are over 35) and natural conception has not worked, the fertility specialist can help. He or she can evaluate your situation and then recommend the best fertility treatment options to help you get pregnant and have a baby.
Find a local fertility specialist
Sources- International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination, Inc.: The Infertility Q & A: Testing with a Reproductive Endocrinologist
- RESOLVE: What is an infertility specialist?