Most couples don’t ever expect that they will have trouble conceiving. But 1 in 8 couples will experience infertility, and an increasing number are using fertility treatment to help them conceive. The author of Frederick Magazine’s article “Fertile Hope,” interviewed Jason G. Bromer, M.D., and two Shady Grove Fertility patients about the effect of fertility treatment on their lives.
Jordan and Katharine’s Fertility Journeys
Jordan and her husband, Tim, came to Shady Grove Fertility after a long history of irregular menstrual cycles and a miscarriage. Jordan says, “I never thought my journey would be this way. I didn’t think I would have a hard time getting pregnant.” Jordan had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and was put on medication to regulate her hormone levels. With the regulation, she was able to have her son, Joel.
Katharine’s story is a little different. She and her high school sweetheart, Brandon, knew from a young age that they would have problems conceiving due to Katharine’s endometriosis. Despite having surgery to remove the endometriosis, they were still unable to conceive. They tried intrauterine insemination (IUI) four times without success. They eventually moved on to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and conceived their twins, Hunter and Alice, on the first attempt.
For many patients like Jordan and Katharine, becoming educated about fertility and knowing when to seek treatment is integral to success. If a woman is under the age of 35 and has tried unsuccessfully to conceive for 1 year or more, she should see a specialist. If a woman is over 35, she should see a specialist after 6 months of unsuccessfully trying to conceive, and if she is over 40, she should see a specialist after 3 months without conception.
Fertility Treatment Options to Help Couples Conceive
When a couple decides to come to Shady Grove Fertility for treatment, the health care team will walk each couple through a series of diagnostic tests (commonly known as the infertility work-up). These tests provide your physician with accurate insight into your reproductive hormones, your egg quantity, if your tubes are open, and if your partner has enough sperm and if they are healthy.
When the physician establishes the diagnosis, he/she will work together with the couple to determine the best treatment plan. Most of the time, patients will be able to start with basic treatment options like IUI. If the basic options do not help the couple to conceive, the physician may recommend more advanced options like IVF or donor egg treatment.
Another consideration for fertility patients beyond clinical treatment is the cost of treatment. “For the people who don’t have insurance benefits…one of the nice things about {Shady Grove Fertility] is that we have some of the most innovative financial programs in the world to help make fertility treatments affordable,” says Dr. Bromer.
It’s important to note that there are fertility treatments available to help almost every patient conceive. Maybe not the first time, but eventually they will find their own path to parenthood. Dr. Bromer says, “I’ve known since I was 5 years old that I was going to be a physician and I picked this field because it’s such a great field where we can make such a big impact.”
If you would like to learn more about fertility treatment or you’re ready to schedule an appointment, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.
