Infertility

What is infertility?

Infertility describes the difficulties you're having with conceiving a child. For most healthy couples, pregnancy occurs within the first six months of trying to conceive. Therefore, if you've been trying for a year with no success (or six months if you’re over 35), you should visit Dr. Oloufa for infertility counseling.

Not all infertility problems stem from medical causes, and many couples have difficulties conceiving because of other factors. For example, you might be struggling to conceive if you're suffering from stress, are tired or run down, or you're going through a major life event like moving or bereavement.

Addressing these issues can make a significant difference to your chances of conceiving. You should also consider focusing on a healthy lifestyle, increasing your fitness, find effective stress management techniques, and avoid bad habits like smoking.

You can also improve your chances of conceiving by using a calendar or an app on your smartphone to keep a record of your cycle to ensure you're having sex at your most fertile times each month. If, despite these measures, you still have problems conceiving, Dr. Oloufa can find out if there are any underlying health issues.

How is infertility diagnosed?

The diagnostic process for infertility at West Orange Women’s Care begins with a consultation where you and your partner discuss your situation with Dr. Oloufa. Infertility is a couple's problem, so Dr. Oloufa counsels both you and your partner, according to your issues and needs.

After reviewing your medical histories and discussing all the factors that could be preventing conception, Dr. Oloufa performs physical examinations and takes blood for testing. West Orange Women's Care offers in-office testing, ensuring your results come back quickly.

You might also need to undergo other procedures to diagnose infertility, such as:

• Semen evaluation for your partner
• Hormone assessments
• Laparoscopy
• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
• Saline sonogram (SIS)

Conditions like endometriosis and hormone imbalances in women are a common cause of infertility, as are sperm health issues in men. However, in some cases, there's no identifiable cause for infertility.

How is infertility treated?

Your infertility treatment aims to address any health problems that the diagnostic process uncovers. For instance, treating conditions like endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can significantly improve the chances of conception.

Sometimes treatment involves taking medication, or you might need to undergo a procedure such as a myomectomy to remove uterine fibroids. Dr. Oloufa specializes in using the minimally invasive da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgery system to perform procedures such as myomectomies.

Even if there's no clear cause for your infertility, you could still benefit from fertility treatment. Dr. Oloufa can prescribe medication that improves ovulation, for instance. For continuing infertility problems, there are options such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

An early workup and referral saves you precious time and helps you to build the family you desire with less stress and lower risk. Call West Orange Women's Care today to schedule an infertility consultation or book an appointment online.