Baby Your Fertility: Advice from our Board Certified Fertility Specialists
A recent article in the Las Vegas Sun brought to light an issue that many men and women struggle with in silence. Infertility affects 1 in 7 couples in this country, and oftentimes people waste months and years of precious time unaware of proactive steps they can take to protect and preserve their reproductive health.
Bruce Shapiro, M.D., Ph.D, and Carrie Bedient, M.D., board certified fertility specialists, host free informative seminars every month to raise awareness for actions to take in your 20s, 30s and 40s. They also discuss the growing array of treatments that help restore fertility and improve upon IUI, IVF and third-party reproduction.
In the article, Dr. Shapiro emphasizes the need to get tested. “Health-conscious Americans tend to know their cholesterol, blood pressure and weight/BMI numbers. If you are of reproductive age and wish to start a family now or in the future, you should also inquire about ovarian reserve testing and semen analysis.”
5 Steps to Protect Your Fertility, According to Our Board Certified Fertility Specialists
- Don’t wait. If you want to postpone family building, get a clearer picture of your ovarian reserve with AMH and hormone testing. Dr. Bedient noted that by age 37, women face greater obstacles to getting pregnant on their own. Ask about fertility preservation, egg freezing, and setting a realistic timeline for starting a family. As a rule, partner with a fertility specialist after one year of trying to conceive, or six months if you are over 35.
- Focus on one baby at a time. Access to genetic information in the IVF lab gives parents-to-be the confidence to transfer one healthy embryo at a time. With PGS, families can grow, adding siblings from embryos that were pre-screened and frozen during your first round of IVF. “We educate our patients about the benefits of adding PGS to IVF,” said Dr. Shapiro. “While genetic testing adds to the cost of IVF, it also greatly improves upon the odds for having a successful pregnancy.” The cost for both at our center typically runs closer to $20,000.
- Consider new additions to fertility. Mom’s egg + dad’s sperm = a baby? Not always. We live in an exciting era of breakthrough treatments that can redefine the equation. Donor eggs, embryos and sperm as well as surrogacy are helping create families for the LGBT community, single parents and women of advanced maternal age.
- Manage the cost. While it has been reported that IVF can cost upwards of $30,000, our Las Vegas fertility center works to find the best treatment protocols for each individual, and that may simply include IUI or lifestyle changes. We also strive to make IUI and IVF treatment accessible and affordable. Ask us about fertility drug discounts, grants, financing and other patient resources.
- Be the change. Boost natural fertility. Our board certified fertility specialists encourage you to adopt a healthy lifestyle, stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight and avoid risky sexual behavior that can expose you to STDs.
Finally, if you notice some problems – heavy or irregular periods, for instance – come in sooner rather than later. Contact our Las Vegas fertility center. The earlier we catch infertility issues, the more likely it is that we can address them with a cost-effective treatment plan.
