Trouble Conceiving?

Get the Right Medical Care!

Part I

By Julie Watson

Now after an eight-year battle with infertility, I have learned so much from a patient perspective that I changed my life's full-time occupation to that of "fertility consultant." In this series of articles, I will try to give some former patient advice on how to recognize, deal and cope with a fertility challenge.

The facts of the matter are that if you have had a regular sex life (once every week on average) over the course of a year and you are not pregnant, it is time to take action!

Life is not fair. Having a fertility challenge quickly teaches you that. But by having the proper tools you need to cope with this challenge, you will inevitably save yourself time, money and some heartache in your quest for a child.

I run across so many people who are in denial of their condition every day. They tell me, "We just aren't timing it 'perfectly' every month. Therefore, we really haven't been trying for over a year." That was my thinking as well. No, it is not in your head. Yes, it is something to be concerned about, and taking a vacation in most cases will not do a thing. The vast majority of fertility impairments are caused by an underlying medical problem. And good medical attention is what you need first and foremost.

It is far asier these days to get the right medical care you need to succeed than it was only five years ago. The latest figures estimate that there are close to 300 fertility clinics in the United States alone. And with this new competitive market comes higher patient care.