Are you having difficulty getting pregnant and wish to consult a medical professional to assist in your pregnancy? This article will be of utmost help for you to seek the right doctor for you.
There are different medical professionals for different health issues. There is a cardiologist for heart-related issues and a neurologist for brain and nervous system-related issues.
Similarly, there are specialized doctors for pregnancy-related issues, too. You can consult these doctors if you need help getting pregnant. In this article, we will look at the doctors you can seek out if you want to get pregnant. Read till the end to learn more.
Which Doctor To See If You Want To Get Pregnant?
There are three doctors who specialize in pregnancy-related issues: an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN), an IVF specialist, and a fertility specialist.
Though an IVF specialist is also a fertility doctor, given the significance of IVF in fertility treatments, we will consider this a separate specialization.
We’ll look at each of these doctors and their role in your pregnancy below.
Obstetrician-Gynecologist
A gynecologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats issues related to the female reproductive system from puberty to post-menopause. An obstetrician is a doctor who specializes in pregnancy and neonatal care.
When To See This Doctor
An OB/GYN is probably the first person you will visit when you have difficulty getting pregnant. Here are some circumstances when visiting an OB/GYN will be helpful for you.
- When you have irregular, heavy, or no periods.
- When you have pelvic or lower abdominal pain.
- If you have undergone any pelvic surgeries previously.
- If you are unable to get pregnant even after months of trying.
Role In Reproductive Health And Fertility
An OB/GYN is your first line of defense against infertility and other reproductive issues. They are also responsible for the overall health of a woman from her puberty to post-menopause.
Regarding fertility, OB/GYNs diagnose and treat infertility issues in your body. They also provide guidance on safe sex (contraception), family planning, pregnancy care, neonatal care, etc.
Treatments They Provide
An OB/GYN will stay with you throughout your pregnancy and guide you every step of the way. The best obstetrician will provide you with treatments that you might need during your pregnancy, such as labor, delivery, and prenatal and postpartum care.
A gynecologist will run several tests on you and provide the treatment you require to treat a certain issue. The treatments include, treatment for irregular periods, for urinary tract infections (UTIs), for hormonal imbalances, and conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, etc.
Fertility Specialist
A fertility specialist is the doctor your gynecologist will suggest you visit if they diagnose any infertility issues in you. As the name suggests, a fertility specialist specializes in treating a woman’s fertility and helps them get pregnant.
When To See This Doctor
You can either visit a fertility doctor after consulting with your gynecologist or directly visit them. If your gynecologist send you to them, then you can visit them immediately.
If you visit them on your own, here is when you should do so.
- When you are under 35 and have been failing to get pregnant even after one year of trying.
- When you are over 35 and have been failing to get pregnant even after six months of trying.
Role In Advanced Fertility Treatments
An OB/GYN offers basic tests like pap smear, ultrasound, etc., to diagnose any issues. A fertility specialist goes one step further and takes specialized tests to accurately pinpoint the root cause of the problem and help treat it.
These tests include blood tests, PGT (pre-implantation genetic screening), semen analysis, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, etc. they will look into you and your partner’s medical history, lifestyle, and other factors and create a personalized treatment plan for you.
Treatments They Provide
Fertility specialists are experts in providing treatments that can help you overcome your infertility issue and get pregnant successfully. Some treatments they provide include
- IUI (intrauterine insemination)
- IVF (in vitro fertilization)
- ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
- IMSI (intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection)
- Donor programs (eggs, sperm, or embryo)
- Surrogacy programs
IVF Specialist
An IVF specialist is also a fertility specialist. However, since IVF is a major part of fertility treatments, we will look into IVF specialists separately. An IVF specialist is responsible for conducting the IVF treatments.
When To See This Doctor
Your IVF doctor will most likely be your fertility specialist. After analyzing your fertility condition, your doctor will determine whether IVF will be the best course of treatment for you.
You can also try IVF if other fertility treatments like ovulation induction or IUI do not help you get pregnant.
Role In In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
An IVF specialist will stay with you throughout the procedure to ensure a smooth process. As you must know, IVF is a complex treatment involving a series of complex procedures.
This is why it is important for you to choose the best IVF doctor in your area for IVF treatments. They can ensure you undergo the procedures safely and have a high chance of pregnancy.
Treatments They Provide
An IVF doctor specializes in providing expert IVF treatments. If traditional IVF methods fail, they will also opt for advanced IVF methods like ICSI, IMSI, etc., to help you get pregnant.
Conclusion
Be it an OB/GYN, fertility specialist, or IVF specialist, all these doctors have one primary goal: to treat your reproductive issues and help you get pregnant successfully.
So, don’t panic if you can’t get pregnant even after trying. Choose the right doctor for your issue and get treated accordingly. You will definitely be cured and have a healthy and safe pregnancy.
An OB/GYN treats health conditions related to the female reproductive system. This includes issues related to menstruation, menopause, puberty, pregnancy, pelvic regions, reproductive organs, etc.
Ultimately, a fertility specialist is the best doctor you can consult if you wish to get pregnant. They can accurately diagnose the root cause of your issue and provide the necessary treatments.
Among all fertility treatments, IVF is known for its highest success rate. It is an advanced fertility treatment involving a series of procedures. Your doctor will perform all these procedures carefully to ensure that you have a successful pregnancy.
