Fertility treatments: ten things you need to know about assisted reproduction

After trying unsuccessfully to conceive for some time, you may be considering going to an assisted reproduction centre. If this is the first time you have faced a fertility problem, you will undoubtedly have many questions and doubts. It is normal for both you and your partner to feel confused.

First of all, you should stay calm. Fortunately, assisted reproduction is there to help you achieve what nature is struggling to do. Fertility treatments, such as artificial insemination or in vitro fertilisation, are another way to become a mother.

To help you feel a little more prepared, we are going to explain ten things you should know about assisted reproduction, so that your first contact with this world is more familiar and friendly. We also advise you to write down all the questions you want to ask on the day of your first appointment with the doctor. Often, when we are nervous, we forget important things we would like to know. Let’s get started!

1. When to go to an assisted reproduction centre

The general rule is that if you have been having frequent unprotected sex (between two and three times a week) for a year and have not become pregnant, you should start seeking help. However, if you are 37 years of age or older, the Gutenberg Centre Reproduction Unit advises you not to wait more than six months.

Of course, if you already know that you have a fertility problem, such as endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, genetic problems, etc., there is no need to wait this long. Seek the help of assisted reproduction specialists as soon as possible!

In this blog, you can read more about when to see a fertility specialist.

2. Why a good diagnosis is necessary before fertility treatment

A complete examination of both partners is always essential. Human reproduction is a two-person affair, and although many causes of infertility are associated with women, mainly due to age, in assisted reproduction, the man also matters.

A complete examination, carried out by fertility specialists, is extremely important and will give us a good diagnosis of the couple. It will also save you a lot of time and headaches.

To begin this diagnosis, during the first visit to a fertility specialist, a complete examination of the woman and, if necessary, the man is carried out. In addition, it is common for blood tests and other tests to be requested, depending on the couple’s background and history.

If you are determined to take this step, we recommend that you consult with centres specialising in assisted reproduction. Your regular gynaecologist can guide and help you, but they may not necessarily be specialised in fertility.

3. How a woman’s age affects her fertility

In assisted reproduction, 40 is not the new 30.

The delay in maternal age is a reality. The average age of the patients we treat at URE Centro Gutenberg has increased considerably in recent years, currently standing at 37-38 years old. On the other hand, the number of women aged 40 or over who are seeking to become mothers has also grown.

It is important to know that a woman’s age plays a fundamental role in fertility. From the age of 35 onwards, the chances of getting pregnant naturally are considerably reduced. From the age of 38 onwards, the decline is dramatic.

You may have regular periods and be in excellent health, but your eggs ‘age’ and their quality is not the same at 25 as it is at 38. The older you are, the more difficult it is to get pregnant, and the greater the risks.

4. Assisted reproduction is not foolproof

Assisted reproduction techniques and treatments are a great advance and help you to become a mother, but they do not work miracles. The media and the internet have brought the world of fertility treatments closer to society in general, but sometimes they promote an image of a ‘foolproof method’ that is not real.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to achieve the desired pregnancy under the conditions we want. Assisted reproduction techniques have advanced and the results are spectacular, but sometimes it is necessary to carry out treatments replacing the couple’s egg or sperm with that of donors, and this is not always easy to accept. There are women and couples who decide not to take this step.

Therefore, we recommend that you start as soon as possible. In assisted reproduction, time is of the essence!

5. Fertility treatments take time

Apart from the complete examination of the couple prior to the indication of any assisted reproduction treatment, you should know that these can be prolonged for various reasons. It will all depend on the treatment and protocol chosen by the doctor in your case, as well as your particular situation. Every woman and every couple is different and must be studied individually.

Most fertility treatments begin when you have your period. During this time, the doctor will schedule an appointment and perform an ultrasound, and will decide whether or not to begin treatment depending on what they see in the ultrasound. If they decide that the process should not begin, you will have to wait until the following month, when you have your period again. There may also be other circumstances that delay assisted reproduction treatment, such as your doctor prescribing you the contraceptive pill until a certain date, etc.

As you can see, nothing is immediate. You must be patient and follow your doctor’s instructions, as they will be the ones to guide your fertility treatment in the best possible conditions.