Three Things You Can Investigate Before You See a Fertility Doctor

a blog by Melinda Davis, July 5, 2011

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Everyone thinks when they’re ready to get pregnant things will happen quickly, but the truth is it often takes time. There is about a 15 to 25 percent chance of conceiving each month, and that’s if you and your spouse are completely healthy and below the age of 30.

Most couples will conceive within their first year of trying, but when things don’t happen on your timeline, it can cause your mind to wander. If you’ve been trying for a few months, but are afraid of visiting your Ob-Gyn or taking the next step and seeing a fertility doctor (reproductive endocrinologist), here are three things you can do from home to gain some insight into your fertility.

1. Chart your basal body temperature. One of the first steps you could try is charting your temperature at home to see if you’re ovulating. To do this, you will need to take your basal body temperature using a BBT thermometer, which can be purchased from almost any drugstore. One website I found helpful in tracking my temperature was www.fertilityfriend.com. This site offers a free trial period and allows you to record your temperature and symptoms in one location. The website will automatically insert your temperatures into a chart and suggest when it thinks you’re ovulating.
2. Use ovulation tests. Another thing you can do from home is test for ovulation using ovulation test kits. A friend of mine tried getting pregnant for about five months before using these tests and was able to pinpoint ovulation and become pregnant after testing for just one month. Now, I will say that I found these hard to read since I have ovulation issues, but she had a different experience and really found them helpful. The tests can be pricey from a drugstore, but you can easily purchase them less expensively online. If you don’t like the idea of using ovulation test kits, there are ovulation monitors you can purchase as well. I have heard good things about the OV-Watch, but personally have not tried it. The OV-Watch is worn each night on your wrist throughout your cycle and provides a digital display that shows when you’re approaching ovulation.
3. Conduct at-home fertility tests. Going to the fertility doctor for fertility tests can be scary, but there are both male and female tests that can be done in the comfort of your home. Although the results are limited, and fertility doctors do their own testing, these tests can help you decide when to see a fertility specialist and provide insight into a potential problem. Home fertility test kits can be purchased online and can help you make a decision on when to go in for additional testing.