Looking for an infertility doctor / reproductive endocrinologist in San Diego?
Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups is your source for a list of San Diego’s most qualified reproductive endocrinologists and infertility specialists. Reproductive endocrinology and infertility is a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology, and focuses on hormonal functioning as it pertains to reproduction as well as the issue of infertility.
Typically, infertility is defined as the inability to get pregnant after one year (or longer) of well-timed, unprotected sex. Because a woman’s fertility decreases progressively with age, many physicians evaluate and treat women aged 35 years or older after 6 months of unprotected sex. Reproductive endocrinologists may also be able to help women with recurrent pregnancy loss, which is typically defined as having two or more spontaneous miscarriages.
HOW IS INFFERTILITY TREATED?
Treatment may involve medicine, surgery, intrauterine insemination (IUI), or other assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Doctors recommend specific treatments for infertility on the basis of:
- The factors contributing to the infertility.
- The duration of the infertility.
- The age of the female.
IS INFERTILITY A COMMON PROBLEM?
Yes. According to the CDC, about 6% of married women aged 15 to 44 years in the United States are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. Approximately 12% of women aged 15 to 44 years in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term, regardless of marital status.
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR?
Most experts suggest at least one year for women younger than age 35 (or 6 months for women aged 35 or older).
Couples with the following symptoms or health concerns should see a health provider right away when trying to become pregnant:
- Irregular periods or no menstrual periods.
- Very painful periods.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Recurring miscarriages (2 or more).
- Suspected male factor (due to injury, or other).
