When to visit an infertility clinic? .

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The chances of having a biological child of your own are decreasing every year. That is why we decided to look for the answer to the question: when to visit an infertility clinic? We invite you to read a short interview with Dr Artur Kobielski, a gynaecologist-obstetrician and a doctor conducting treatment of couples at the Invimed clinic in Katowice.

Time spent on self-directed efforts

Some couples try for years to have a child. Sometimes with the help of doctors who are not necessarily familiar with the full spectrum of infertility diagnostics and reproductive medicine options. Other times with the help of home-grown 'experts' who give advice on forums and Facebook groups, despite their lack of sound medical knowledge, experience and medical practice.

In such a context, six or eight years of unsuccessful efforts to have a child does not sound unrealistic. On the contrary, couples who have lost a lot of precious time still come to infertility clinics. During this time, fertility parameters may have decreased, the quality of gametes may have decreased and the cause of infertility may have worsened.

So when is it worth turning to a professional infertility treatment centre for help? This and several other questions about the importance of time in infertility treatment are answered by Dr Artur Kobielski from the Invimed clinic in Katowice.

How long should trying for a baby prompt an application to an infertility clinic?

Dr. Artur Kobielski: Healthy patients who are under 35 years of age should try to get pregnant for up to 12 months, having intercourse regularly i.e. 2-3 times a week. From the age of 35 onwards, this period should last up to 6 months. On the other hand, couples in which even one of the partners is over 40 should visit the clinic even sooner. In their case, time is of particular importance, as their reproductive potential may already be on the verge of being exhausted.

Women over 35 years of age should apply after just 6 months of unsuccessful efforts. Why does the timing of efforts depend on the patient's age?

It is believed that it can be physiologically difficult for a woman over the age of 35 to become pregnant. A woman loses her so-called ovarian reserve with age - she has fewer and fewer egg cells. These cells may also be of decreasing quality. For this reason, if a couple wants to get pregnant naturally, such efforts should not last longer than six months. During natural endeavours, it is a prerequisite to be sure that the man's sperm is normal. The result of an extended semen test can give knowledge of this. It is best to consult such a result with an andrologist or urologist from an infertility clinic.

So due to the loss of ovarian reserve, which a woman is not even aware of, a 40-year-old woman may no longer have a chance of having a child?

Yes, one of the reasons for this can be premature ovarian function (POF). It can lead to a woman in her 40s (and sometimes even earlier) actually losing the real chance of having a biological child. The options then are childlessness, social adoption or in vitro with donor cells or prenatal adoption - embryo adoption. At Invimed, we have been running an embryo-cell adoption programme with a guaranteed number of embryos for years, with a success rate of up to 68 per cent. - is significantly higher than the effectiveness of in vitro with own cells.

In the case of a young couple, when should the period of one year of trying without medical intervention be shortened? Should any ailments, conditions accelerate the couple's application to the clinic?

One of the reasons for a significant reduction in the length of efforts may be a diagnosis of endometriosis. This disease is progressive and can increase the problems of getting pregnant with each passing year. Couples diagnosed with endometriosis should attend their first infertility consultation after only 2-3 cycles in which pregnancy has not been achieved. Preferably already with the result of the man's semen test.

Another cause may be a suspected infection of the reproductive organs, caused, for example, by chlamydia. This is an infection that can be asymptomatic and cause chronic inflammation with the formation of adhesions in the fallopian tubes. Such suspicion should prompt the patient to undergo a test of the patency of the fallopian tubes - sonoHSG, which will unequivocally rule out the issue. It should be emphasised that obstructed fallopian tubes eliminate the chance of pregnancy by natural means or by insemination. The absence of an obstructed fallopian tube and the inability to restore its normal function is an immediate indication for IVF treatment.

However, even after a timely visit to an infertility clinic, getting pregnant quickly is not a given for every couple....

Sometimes it is actually possible to achieve a pregnancy through natural efforts in the first month of applying for a clinic. Other times just as quickly, but for example in the first IVF cycle - with the first embryo transfer.

In general, however, it is necessary to fully diagnose, deepen and treat infertility with all available methods , because according to the 2015 law, in the absence of absolute indications for IVF (e.g. obstruction of both fallopian tubes or extremely low sperm quality), other available treatment methods must be exhausted before a couple is qualified for IVF. This again extends the waiting time for the desired offspring....

IVF alone does not guarantee a child on the first attempt either. However, all couples, even those who succeeded only in the 4th or 5th IVF cycle, often, even after several years of trying, when they see their newborn child, no longer feel the burden they have carried on their shoulders all this time. Instead, they have their little great fortune, and sometimes two.

Don't wait, make an appointment for a consultation!

To make your first appointment at Invimed, simply call 500 900 888, email invimed@invimed.pl or send a contact form from www.invimed.pl/kontakt.

Get to know InviMed's teams more closely - the doctors, embryologists and midwives who work every day to make our patients' dream of having a baby come true:

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Dr n. med. Artur Kobielski

Specialist gynaecologist-obstetrician and treating couples at the Invimed clinic in Katowice. Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice. In 2018 nominated by female patients for the title of Gynaecologist of the Year.

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Subsidised in vitro treatment at the InviMed clinic in Katowice

Invimed in Katowice carries out programmes of in vitro co-financing from the budget funds of the cities of Sosnowiec and Częstochowa, dedicated to their residents. Couples interested in participating in the programmes are invited to contact Invimed at: 500 900 888.