In the U.S., Reproductive Endocrinologists are generally Obstetrician-Gynecologists with advanced training in infertility and reproductive endocrinology.
All Reproductive Endocrinologists must be board certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology (ACOG). Reproductive Endocrinologists are focused on helping women become pregnant; they neither deliver babies nor perform annual exams.
So, how do you find a Reproductive Endocrinologists? If you have insurance coverage for infertility matters, check with your insurance company for a list of providers who contract with your insurance plan.
If you’re paying for the treatment out of pocket, do some investigation online or via recommendations from other women. You can also find a list of REs on-line at www.asrm.org, the website of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The national fertility association Resolve (www.resolve.org) can also help with the RE selection process.
A visit to an RE is also recommended if you are older than 35, have irregular periods, have experienced multiple miscarriages, or have any medical problems that could make conception difficult.
On your first visit to your Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE), you will discuss your medical history, including any procedures you’ve had done in the past, your efforts at having a baby, sexual history and behavior, any miscarriages or irregular periods and any family history of infertility.
After this, you will talk about any tests that need to be performed and possible treatment options in the event you are diagnosed with infertility. You will also have the opportunity to speak with the office about the doctor’s billing and financial policies.
Your first visit may or may not involve a physical exam or tests. Some important initial tests must be performed in the first 3 days of your ovulatory cycle, so your follow-up visits for testing may depend on your body’s schedule.
Your RE may schedule you for basic tests to determine the age of your eggs (your ovarian reserve), check your hormone ratio and fallopian tubes and examine your thyroid function (too much or too little thyroid function can negatively affect your fertility). If you have a partner, your RE will recommend testing on them as well. Please see Medical History Review and Physical Examination for more details on physical exams and testing.
During your follow up visit (s) your reproductive endocrinologist will perform any previous tests you scheduled with them. Depending on the tests you've scheduled to take, this can take a lot of time or you could be in and out shortly. Either way, this is an important visit and it will usually be timed to coincide with your ovulatory cycle.
After you’ve completed any follow-up visits and tests, you will get your results. If they look normal, e.g. the blood tests show everything is ok with your hormone levels, your tubes and uterus look normal and nothing out of the ordinary has been identified, your RE may clear you to 1) keep trying to conceive naturally if you have a partner or 2) to begin any assisted reproductive therapies like IVF, IUI, ICI or ICSI.
If you still don’t get pregnant, your RE may bring you back for further testing and diagnosis. It’s important to understand that each person’s experience is different. Some women may conceive immediately, others not at all, and for still others, it can simply take a long time.
Remember: ALWAYS check with your doctor first before following any outside advice, even if it’s well-documented.