When to Start the Conversation with Your Ob/Gyn

An excerpt from Fertility & Beyond: Join the Conversation

By Melanie Collins, MD, Ob/Gyn

We all know about that proverbial biological clock.

“If you’re under 35, and trying for a year without success, talk to your doctor.” Or…

“If you’re over 35, and have been trying for six months without success, talk to your doctor.”

But, truthfully, the conversation could – and should – start much earlier than “once you’re having trouble conceiving.”  You should start the conversation with your Ob/Gyn sooner than you think. It’s important to open a dialog with your physician early on if you want children at some point. You should be talking consistently and frequently about preventing pregnancy or planning pregnancy with your provider.  And the topic of “fertility” should be a part of that conversation.

Generally, the most we ever learn about getting pregnant is the information you are exposed to in elementary school. In these watered down lessons, they’d have you believe that simply glancing at a boy the wrong way could get you pregnant.

Typically there’s not much more discussion, unless you find yourself in a situation where having children is not as easy as you expected. At that point, you’ve been trying for a while and are searching for answers.

Sometimes it’s as simple as understanding the menstrual cycle, why you have a period, and even when you should be having sex. You’d be surprised at how many couples are trying to have a baby while the husband travels Monday through Friday, and they see each other only on the weekends.  So, it may be as straightforward as making adjustments not to miss the ovulation window, nothing more!

So start the conversation with your Ob/Gyn sooner than later.

About Melanie Collins, MD, Ob/Gyn 

Background:

Dr. Melanie Collins attended medical school and completed her residency at the University of Texas at Houston, where she spent ten years. In her last year, she was greatly impacted by her work at MD Anderson. She worked with women who were pregnant and had cancer, breast cancer predominantly.

She moved to Austin, TX in 1996 and was one of the founding members of the Renaissance Women’s Group. This was located in the same office building as several prominent fertility specialists in the community.

The two practices began referring patients to one another and have maintained that relationship for over two decades, continuing to share information and remain current with the latest research in the field of fertility.

When the doctors started freezing eggs in Austin, it was quite a big leap in what was previously possible. This got her excited about the options it provided for her patients. With the trend of delaying childbearing as women extend their education, or to establish themselves in their professional careers, women have more viable choices.

Her current work:

Dr. Collins’ practice has grown over the years. She remains abreast of research and information surrounding infertility, so she can best counsel her patients.

Her primary goal is to establish patient relationships for the long term. She’s even now delivered babies for the second generation in a family! She focuses on educating patients through all cycles of life and how various phases impact their body and well-being (from basic coaching on how a woman’s cycle works, to handling fertility and beyond, and through menopause).

Contact information: http://www.rwgdocs.com

Get your copy of Fertility and Beyond: Join the Conversation on Amazon.