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Frequently Asked Questions

In this section of our website, we present some frequently asked questions from our past patients. Please feel free to e-mail us your own questions in our Contact Us section.

Are there any special supplements or diet that I should be on to make the treatments more effective?

In general, taking good care of yourself will help you to get closer to your goal of having a baby. Maintaining a healthy weight and healthy diet is always a recommendation especially when you do become pregnant to minimize possible complications during the pregnancy. As recommended by various professional organizations, prenatal vitamins containing folic acid and omega III fatty acids along with a healthy life style help to support a healthy pregnancy. If you are a smoker, we strongly recommend that you quit as this will optimize your response to any treatment. Also, although conclusive data is lacking, it is helpful to minimize caffeine use and eliminate alcohol intake before you try to conceive.

How do you diagnose infertility?

Essentially, we focus on three categories of investigation: ovulation/hormones, uterine/tubal architecture, and male fertility potential. The initial evaluation will focus on your health assessment and history. Detailed questions will be asked about your menstrual cycle pattern, duration of attempted conception, prior pregnancy history, and past/present medical and surgical history. If not assessed in the prior year, hormone testing, pelvic sonography, and a semen analysis are frequently performed shortly after the initial evaluation. Based upon these and potentially other test results we develop a personalized treatment plan.

I do not have any problems becoming pregnant, but I keep having miscarriages. Is there anything that can be done to help me keep the pregnancy ongoing?

Recurrent pregnancy loss is a concern shared by many of our patients. Following assessment for genetic, immunologic, anatomical, and hormone-related causes, treatment can be targeted towards a specific problem. As frequently as 50 percent of the time, however, the aforementioned evaluations are normal; in those cases, we recommend some simple therapies in the context of unexplained recurrent miscarriage. Independent of the approach, it is important to remember that 60 to 70 percent patients evaluated and treated for recurrent pregnancy loss are successful at maintaining pregnancy with their next conception.

I have gotten pregnant before, why am I having trouble now?

There are many factors to consider before answering this common question regarding secondary infertility. Although limited statistics are available for the number of couples with secondary infertility, the most common reason for either primary or secondary infertility is the trend for women to delay childbearing. An evaluation of your menstrual cycle pattern is a good place to start. Whether or not there have been any significant changes in your health or your partner’s health since your previous pregnancy should also be carefully evaluated. After your work-up, an explanation is frequently found and we can begin to plan the next step.

This is my husband's 2nd marriage and he has had a vasectomy. Is it possible for us to have a child together?

With a male partner who has had a vasectomy, the assistance of a urologist specializing in male infertility would be required. Assuming that he does not desire or is not a good candidate for a vasectomy reversal, an evaluation along with assisted reproductive technologies will most frequently provide you with the option of having a child together.

We have just started trying–how long will it take to achieve pregnancy?

The answer to this question may vary from couple to couple. Many healthy and young couples will successfully achieve pregnancy after 3 to 4 months of trying on their own. However, if you have been trying for 6 months or longer and have not conceived, there may be an underlying cause. Many factors need to be considered such as age, reproductive health for the male and female partners, general health and lifestyle, current medical problems and medications. It is important to meet with a reproductive specialist to carefully evaluate your individual situation.

Will insurance cover the tests and treatments?

Your insurance provider and the specific plan selected by the subscriber’s employer will determine to what degree your treatment is covered. Most health insurance plans cover only “medically necessary” procedures. We encourage you to research your coverage by contacting your employer’s human resources department or your insurance company to request an explanation of specific benefits. We also have financial counselors available to assist our patients in assessing their coverage.

Financing Options—Financing options are available through outside companies, and this can be discussed after your initial consult. We realize the financial aspects involved can be an added stressor in your journey, and our goal is to assist you with this as much as possible to ease the burden.

Financial Considerations—At Austin Fertility Institute, we are very proud to be able to offer affordability as one of our key features. Our costs can be discussed while a treatment plan is being designed for you, and we will do our very best to work within your means.

For our patients without fertility treatment coverage undergoing ovulation induction with or without the addition of intrauterine insemination, we have package discounts if multiple cycles of treatment are required.  When these same patients have been recommended to undergo IVF, we have additional discount considerations if more than one fresh cycle of treatment is necessary.

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