However, if a doctor wasn’t told of a past pregnancy, is it possible for them to know already?
Yes, it is possible for a doctor to detect a previous pregnancy by examining changes to your cervical opening or scarring on your uterus. Other more obvious signs of past pregnancy include c-section scarring, stretch marks, changes in skin pigmentation, and a wider hip region.
While there are many telltale signs to a doctor that you have been pregnant before, some cases may be undetectable even to a medical professional.
Let’s discuss how your doctor can tell of a previous pregnancy, when they can’t, and whether a previous miscarriage or abortion is detectable too.
Your doctor will be able to tell from a physical exam and often from more obvious outward clues on your body that you have been pregnant in the past. Here are a few of the telltale signs of a prior pregnancy.
In the case of vaginal birth, the mouth or opening of your cervix will appear noticeably different after childbirth. Retired intensive care physician Dr. Liang-Hai Sie shared this before and after image of a nulliparous cervix (never given birth) and a multiparous cervix (birthed one or more children).
According to Californian OB-GYNs Dr. Yvonne Bohn and Dr. Yen Hope Tan, the cervix is initially floppy and thin before closing and thickening post-birth. It may take six weeks to return to its normal shape, but it’s also normal for the cervix to never return to its original shape.
Uterine scarring commonly happens as a result of injury during surgery. A c-section may leave scar tissue on the uterus, but a uterine scar can also occur in the case of a miscarriage or an abortion.
Women requiring a procedure known as dilation and curettage (D&C) may also end up with uterine scarring as this involves removing uterine tissue in the case of a molar pregnancy.
A more obvious indication of a previous pregnancy is in the scar left on your abdomen as a result of your cesarean incision. While the incision typically takes only 3 months to heal fully, the scar, though faded, will remain permanently.
Another clear sign can be in a previous vaginal scar that occurred during delivery, either from a natural tear or an episiotomy cut to widen the vaginal opening.
Wounds from both types of tears can take up to a month to heal fully with the scab fading soon after, but some women can be left with a noticeable raised scar.
Most women find that their pelvic floor muscles regain strength within two months, but others can experience months or even years of pelvic floor weakness and pain, which can lead to disorders, such as pelvic organ prolapse, that your doctor can detect in an exam.
During pregnancy, a woman’s body can create Rh antibodies (proteins on the surface of red blood cells) if the mother’s immune system perceives the fetal blood cells as a threat.
Luckily the baby is usually born before the mother can produce enough of these antibodies to do harm. These Rh antibodies are quite persistent though, and as some studies reveal, they can remain in the body even decades after pregnancy.
The vast majority of pregnant women will have stretch marks if they have carried to full term. These appear on the stomach, breasts, and buttocks and start off purplish before fading to white, though they’re still visible to doctors.
Other changes to your body that would indicate a previous pregnancy to your doctor are things like skin pigmentation and changes to your nipples due to hormones. Nipples can protrude more, seem more prominent, and/or become darker in color than before pregnancy.
These color changes can also be obvious in the dark line running along your abdomen from your umbilical area to the pubis. This is known as linea nigra. In women with darker skin, it’s also common for a kind of post-pregnancy “mask” to appear on the face due to areas of dark skin highlighting lighter areas.
Some other physical changes include:
Varicose veins – appearing as a prominent network of bluish/black veins in the legs
Wider hips – skeletally, the hip region will measure wider after birth as the pelvic bones separate to facilitate birth
Hemorrhoids – the immense pressure placed on your lower rectum can lead to this condition during birth and after pregnancy. After the hemorrhoids decrease in size, the shriveled skin usually signifies a previously swollen hemorrhoid.
If you had a c-section delivery and a subsequent tummy tuck procedure to completely remove your c-section scar, there would be no evidence in your vagina or cervix, so a doctor would only be able to make a guesstimation that your abdominal scar from tummy tuck surgery was actually covering up a c-section scar.
In the case of ectopic pregnancy (when an embryo implants itself inside a fallopian tube), surgery is often needed to remove the damaged fallopian tube, which could make a previous pregnancy detectable.
However, there are other reasons to do laparoscopic surgery besides ectopic pregnancies, so a doctor would have to look inside to see if the fallopian tube was damaged or removed. In some cases, however, the affected tubes can be repaired, so in this instance, an ectopic pregnancy may not be so easily detected years later.
Lastly, pregnancies that result in very early abortion may not be detectable in the cervical opening as these are usually “unlikely to dilate the 3 mm cervical canal” according to retired physician Dr. Liang-Hai Sie.
Yes, there are three ways a doctor may be able to detect a previous miscarriage. Certified consultant and curator of the Classified Mom blog Marjorie R. Rogers explains that a pelvic exam can reveal if a uterus is scarred or misshapen, and an ultrasound can detect if there is abnormal tissue in the uterus.
Thirdly, a doctor can also order blood tests to check for the presence of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). This hormone is only present during pregnancy, so if this is found in your blood, you’ll likely have a previous miscarriage.
Yes and no. In medical terms, a miscarriage is classed as a “spontaneous abortion” while an abortion as we recognize it is an induced abortion.
Doctors will not be able to distinguish between a true induced abortion and a miscarriage. Some miscarriages pass on their own while others require a surgical evacuation, called a dilatation and curettage or D&C.
While no tests can detect whether an induced abortion has taken place, doctors may be able to tell if you have taken the abortion pill Misoprostol (which is inserted vaginally in combination with the oral Mifepristone medication) as traces of it may remain, according to the non-profit Women Help Women.
No. A doctor won’t be able to know the number of past pregnancies. The birth canal and vaginal tissue are designed to stretch and return to a pre-pregnancy shape, regardless of multiple births. A woman’s pelvic spread may indicate previous pregnancy but not frequency.
Doctors typically enquire about past pregnancies because your medical history can help them make safer, informed decisions in relation to a current pregnancy or treatment.
If there were complications with a previous pregnancy, for example, they need to know this to be prepared and take precautions.
To sum up, a doctor is typically able to know you’ve had a previous pregnancy based on certain outward signs (stretch marks, skin pigmentation, etc.) and through physical examination that can reveal changes to your uterus and cervix.
In some cases (such as pregnancies that were not carried to term), a doctor may be unable to detect this. Choosing to share a previous pregnancy with your healthcare provider is completely up to you — but know that a doctor has your best interests at heart and has a legal duty to protect your personal history from improper disclosure.
]]>Does ovulation cause fevers? While fever is not a direct result of ovulation, the immune system is slightly weakened during ovulation, which could make you prone to infection from viruses and other germs. While a slight rise in basal body temperature is to be expected around the time of ovulation, a fever is usually unrelated.
Let’s take a look at why you might feel feverish or like you have the flu while you are ovulating.
What does your menstrual cycle have to do with feeling like you have a cold? Let’s find out.
It is surprisingly common for women to feel cold or flu-like symptoms at the end of their menstrual cycle between ovulation and the start of their next period. This is sometimes referred to as the “period cold.”
Symptoms of the period cold include nausea, body aches, fatigue, dizziness, diarrhea, backaches, headaches, and even a low-grade fever.
While the period cold is common, it does not usually happen every time you ovulate. Symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough, or fever are typically caused by germs, not ovulation.
An adult likely has a fever when the body temperature is above 99℉, but medical providers usually only consider temperatures over 100.4℉ to be fevers. A low-grade fever is between 100 and 102℉. Anything above that is considered a high-grade fever.
It is normal to experience a slight temperature rise during ovulation but not to the point of having a fever.
The basal body temperature is a person’s normal, resting temperature. For most women, this temperature averages between 97℉ and 97.5℉. Just before you ovulate, your body temperature will dip slightly. Then, 24 hours after the egg is released, your BBT rises about one degree and stays elevated for several days.
Some women may be more sensitive to this slight rise in temperature and feel feverish or overheated during and after ovulation.
Your temperature should only rise about one degree after ovulation. On average, a normal BBT is between 97℉ and 97.5℉. After ovulation, it rises between 97.6℉ and 98.6℉. The numbers in this range are relative and could be slightly different for each woman. However, your temp should not increase more than one degree above your normal BBT. If it does, you likely have a fever caused by pathogens or other bacteria.
BBT rises 24 hours after an egg is released and may stay elevated for several days. The normal luteal phase after ovulation is 11-14 days, and the temperature should stay elevated until menstruation.
If you do not conceive, your BBT will drop with menstruation. An elevated BBT that lasts for 18 or more days following ovulation may be an early indicator of pregnancy.
If your temperature exceeds 99℉, it is not just your BBT rising. You likely have an actual fever. It is possible to spike an actual fever during ovulation as well as experience flu-like symptoms, not just because of ovulation but because of germs.
It might be a good idea to up your vitamin C intake during ovulation. Research has discovered a possible link between ovulation and the female immune system, which could be the reason for actual fevers or flu-like symptoms during ovulation.
When a woman is ovulating, her body is readying itself for fertilization. At this stage, estrogen levels rise, and a number of changes occur to make fertilization more likely, including lowering immune system function to prevent the immune system from attacking sperm.
Estrogen lowers the activity of molecules in the immune system that defend you against viruses, pathogens, and other bacteria. Because of this, you are more likely to become infected by such pathogens during ovulation.
Fevers and flu-like symptoms do happen, but they are not the most common symptoms of ovulation. If you are tracking your menstrual cycle, look out for these symptoms as indicators that ovulation is near:
A woman will often not feel her best during her period or during ovulation. Hormonal changes that occur throughout the menstrual cycle can cause a variety of unpleasant physical symptoms. You may experience cramps, mild pain, discomfort, nausea, or fatigue, or you may just feel “blah” during ovulation. All of these are totally normal.
If you find yourself not feeling 100% during ovulation, take it easy, and be sure to rest. Focus on maintaining a healthy diet and staying hydrated. Get some fresh air or sit in front of a cool fan. If you are able, take the time to pamper yourself or indulge in a lazy day at home.
We all know that awful feeling that accompanies our period— feeling 10 pounds heavier and like your lower abdomen doubled in size overnight. You may not be able to button your jeans or wear that cute crop top because of the bloating that happens at different times in your menstrual cycle. It is completely normal to experience bloating during ovulation as you do during your period. Bloating is triggered by hormonal changes, and there are plenty of those during ovulation.
Sudden hormone changes can make you feel tired or fatigued during ovulation. Though the degree of tiredness will vary from woman to woman, the sleepy feeling is attributed to the sleep-promoting qualities of progesterone.
So, there you have it! While germs are what is causing your fever, where you are in your menstrual cycle could be what made you more susceptible to infection from those germs. Who knew our cycles could have such a huge impact on so many other body functions, am I right?
]]>Knowing when to have intercourse and when your chances of conception are best can be a little tricky.
Can you get pregnant 4 days before ovulation? It is possible to get pregnant as early as 5 days before ovulation, although the chances are much higher the closer you are to the day of ovulation. Your fertile window includes the day of ovulation, the day after, and the five days before. If sperm are present during this time, pregnancy can occur.
Let’s dive into ovulation and fertility windows for a minute. A correct understanding of these two phases of your menstrual cycle could be the difference between a positive and a negative pregnancy test.
If you are trying to conceive, it is helpful to know what is going on inside of your body and what needs to be taking place in order to get pregnant.
Contrary to the belief of many, there are only a few days within the month that a woman can get pregnant, and it all has to do with her fertile window and ovulation.
Ovulation is the phase in the menstrual cycle where an ovary releases an egg, usually on day 14 of a 28-day cycle.
The process of ovulation begins when your hypothalamus (a part of your brain) releases a hormone that triggers your pituitary gland to secrete two important hormones for ovulation: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Between days 6 and 14 of your cycle, FSH causes the follicles (small fluid-filled sacs in ovaries that contain undeveloped eggs) in one ovary to begin to mature.
During days 10-14, only one of the developing follicles forms a mature egg. Around day 14, a sudden surge in LH causes the ovary to release the egg.
Sometimes a woman will hyperovulate during this stage, meaning her ovaries release more than one mature egg. This is how multiples are conceived.
Once it is released, the egg makes its way to the fallopian tubes where it waits to be fertilized.
Many women do not realize that there is only a short window, about a week’s span, during the month when they can actually conceive.
This is something that is often learned once a woman begins trying to get pregnant.
Your fertile window is the time during your menstrual cycle when you are most likely to get pregnant. It spans over one week, including the day of ovulation, the day after, and five days beforehand.
Its timing varies from woman to woman, but it is typically between day 9 and day 15 of your menstrual cycle, so about a week after your period.
An egg can only survive about 12-24 hours after ovulation without being fertilized. If it is not fertilized during this time period, it is reabsorbed into the body.
Don’t get too worried and think that you only have to have intercourse on the day of ovulation in order to get pregnant. Ovulation can be hard to track and easy to miss.
Fortunately, any unprotected intercourse during the entire span of your fertile window can lead to conception thanks to hearty, durable sperm.
Unlike a female’s eggs, a male’s sperm can live inside of her body for up to five days, although that is exceedingly rare.
Therefore, it is still possible to get pregnant even if you do not have intercourse on the day of ovulation. Days-old sperm can still fertilize a newly released egg.
There are a lot of moving parts to the ovulation process and the menstrual cycle in general.
In short, if you are trying to conceive, having intercourse during your fertile window gives you the best chance to get pregnant. This is typically between days 9 and 14 of your menstrual cycle.
Even though ovulation typically occurs around day 14, it is still possible to get pregnant by having intercourse at any time during your fertile window.
This is because sperm can live inside your fallopian tubes for several days, just waiting to fertilize an egg when it is released during ovulation.
So, if you are trying to get pregnant, it’s time to start tracking your ovulation and make sure you do the deed at all the right times!
The best thing you can do to predict your fertile window is track your cycle over the span of a few months using a paper journal or a mobile app.
Record when you get your period each month and how long it lasts. This will help you see how long your cycles typically are and will help you calculate when your fertile window will be.
Your cycle length is defined as the first day of menses to the next cycle’s first day of menses and not by the duration of bleeding.
The first day of your period is considered Day 1 of your menstrual cycle, and ovulation typically happens 14 days before your next period is due.
Therefore, if your cycle is typically 28 days long, ovulation will happen on day 14. If it is 30 days long, ovulation will more likely happen on day 16 of your cycle.
You will calculate your fertile window by determining the day of ovulation and then counting the five days before it.
For a 28-day cycle, the fertile window would be days 9-14. For a 30-day cycle, the fertile window would be days 11-16.
Predicting ovulation with the traditional menstrual cycle tracking system can be irrelevant for women with irregular periods that do not happen within the 21-35 day average range.
Experts recommend that women with irregular cycles opt for more tried-and-true methods or test often throughout the cycle to ensure accuracy.
OPKs are the most reliable tracking method for women with irregular periods. Similar to a pregnancy test, you will pass a test strip through a stream of urine.
The test screens for the luteinizing hormone that triggers ovulation in order to help you know when ovulation is near.
Tracking your basal body temperature is another way to pinpoint ovulation.
To do so, it is best to purchase a basal body thermometer that is designed to detect even 1/100th of a degree change in temperature. This one is highly rated for accuracy and ease of use.
It must be done in the morning at the same time each day and before you get out of bed.
It is retrospective because it is after ovulation that the temperature rises slightly for another 11 days or so.
After a few months, you can see the pattern and know that ovulation occurs before the sustained temperature rise.
There are consistent physical indicators of ovulation, regardless of the regularity of your cycle.
Cervical mucus changes throughout a woman’s cycle, and as ovulation nears, the mucus changes from being clear and runny to stretchy with the consistency of egg whites.
Paying attention to the cervical mucus in your panty liners can give you a lot of insight into where you are in your cycle.
There are even tests that can allow you to see your mucus under a microscope to determine its ripeness for conception.
Ovia Health conducted an extremely large study and used data from 98,000 women and over 225,000 menstrual cycles to determine a woman’s chances of getting pregnant on the days surrounding ovulation.
According to their findings, a woman’s chances of conceiving are highest the day before ovulation.
Day | Chances of Conceiving |
Chances of Getting Pregnant 6 Days Before Ovulation | Virtually 0% or very slim |
Chances of Getting Pregnant 5 Days Before Ovulation | About 10% |
Chances of Getting Pregnant 4 Days Before Ovulation | 18% |
Chances of Getting Pregnant 3 Days Before Ovulation | 26% |
Chances of Getting Pregnant 2 Days Before Ovulation | 32% |
Chances of Getting Pregnant Day Before Ovulation | 41% |
Chances of Getting Pregnant Day of Ovulation | 20% |
Chances of Getting Pregnant Day After Ovulation | 12% |
Chances of Getting Pregnant 2 Days After Ovulation | Virtually 0% |
When it comes to having sex to conceive, the timing of it is more important than the frequency.
While you would think that more sex would equal a greater chance of getting pregnant, it really all depends on doing it at the right time.
If you are trying to conceive, you should definitely have sex during your fertile window. That includes the days before ovulation as well as the day of ovulation.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the frequency of intercourse did not make a difference in conception; it just needs to take place during the fertile window.
Aiming for once a day or every other day is probably sufficient.
According to USCF Center for Reproductive Health, “Once the sperm have entered the uterus, contractions propel it upward into the fallopian tubes.”
They have no way of knowing which one to target, so sperm will wind up in both.
Since every woman’s cycle is different, there really is no one best way to track ovulation. It really all depends on your cycle and your preferences.
For me, using a cycle tracker mobile app has been easiest, but I have a fairly regular cycle. For other women, an OPK may be a better option.
When we think about the menstrual cycle and perfect timing, it makes sense why conception is esteemed as such a miraculous event. Babies truly are little miracles.
Here’s to you and your conception journey — may your fertile windows be wide open!
]]>Maybe you went to put on your favorite pair of jeans and they won’t button thanks to your newfound pooch that seemed to appear overnight. Or maybe you’re just feeling a little heavier than usual and aren’t really sure why.
Immediately this question races through your mind: Am I pregnant or just bloated?
Bloating can definitely be one of the earliest indicators of pregnancy, however, bloating can also occur for a number of reasons other than pregnancy. If the bloating only lasts for a few hours or days, you are probably in the clear and may have just eaten too much one night. However, if it seems to linger and you have other symptoms such as gas pains, nausea or fatigue, you might be pregnant.
Deciphering between the two can be a real challenge, but I’m here to, hopefully, ease your mind and help you determine the culprit of your bloat.
A pregnant belly can be a bloated belly, but a bloated belly is not always a pregnant belly. How can you determine which one you have?
Early pregnancy bloating and regular bloating can feel exactly the same. They both cause you to feel heaviness in your lower abdomen and you may see an extra “pooch” that is not normally there.
While they generally feel the same, there are a few key differences between early pregnancy bloating and regular bloating that may help you determine which one you are experiencing.
Early pregnancy bloating is mainly caused by gas buildup due to hormonal changes occurring in the body.
Regular bloating, on the other hand, is usually a result of the gastrointestinal tract being filled with gas for some other reason such as PMS, overeating or food sensitivities.
Regular bloating and early pregnancy bloating honestly look just the same. There really are no major differences in appearance as both can cause you to look a little extra pudgy in your lower abdomen.
Pregnancy bloating may feel slightly more uncomfortable than regular bloating because of the increased amount of gas that can cause gas pains.
Early pregnancy bloating has often been reported to feel like an overly full abdomen, even when you haven’t eaten much at all.
Regular bloating really only lasts a few hours, or a day, until the gas has cleared the GI tract or your food has digested completely. PMS bloating should only last a few days before or during your menstrual period.
Pregnancy bloating often lasts a few weeks, usually during the first trimester when the body is adjusting to the influx of hormones. The bloating feeling often goes away into the second trimester as the actual baby bump begins to pop.
Honestly, it can be a sign of both.
Many women will experience bloating as one of the first signs of pregnancy, even before their missed period. However, bloating is also a very common period symptom.
The only way to really tell which you are experiencing is by determining if you are nearing your expected period or not. If you are expecting to start your period in the next few days, you may just be experiencing early PMS symptoms. But if your period is still a week or two away, it’s possible you are beginning to feel a little baby bump.
Every woman is different and every pregnancy is different. Some women might begin to show as early as the first trimester, especially if it is not their first pregnancy. Other women, especially first time mothers, may not begin showing until the second trimester. In this case, a baby bump will typically begin showing between 16 and 20 weeks.
If you are trying to determine if you are pregnant or just bloated, try answering these questions:
The only way to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take an at-home pregnancy test.
Some of the main causes of bloating are:
Sometimes, bloating can be a sign of a more serious condition such as:
Bloating is another one of the many uncomfortable, annoying symptoms of early pregnancy. But why? What causes the bloating so early in pregnancy if the baby is still the size of a bean?
Whenever you get pregnant, your body begins to ramp up the production of progesterone—a hormone that is important for supporting pregnancy.
Progesterone can cause slower digestion and, thus, can create more gas in the GI tract as your body tries to adjust to this new hormonal balance. This excess gas is what causes the bloating and mini baby pooch in early pregnancy.
How long the bloating lasts varies from person to person. Some women only experience it for a few weeks during the first trimester and other women experience it their entire pregnancy.
Beating the baby bloat can be a difficult task as most doctors won’t prescribe stool softeners or medicine to reduce the gas. However, there are a few natural remedies you can try to alleviate the heaviness of the pregnancy bloat.
Some women are fortunate and have very minor pregnancy symptoms, or none at all. If only we could all be so lucky!
For some women, the pains of early pregnancy such as weight gain, nausea, morning sickness, heartburn or fatigue never seem to appear. Or, they are so faint that they don’t really notice. In this case, it could be possible to not know you are pregnant until you begin to really show.
However, if you are on top of tracking your menstrual cycle, this isn’t likely to happen because you will notice a missed period.
Hopefully, you were able to find the answers you needed or get the guidance you were seeking in this article! If you are still anxious and can’t let your mind rest, take a pregnancy test! That is the best way to get the closure you need.
]]>Ovulation affects many things in a woman’s body and some women claim that it even affects their bladder, causing them to need to pee more often than usual. Is this true?
There is no evidence that ovulation is a cause for urinary incontinence, however, fluctuating hormone levels during ovulation may influence water retention and the flow of fluid out of the body, making a woman need to urinate more frequently.
If you tend to visit the bathroom more frequently during ovulation and you’ve wondered whether or not this is normal, this article is for you.
Hormones are what govern your menstrual cycle and any woman can tell you that they impact just about everything in your body, including your urinary patterns.
You may have noticed that on some days you are heading to the bathroom twice as often during the day, or may be waking up more frequently at night to use the bathroom. It is possible that this is linked to where you are in your menstrual cycle. Many women experience more frequent urination during their period and the days after, which is typically when ovulation occurs.
This could be due to the drop in the hormone, progesterone, which had caused water retention at the end of your previous cycle. Without the progesterone to hold in the fluid, it is now beginning to flow out.
There is no evidence to support the claim that ovulation affects the color of your urine. Other factors such as hydration, diet, vitamins and minerals have the most influence on how dark or bright your urine may be.
The color of urine should always fall on the yellow spectrum. Depending on how much water you have consumed, your urine will be a pale yellow or a darker yellow. Certain vitamins and minerals consumed in your diet, such as beta carotene, vitamin C and B vitamins, can cause pigmentation changes in urine that result in bright urine.
Oftentimes, the body will produce extra cervical mucus during ovulation that may appear as a white substance in urine. More commonly, cloudy urine is a sign of other medical conditions such as dehydration or infection.
While it has not been scientifically proven, many women experience frequent urination around the time of their period and ovulation. The reason for this is not known, but it is likely due to hormones.
Many women experience cramping when they ovulate, similar to when they are on their period. Ovulation cramps often only occur on one side of the abdomen, depending on which ovary is releasing an egg.
Increased urination after ovulation without drinking excessive fluids is often an indicator that a woman has conceived during that cycle. Not long after conception, blood flow to the kidneys increases, which results in the kidneys producing more urine.
The symptoms associated with a UTI can be similar to those you may feel during ovulation. This can make it difficult to determine which one you are experiencing.
Pelvic pain, lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, frequent urination, spotting or bleeding, and bloating are all signs that could be linked to ovulation or a UTI. Typically, however, there are more tell-tale signs of a UTI such as a burning sensation when urinating and strong-smelling, discolored urine. Because it is an infection in the body, fever, and chills often accompany a UTI as well. These are not symptoms usually associated with ovulation.
You may feel increased bladder pressure during ovulation due to hormonal shifts. This symptom should not last very long. If you continue to feel bladder pressure when you are not ovulating, it could be a sign of a more serious medical condition such as a UTI or Painful Bladder Syndrome.
Estrogen is associated with pelvic floor strength and bladder control. Estrogen levels change throughout your monthly cycle and are the highest during ovulation. They are the lowest right before, during and after your period.
This is why some women experience leakage during that time of their cycle. Depending on when you ovulate and your hormone levels, you may also experience leakage during ovulation.
Ovulation usually occurs in the middle of your menstrual cycle, about two weeks before your period starts. The timing can vary from person to person and may be different each month. While it is rare, ovulation can even happen twice a month.
The irregular timing can make it difficult to track, but paying attention to your physical symptoms can help you have an idea of when you might be ovulating.
Some women experience slight pelvic discomfort or mild cramps before or during ovulation. Some women even feel a “twinge” or “pop” in their ovaries when the follicle ruptures and the egg is released. It is also common to feel pain in the ovaries (either side of the lower abdomen) during ovulation.
Your basal body temperature, your temperature when you first wake up in the morning, rises about one degree during the 24 hours after ovulation.
Vaginal discharge can tell you a lot about where you are in your menstrual cycle. Changes in the levels of estrogen and progesterone change the consistency of cervical mucus, making it more permeable for traveling sperm. During ovulation, you may notice that you have more cervical mucus on your underwear liner and its consistency will be like that of an egg white.
Typical PMS symptoms such as appetite and mood changes are also common during ovulation.
Similar to early pregnancy, breasts may feel tender during ovulation. They may also feel a bit fuller than usual.
Some women feel bloated before and during ovulation. Because bloating happens during menstruation and other times in a woman’s cycle, it is not the most reliable indicator of ovulation.
Unpredictable periods that are very short or long could be an indicator of an ovulation problem. Missed periods over an extended period of time, known as amenorrhea, is also an indicator of an issue with ovulation.
While mild pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen near the ovaries is common during ovulation, extreme pain is not. Your pain should not exceed that of slight menstrual cramps.
Every woman is on her own schedule, but typically, peeing 6-8 times in 24 hours is considered normal for a woman who is healthy and not pregnant. Depending on how much water you consume daily, you may pee more or less than this daily average.
Prior to your period, your progesterone levels are elevated. Once your period begins, these levels drop which causes a fluid shift in the body. This releases a lot of fluid in the body and may cause you to pee more.
To sum things up, more frequent urination can happen during ovulation, but it could also be a sign of something more serious like a urinary tract infection. Make sure that you pay attention to your body and are aware of the other signs that indicate an infection or a more serious issue.
]]>Saline sonograms are one option that doctors use frequently to help diagnose and treat women struggling with fertility or other uterine medical conditions.
A saline sonogram is a medical procedure that helps doctors see the inside of the uterus and detect any abnormalities that could be causing medical conditions. It involves inserting a saline solution into the uterus and using transvaginal ultrasound technology to get a clear and accurate picture.
In the following, we’ll take a close look at saline sonograms including what they are, why they are performed, and what you can expect if one is in your future.
Whether you’re preparing for a saline sonogram or you think you might need one, it’s important to know what it is and what you can expect during the sonogram.
This procedure is performed much like a gynecologic exam.
First, the provider will perform a transvaginal ultrasound to get a baseline reading of the uterus. To do so, you will lie down with your knees bent. A small wand, called an ultrasound transducer, is then placed into your vagina. The wand is covered with a disposable covering and a special gel that will make the insertion painless.
The provider will then remove the ultrasound transducer and use a speculum to open the vagina as they do during a pap smear. Then, a skinny and flexible catheter is placed into the cervix. Once the catheter is in place, the speculum is removed.
Sterile saline, or salt water, is injected into the uterus through the catheter. The ultrasound transducer is then inserted once again into the vagina. As the solution fills the uterus, it outlines the uterine walls and cavity that can be seen using the transvaginal ultrasound transducer. The provider will study the images and look for any abnormalities inside the uterus.
The purpose of a saline sonogram is to detect any issues or abnormalities inside of the uterus. This procedure is usually done to investigate conditions such as:
Through a saline sonogram, OB-GYNs can detect unusual conditions or abnormalities of the uterus including:
A saline sonogram may be mildly painful, similar to a pap smear or gynecologic exam.
This type of sonogram is minimally invasive, and you can expect a little bit of discomfort. You may experience moderate pain and discomfort when the provider opens up the vagina and inserts the catheter, similar to when you get a pap smear or go through cervical checks while pregnant.
This is a very safe procedure with minimal risks. It is possible to experience slight cramping or light spotting after the procedure, but it should only last a few hours.
While it is extremely rare, infections can happen after a sonohysterogram. Symptoms of pelvic tissue infection can include fever, pain, and unusual vaginal discharge. You should call your OB-GYN if you experience any of these symptoms after a sonohysterogram.
An HSG is an x-ray procedure performed to look at the uterus and fallopian tubes. It is often used in place of a saline sonogram if your doctor is concerned that there is an abnormality in the fallopian tubes, but it can pick up uterine abnormalities too.
During an HSG, radiographic dye is injected into the uterus rather than a saline solution. The dye runs through the uterus and should flow through the fallopian tubes into the abdominal cavity.
Using x-ray technology, your provider is able to see if there is a blockage in the fallopian tubes by the visual created from the dye.
The best time to get a sonohysterogram is between the end of your period and ovulation. This is usually between days 6 and 11 of your cycle with day one being the day you started bleeding.
You should NOT get a sonohysterogram if you are pregnant. You may still get pregnant the same cycle as your sonohysterogram; however, try to schedule your procedure before you ovulate. This will minimize the risk of “flushing out” a released egg or developing embryo with the saline solution.
Because it is a simple procedure, there is not much preparation required for the ultrasound. There are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you have a seamless and easy experience:
Medical providers will often recommend or require a uterine evaluation via saline ultrasound before beginning IVF treatments. The goal is to make sure that your uterine cavity is a healthy and unobstructed place that can support a pregnancy.
Sonohysterography can be very helpful in determining the next step in your pregnancy journey. If a condition or abnormality is detected by the exam, your provider will be able to guide you on the next step and how to move forward toward a healthy pregnancy.
If your results were clear, it is possible for you to get pregnant during the same cycle, or your doctor may give you the green light to move forward with your IVF cycle.
A sonohysterogram can be a method used to detect uterine cancer. Biopsies, CT scans, and hysteroscopies are commonly done as well for further investigation and more accurate results.
No, quite the opposite actually! Saline ultrasounds are done when your bladder is completely empty. Your provider will have you use the bathroom before beginning the procedure.
Saline ultrasounds are a common, simple, and minimally invasive way to get a lot of answers about your reproductive and uterine health. Knowledge is power, and thanks to procedures such as this one, doctors are becoming more and more capable of diagnosing and treating women in need.
]]>As a mother myself, I know that you want to do everything exactly right to ensure the most success for growing your little one. You are likely wondering what is okay and what is not okay following an embryo transfer.
I am confident that your provider will give you guidance; however, here is a list of the most important dos and don’ts to keep in mind after your transfer.
IVF is not an easy process. It can be both physically taxing and mentally draining. After your transfer, it is important to spoil yourself a little bit and thank your body for everything it is doing. Go to the spa, get a pedicure, try a relaxing massage, and treat yourself to something new that will make you feel good.
Even though your mind is likely swirling with possibilities and what-ifs, try to relax. Stress has a profound impact on fertility, so you want to do all that you can to keep your stress levels down. The best thing for your body right now is rest and relaxation.
Rest is important for pregnancy, no matter how you are getting there. Your body is putting in a lot of work and expending a lot of energy even though you may not feel it. Don’t try to bounce back into your normal day-to-day life. Take a break from work if you have a physically demanding job, and give your body time to rest and do its work.
It is very important to fuel your body with good things, especially right now. Focus on eating whole foods and keeping your diet full of vitamins and nutrients.
Many experts recommend the Mediterranean diet after embryo transfer as it is linked to increased chances of IVF success. This diet consists of healthy fats, leafy vegetables, and foods rich in zinc and folic acid, such as:
Folic acid, or B9, is vital to the synthesis of DNA, production of red blood cells, and brain and immune function. It is especially helpful for women who are trying to conceive because it helps prevent the fetus from developing major congenital deformities of the brain or spine. Research shows that there is higher reproductive IVF success among women who have a higher folate intake.
Increased consumption of omega 3 fatty acids has been associated with improved embryo implantation because of their role in the endometrial lining, implantation, and brain and nervous system development. Consider taking a high-quality fish oil or other supplements to ensure you are getting your essential fatty acids.
Hydration is often overlooked, but its importance should never be undermined. Dehydration can lead to extra cervical irritation during embryo transfer as well as a number of other problems. Be sure to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
If you take prescriptions regularly, consult with your doctor prior to your transfer to ensure it is okay to continue with your prescribed medications as usual. Any drugs your fertility doctor prescribes should be continued until you’re advised otherwise.
While it is important to rest and relax, you do not want to just do nothing all day. Light movement is good for both your physical and mental health. Go for a walk or light jog, ride a bike outdoors, or go for an easy swim in the pool to get your body moving.
Traveling is perfectly safe to do after an IVF transfer. Do not cancel your vacation plans because they fall after your transfer date. It may be just what you need to get your mind off of your stressors and help your body to relax.
You may find yourself running to the bathroom more frequently than usual after your transfer. This is normal and often a positive sign that the transfer was successful. The increased blood supply in your body will result in more frequent urination. However, if you experience painful urination, fever, vomiting, or bleeding, it is important to contact your doctor to rule out a urinary tract infection.
As mentioned before, keeping your mind from worrying or stressing too much could have a huge impact on transfer success. While waiting for your next appointment, keep your mind busy with other things.
Our thoughts and way of thinking have a greater influence than we realize. Embryo transfer can cause a variety of mixed emotions including worry, excitement, nervousness, and anxiety. Instead of focusing on the what-ifs or worrying about what could go wrong, try to keep your thoughts positive, and think about what could go right.
No one is more in tune with your body than you are. If something feels off or you are concerned about something, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor. In my opinion, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry that you were too scared or embarrassed to talk to someone.
You should always try to limit the amount of sugar, simple carbohydrates, and processed foods in your diet. However, it is especially important to avoid these foods after an embryo transfer. It certainly does not hurt to treat yourself every now and then; however, try to not make junk food a daily part of your diet. The excess sugar can negatively affect the body’s hormonal imbalance and decrease the chances of a successful transfer.
It is important to avoid taking a hot bath after an embryo transfer. Embryos are extremely sensitive to heat, and elevating your body temperature can affect the chances of the embryo implanting into the uterus. Also, baths can increase the chance of infection, so skip them until your doctor gives you the green light.
You may still exercise after your embryo transfer. In fact, exercise helps increase blood flow, which is important in the transfer process. However, you should definitely take it lightly for the first two weeks. Low-impact activities such as swimming and walking are best.
While swimming is a safe exercise to do within the first two weeks after a transfer, you will want to make sure the water temperature is not too high or that your body temperature does not get too elevated. You should avoid sitting in a hot tub or sauna as high temperatures can decrease the chances of implantation.
It is not likely that having sex will affect your chances of a successful transfer; however, many doctors recommend waiting two weeks before having intercourse to avoid uterine contractions from orgasm.
The purpose of an embryo transfer is to hopefully have a successful implantation and conceive a child. Alcohol is not safe for pregnancy. Therefore, women are encouraged to stop drinking after embryo transfer.
Caffeine and carbonated drinks are okay in moderation, but you should be careful about how much you consume when trying to conceive. Studies have shown that high caffeine intake can affect a woman’s ability to conceive.
While it is always important to steer clear of harmful toxins and pollutants, it is especially important when you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant via embryo transfer.
You may want to try to avoid or limit your exposure to household or beauty products that contain substances like BPA, phthalates, parabens, and triclosan among others. These substances can affect reproductive function in women.
Some over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, might affect the embryo transfer process and increase the chance of miscarriage.
Most clinics recommend resisting the urge to take an at-home pregnancy test in order to avoid false results. Patients who have undergone an embryo transfer should wait two weeks and find out their results via a blood test.
I hope that you were able to find guidance and comfort in this list. Keep in mind that it is not comprehensive, and any questions or concerns that you have should be discussed with your provider.
Congratulations on making it this far in your journey, and I wish you the very best of luck moving forward!
]]>Egg retrieval is done at the clinic using a transvaginal ultrasound, general anesthesia, and a guided needle. Before eggs can be retrieved, you will have to go through testing and take certain medications to ensure eggs are available. The process is precise.
There are multiple steps to the egg retrieval process. It’s important to know what to expect before, during, and after the egg retrieval process.
The egg retrieval process starts way before you actually enter the clinic to have your eggs retrieved. There are preparations that occur and follow-ups once the procedure is complete.
Before you even start the egg retrieval process, you will need to have blood drawn to make sure it’s a good idea to move forward with the procedure. Your doctor may also want your partner to have blood drawn, and male partners may be asked to offer a semen specimen.
Since you want the best chance at having plenty of eggs for retrieval, you will take medication or shots before the procedure. This ensures that you will produce more than one egg during this cycle. Doctors will want to retrieve as many as they safely can to give you a better chance of becoming pregnant in the future.
The night before your egg retrieval procedure, you will be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight. Tell your doctor what medications you regularly take so she can let you know if you need to discontinue them before the procedure.
Though you will be under general anesthesia when the eggs are retrieved, it’s still important to know what will happen.
A transvaginal ultrasound will be inserted to find the follicles. Once they are identified, a needle is used to get to a follicle and pierce its wall. The egg is then removed from the follicle using suction. This can be done to retrieve as many eggs as you and your doctor decided on for this cycle.
The journey doesn’t end after the eggs are retrieved. Your eggs will be placed in an incubator, and a doctor will check to see how many are mature. Some may be frozen if that’s an option you’ve chosen. However, if you are moving forward with the IVF process, then an attempt to fertilize the eggs with your partner’s sperm will happen soon after retrieval.
Implantation of the embryos happens several days after retrieval, and for some women, there may even be more time between retrieval and transfer.
After egg retrieval, you may be sore, tired, or experience a hormone crash from all the medication you took to prepare for the procedure. You may feel dizzy or slightly off after retrieval, but most symptoms tend to disappear in a matter of days. If you remain bloated, in pain, or bleeding, contact your doctor.
It’s also important to ask for medical help if any of your symptoms seem to be worsening.
Some doctors will ask you to shave with a clean, new razor the night before your egg retrieval procedure as shaving your pubic hair will decrease your risk of infection.
Other centers may shave you during surgical prep, so be sure to ask a few days in advance so you’ll be prepared.
Egg retrieval takes about 20 minutes depending on how many eggs are being retrieved. You will be in the recovery room for at least an hour after the retrieval to ensure you are feeling well enough to be released.
Since you will be under general anesthesia for egg retrieval, you won’t feel pain during the procedure. You may experience cramping when you wake up, but pain medication will be administered while you are in recovery.
You may be uncomfortable for days after the surgery due to bloating or the follow-up pain from having an invasive procedure. Though this is normal, you should tell your doctor if it feels unmanageable.
You will rest in the recovery area after egg retrieval until your doctor decides it’s okay for you to go home. For the first week after egg retrieval, you won’t want to lift anything heavy or do any strenuous exercises. Your doctor will advise you on your limits regarding exercise, work, and sexual activity.
After egg retrieval, you need to give yourself time to recover. Some ways to do this are:
The number varies depending on your specific situation, but between 10 and 14 eggs are usually retrieved during IVF. This increases the chance of at least one or two of those eggs being high quality.
There’s no magic number, but retrieving between 10 and 20 eggs means there is a better chance of pregnancy, especially as women age. However, if none of those eggs are quality, getting pregnant can still be a challenge.
Since the chance of getting pregnant decreases as women get older, how many eggs are retrieved changes with age.
Age | Number of Eggs Retrieved |
20-30 | 9 |
30-35 | 10-12 |
35-37 | 13-15 |
Over 38 | 16 |
You may experience some big feelings as your hormones try to regulate after egg retrieval. All the medication and shots taken to increase the chances of having many eggs to choose from can leave you feeling depressed, anxious, and exhausted when the procedure is over.
Your body and mind will regulate, but talk to your doctor if the hormone crash leaves you feeling hopeless or sad.
Retrieved eggs are generally transferred around five days after they are retrieved. Your doctor will work with you on the best time for transfer using knowledge of your case and results from tests he conducts.
Though every situation is different, around 70% of eggs are fertilized during IVF. Obviously, not all of these will lead to a baby. Your doctor will advise you on how many eggs to retrieve and implant to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
If you’re talking about alcohol, it’s best not to drink at all during the IVF process. In fact, many doctors recommend you don’t consume alcohol before, during, or after egg retrieval since it can negatively impact the process during all of these stages.
Egg retrieval is one part of a long process when trying to become pregnant through IVF. Talk to your doctor about any questions you have, and take care of yourself every step of the way.
]]>However, that’s not the reason why it can be harder to get pregnant as you age because it is the quality of the eggs and the ability to ovulate that decreases over time.
This leads many women to seek fertility treatment when they want to conceive.
To know how many eggs you have left, you can choose from a number of tests. These tests will help give you an estimate of how many childbearing years you have left. However, the number of eggs you have left doesn’t guarantee that pregnancy will occur because it depends on the quality of the egg.
Choosing the right method to determine how many quality eggs you have left is essential. Read on to understand more about each option and what limits each choice has.
The following methods will give you some idea of how many quality eggs you have left. They can be valuable to use if you are hoping to conceive.
However, none of them offer an exact count of how many follicles you have waiting to turn into mature eggs.
During an ultrasound at a certain part of your cycle, follicles can be seen. These are the ones getting ready to vie for mature egg status.
While this doesn’t give you a total count of how many overall eggs you have left, it does help indicate a few things.
The higher the number of follicles preparing for egg status each month, the higher it’s assumed your reserve follicle number is. Though not an exact science, it is a valuable tool for doctors and patients.
If your follicle number on the ultrasound is low, that means you don’t have as many follicles ready to try for mature egg status. That leads doctors to assume that you don’t have a high number in reserve.
The Anti-Mullerian hormone is high when you have many follicles that could become mature eggs. It decreases over time as that follicle number goes down.
A low Anti-Mullerian hormone test doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant, but it does mean you may need some help because the number of follicles that can become mature eggs is decreasing.
The follicle-stimulating hormone, better known as FSH, lets your ovaries know that ovulation is near. When FSH levels are high, this actually means there could be a problem.
Normal FSH levels mean your body is taking the hint and has enough estrogen to stimulate follicle development so that an egg can be released for ovulation.
A high FSH level means your body is having trouble with estrogen levels and ovulation, and this could be due to a low number of quality eggs.
The higher FSH level is a sign that the FSH hormone is trying to help the ovaries along because they don’t have enough quality eggs to get things going as they should.
Taking Clomid for five consecutive days at a specific time in your cycle is another way to figure out how many quality eggs you have left for ovulation.
Doctors will test your FSH levels on day 3 and day 10, and as strange as it sounds, they are looking for low levels on both tests.
High FSH levels mean your body is having trouble with ovulating, and that could be due to a low number of quality eggs.
Talk to your doctor about taking Clomid and about the side effects you may experience during this testing.
Low Inhibin B levels mean your follicle number is low. This hormone fluctuates during your cycle, but when tested at the right time, it can be a solid indicator of what is happening with potential eggs.
This test is done by drawing blood and can let your healthcare provider know if you would be a good candidate for certain fertility procedures.
Most baby girls are born with one to two million eggs. This number will decrease with time, and it is not possible for girls to make more eggs in their lifetime. Of these millions of eggs, many will be lost before a female even enters puberty and starts her period.
Though every woman is different, there are some rough estimates of how many eggs you will have at different ages in your life. As most women know, egg number decreases with age.
Age | Approximate Egg Count |
Birth | 1 to 2 million |
Puberty | 300,000-400,000 |
20-30 | 100,000-200,000 |
30-35 | 50,000-100,000 |
35-40 | Around 25,000 |
40-50 | 1,000-18,000 |
While only one egg ultimately matures and leaves the ovary during ovulation each month, you lose many more potential mature eggs with each cycle.
There are egg follicles that step up to try to be the egg that matures and is released, but they don’t make it.
This means about 1,000 egg follicles, or potential fully mature eggs, are lost each cycle.
Egg quality does decrease with age. Around the early 30s, egg quality will begin to decrease. By the late 30s, the decrease happens much faster and continues as a woman ages.
This doesn’t mean women can’t get pregnant later in life. It just means the chances of fertility issues and birth defects increase with each passing year.
While egg count varies by person, a woman probably has between 5,000-10,000 eggs at 45 years of age. The quality of eggs is going to decrease as she ages, as will the quantity.
Knowing about how many quality eggs you have left can help you as you try to conceive. Use the tests that are right for your situation to know what fertility issues you may need help with in the future.
]]>In comes fertility coaching.
Fertility coaches offer support for couples who are trying to conceive through assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Coaching helps couples focus on living a healthy lifestyle that is conducive to a healthy conception and pregnancy and helps them navigate stressors in a healthy way.
Let’s learn a little bit more about what fertility coaches do, the advantages of having one, and when it might be time to call one.
While doctors provide clinical care, fertility coaches build on that care with additional physical, mental, and emotional support and guidance. OBGYNs are helpful in determining if there is a medical problem with the uterus, ovaries, or hormones that is making conception difficult.
Fertility coaches help you make the necessary lifestyle changes in order to prepare your body and mind for conception and pregnancy or to undergo assisted reproductive techniques.
Many people do not realize that there is more that influences fertility than what is discussed in doctor’s offices. There are many factors that influence reproductive health and treatment outcomes including weight, diet, intake of vitamins, alcohol or substance use, alternative therapies, and stressors such as work, finance, and relationships.
Fertility coaches help manage and improve these factors that can influence fertility while helping navigate the emotional tolls of this often stressful time.
Fertility coaching is often a mind-body process. Coaches aim to treat the whole person rather than focus on just the infertility diagnosis. They support a client physically, mentally, and emotionally in an effort to enhance fertility or prepare a person for parenthood via alternate routes.
Every fertility journey is unique, and coaches focus on individual cases in order to provide the best guidance and help a couple make the right choices on their journey.
Fertility coaches cannot diagnose you with any type of medical condition or prescribe any medication. While they will try their best, coaches cannot guarantee that a client will conceive or have a successful ART treatment.
The biggest benefit of fertility coaching is having someone by your side who is focused on you and can offer personalized support. Oftentimes, couples feel alone in their fertility journeys, and coaches can help them feel seen, heard, and important.
Medical doctors are helpful and provide important information regarding diagnosis and treatment options, but fertility coaches will help you look a few steps further at changes you can make in your lifestyle to supplement your treatment and enhance your chances of conceiving.
Fertility coaches also help you develop important lifestyle habits that will be beneficial for your health beyond your fertility journey.
Your fertility journey is an incredibly personal one. Doctors definitely have their place, but it is easy to begin feeling as if you are more of a patient or problem that needs fixing than an actual human being with a jumble of thoughts and internal struggles.
This is why a fertility coach can be helpful. You will be listened to and treated as a whole person rather than just another medical case. Your fertility coach can provide support in a number of ways.
Fertility coaches can help lessen the negative impact that fertility struggles can have on you and your life. With techniques that help you change your mindset, fertility coaches can support you in implementing coping skills that will reduce the negative physical and psychological effects such as chronic stress, anxiety, or low mood.
Nutritional deficiencies, sleep, toxins, diet, chronic/excessive stress, exercise, hormonal imbalances, and other health issues can also play a role in fertility. Even if you do not have any significant health challenges or symptoms, unhealthy lifestyle choices or habits can acutely influence your fertility.
A fertility coach can help you analyze your lifestyle and set goals to optimize your lifestyle and make practical changes that may have a positive impact on your physical body and reproductive health.
Studies have shown that positive lifestyle changes can have a significant impact on the ability to conceive and successful fertility treatments. The right support during the preconception period and through fertility treatment has been shown to:
Some fertility diagnoses may not ever be overcome with treatments, and fertility coaches are aware of that. However, helping a couple conceive is not their only goal.
While they certainly want this and will try to help, their end goal is helping you become a healthier person (or couple) all around. They focus on treating your mind and body by teaching you techniques and habits that are applicable not only to fertility but to overall health and wellness.
By doing so, they help you find increased health and well-being, emotional balance, and positive ways to move forward in your journey to becoming a parent.
Fertility coaches come from a variety of backgrounds and have different specialties. Some may have medical backgrounds, and others may have experience in counseling, nutrition, etc. Each has a specific niche they serve that determines how they work with their clients.
Some coaches work on mindset while others focus on holistic approaches such as Chinese medicine or acupuncture. Some focus solely on the emotional aspects while others may take a more mind-body approach and focus on a little bit of everything: physical, mental, and emotional.
While there is not a particular degree requirement for fertility coaching, clients want educated and trained fertility coaches. There are online certification programs and training available for individuals interested in becoming holistic fertility coaches.
Coaching and counseling can be quite similar, and it can be difficult to know what one does over the other. Fertility coaches and therapists have a lot in common, but there are some things that set them apart.
Both coaches and counselors can come from a variety of specialties and backgrounds. They also have shared goals with clients, and their clients are the focus of the relationship.
Coaching focuses more on self-exploration, self-knowledge, professional development, performance enhancement, and better self-management. Fertility coaching is goal-oriented, focusing more on the client’s thoughts and behaviors and advancing the client’s potential.
Fertility therapists seek to bring clients from a dysfunctional place to a healthy, functioning level. They seek to heal emotional wounds and “cure” the patient emotionally. Fertility therapists seek to remove the client’s mental pain and increase their insight.
Ultimately, fertility coaches are for those who are generally functioning okay but are unsure how to move forward with improving fertility or fertility mindset. Those who want an accountability partner should seek a fertility coach.
Fertility therapists, on the other hand, are better for those who are having a very difficult time with their fertility diagnosis and are struggling to function on a daily basis. Those who suffer from anxiety, depression, or infertility triggers would benefit from a fertility therapist.
A fertility coach may be your answer if you:
You can expect to pay anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars depending on your coach.
Most insurance companies do not provide benefits to cover fertility coaching.
There is no governing body that certifies coaches; therefore, you will have to do your own search online or get recommendations from others who have used them. Many coaches work remotely and can work over the phone, by text, or through email.
Fertility coaches can be very helpful and could be the answer you are looking for to help you in your fertility journey. If you are on the fence about hiring one, it might be helpful to find reviews and feedback online from people who have used a fertility coach to learn what their experience was like.
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