(To provide more information after Dr. Elan Simckes' recent KTVI FOX 2 News interview regarding infertility issues among women with Type O blood, we've gone back in the Fertility Partnership blog vault to reprint this post about the Fertility Profile. We hope it helps you make an informed decision about when to begin trying to conceive.)

Let's face it, it's time for us to reinvent how we look at infertility. All these years, we have been viewing infertility as a quality of life issue. In fact, it is more like a disease, because human organs are not working as they should. A woman's right to try to get pregnant should be the same as a person's right to not have a broken bone or an infection. Nevertheless, we find ourselves in a situation where only people who can afford it and the few who have insurance can be appropriately treated.

Since infertility care is not generally covered by insurance, the medical community has become reactive as opposed to proactive in our management. Couples often wait a very long time before they seek help, as they fear what lies in store for them if infertility is in fact diagnosed. As a result, many women wait too long and are faced with a serious egg reserve problem. Imagine if a woman or man could find out that there is a problem even before they try to have children. If they found out early on, they could prepare themselves emotionally and financially for the upcoming struggle.

Fertility Partnership has created the Fertility Profile to give women an opportunity to get a snapshot of their reproductive health. If the results indicate that there is a significant depletion in their egg reserve, they can make decisions before it's too late. While the Fertility Profile can give women a good snapshot of their current health, however, it cannot predict that the egg reserve will remain within healthy ranges for a long time. In fact, I have seen women whose fertility indicators have changed dramatically over a very short period of time – as little as six months. But, if there is a problem, a woman has a right to know as soon as possible. As it stands now, a woman generally has to try to get pregnant for a year – six months if over age 35 – before most doctors will initiate a comprehensive workup. At the Fertility Partnership, my objective is to always be proactive and look for problems early on so that big decisions about having a baby can be made in a timely fashion.

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When I first meet with a couple struggling with infertility, invariably their first question is “Why?” They want to know the cause – as do I – so that we can prepare a treatment plan and do everything possible to help them have a baby.

Most of the patients I see have distinct, identifiable conditions, syndromes or diseases that cause infertility. I believe it is important to try to find the cause and answer the question of “Why?” After making a diagnosis, we map out a plan of treatment that matches their wishes, emotional state, and financial abilities, always based on a true medical benefit to their goal of a family. I like to start the conversation by saying what may be obvious, but what forms the basis of our search for a solution: “To get pregnant you need eggs, you need sperm, and they need to meet.”

“Egg problems” include conditions like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – a disorder of hormones and metabolism that lead to the body not ovulating, or releasing the egg to the tube. PCOS patients have irregular periods and often suffer from conditions including obesity and extra body hair (but not always). Ovarian Failure from natural aging also affects a large portion of our patients. If this is Premature Ovarian Failure, we look for other associated illnesses that may need to be treated before we begin fertility treatments.

Another cause is hypothalamus dysfunction. Since the hypothalamus helps control the pituitary gland, and the pituitary gland controls the ovaries, problems with the hypothalamus can have a devastating effect on a woman’s ability to conceive. There are a number of causes of hypothalamus dysfunction, including everything from genetic disorders to head trauma.

Hyperprolactinemia, or the overproduction of the hormone prolactin, which can block ovulation, is more common than one might think. Other causes of infertility include blocked fallopian tubes, birth defects affecting the reproductive organs, and uterine fibroids. Basically, any defect or injury to the female pelvic organs that can block the transport of sperm from the vagina to the fallopian tube, or prevents good implantation of the embryo when it enters the uterine cavity, can affect fertility.

“Sperm problems” are the cause more than 30 percent of the time. As with female infertility, there are a number of reasons men may suffer from infertility, and hormone disorders can play a big role. Additionally, varicose veins in the scrotum; trauma, often suffered while playing sports; and illnesses like mumps or common sexually transmitted diseases can negatively affect fertility. There are also genetic conditions that prevent the sperm from developing or functioning correctly.

Fortunately, once the problem is identified, we generally can prescribe medications and/or surgery to correct the issue. Although 20-30 percent of all patients who come to us do not have an identifiable cause, we still have established protocols and treatment plans with a proven history of success.

Regardless of whether your reasons for infertility are found or not, our process to help will be the same – we’ll work with you to find the best solutions that have the greatest chance of success for you. We’ll leave no stone unturned in doing everything we can to help you achieve your dream of conceiving a child.

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While I’m happy for celebrity couple John Travolta and Kelly Preston on the news that they’re expecting a baby in November, I also know that news like this raises many questions in the minds of women battling infertility. How could Kelly Preston conceive a child at age 47? Did she use donor eggs? Did she use IVF or did they really conceive the old-fashioned way?

Since Ms. Preston hasn’t revealed any details about the conception of their baby, I can only provide an educated guess based on the latest statistics and my experience providing fertility treatments to many women in their 40s. While I don’t wish to tread on celebrities’ privacy by demanding they reveal every detail, I do wish that, when they do use IVF or other fertility solutions, they would provide that basic information simply to help break down the stigma of infertility.

Many people – women and men – are ashamed and embarrassed when they find themselves diagnosed with fertility problems, and that shame often stops them from pursuing any kind of help. That is so unfortunate, because technology has progressed to the point that we have a range of infertility treatments and surgeries that can help, and some that are actually quite simple and inexpensive.

So while I don't know for sure what, if any, fertility treatments John Travolta and Kelly Preston used to conceive their baby, based on her age alone, it's highly likely some form of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) was provided. Fewer than 5 percent of women age 45 can conceive with their own eggs, I wish Ms. Preston nothing but the best in her pregnancy and look forward to hearing of the birth of a healthy baby for the Travolta family - a wonderful event that hopefully will help soothe a little of the pain of losing their son Jett last year.

And to my age 40-plus readers, take heart at the news. Pregnancy after age 40 is possible, but in most cases you’ll need some kind of fertility care to have a baby. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to reach out for help – whether you’re a world-famous celebrity or our neighbor down the street, Fertility Partnership is here to help you achieve your dream.

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Let's face it, it's time for us to reinvent how we look at infertility. All these years, we have been viewing infertility as a quality of life issue. In fact, it is more like a disease, because human organs are not working as they should. A woman's right to try to get pregnant should be the same as a person's right to not have a broken bone or an infection. Nevertheless, we find ourselves in a situation where only people who can afford it and the few who have insurance can be appropriately treated.

Since infertility care is not generally covered by insurance, the medical community has become reactive as opposed to proactive in our management. Couples often wait a very long time before they seek help, as they fear what lies in store for them if infertility is in fact diagnosed. As a result, many women wait too long and are faced with a serious egg reserve problem. Imagine if a woman or man could find out that there is a problem even before they try to have children. If they found out early on, they could prepare themselves emotionally and financially for the upcoming struggle.

Fertility Partnership has created the Fertility Profile to give women an opportunity to get a snapshot of their reproductive health. If the results indicate that there is a significant depletion in their egg reserve, they can make decisions before it's too late. While the Fertility Profile can give women a good snapshot of their current health, however, it cannot predict that the egg reserve will remain within healthy ranges for a long time. In fact, I have seen women whose fertility indicators have changed dramatically over a very short period of time – as little as six months. But, if there is a problem, a woman has a right to know as soon as possible. As it stands now, a woman generally has to try to get pregnant for a year – six months if over age 35 – before most doctors will initiate a comprehensive workup. At the Fertility Partnership, my objective is to always be proactive and look for problems early on so that big decisions about having a baby can be made in a timely fashion.

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