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Getting Started With Fertility Treatment

Whether you are just beginning the process of starting a family or have been trying for a while, the reproductive specialists at the Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Center can help.

Whatever the cause of your infertility, our specialists have the expertise necessary to diagnose and treat you. In a supportive, private and professional environment, we provide the expert and compassionate care you need to help your family grow.

A newborn sleeps in his parents arms

Understanding Infertility: How We Can Help

At the Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Center, you’ll find a team that leads the way in reproductive medicine in the St. Louis region. Our fertility specialists contribute to the latest knowledge in the field through ongoing scientific and clinical research.

When you’re having trouble conceiving a baby or carrying a pregnancy to term, it can feel like you’re all alone. But in reality, infertility affects one in eight American couples, and almost a third of women over age 35 need some assistance to achieve a successful pregnancy.

At the Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Center, our Washington University physicians can help you understand infertility and why it’s important to get the right treatment:

  • What infertility means: Infertility, or the inability to conceive, is actually recognized as a disease – one that our physicians are dedicated to treating. Thanks to our expertise, about two-thirds of those we treat for infertility successfully become parents.
  • Involvement of each partner: About one-third of infertility is attributed to the female partner, one-third to the male and, in one-third of cases, both partners have factors that contribute. Our fertility doctors can test both partners to find out the cause of infertility, the first step toward successful treatment.
  • Solutions other than in vitro fertilization (IVF): You may have concerns about the costs and invasive nature of IVF treatments. Our fertility specialists also provide treatment including medications or minor surgical procedures to successfully treat people with infertility.
  • When to seek treatment: At the Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Center, we recommend that you see a fertility specialist if you’ve been trying unsuccessfully for a year (6 months if you’re over 35) to become pregnant. Some reasons for seeking help sooner include:
    • Experiencing irregular or painful periods
    • Experiencing two or more miscarriages in a row
    • Undergoing treatment, such as chemotherapy, that may affect the reproductive system (either partner)

Contact Us

To make an appointment with a Washington University fertility and reproductive medicine specialist at the Women and Infants Center, call 855.925.0631.