Fertility Treatment
Summit Women’s Health works with Princeton, WV families at all phases of the reproductive process. Fertility problems can be a difficult reality to face, but your providers will do everything we can to help you pursue a safe and healthy pregnancy.
Why am I having trouble having a baby?
Infertility can be caused by many different conditions and circumstances. For about 1 in every 4 couples, a specific cause will not be able to be identified.
In the vast majority of cases, situations that may cause infertility have nothing to do with your actions. With the exception of exposure to certain drugs (like chemotherapy or cocaine), most known causes of infertility are genetic or just random quirks of the body.
Many people experience distressing feelings while dealing with fertility issues. Though those feelings are perfectly normal, it is important to remind yourself of the many things your body does to keep you alive and health and the people who care about you just as you are. Your providers are here to help you through this time and to identify the options available to you.
What should we try first?
Before running any tests, your provider at Summit Women’s Health will have a conversation with those looking to conceive about their medical history and attempts to conceive. Sometimes partners can make lifestyle changes that increase chances of conceiving without tests, or they may just need to try for a longer period of time. Most doctors recommend trying to conceive through safe, unprotected sex for at least 1 year before trying fertility treatments.
How is fertility tested?
For the causes we can test for, we will collect a blood sample from each partner. The blood test will help your provider evaluate hormone levels and other markers that may help them understand what is going on.
For women, several blood tests may be taken over a period of time in order to track how each hormone fluctuates throughout your menstrual cycle. There are also the options of an ultrasound or exploratory surgery – known as a laparoscopy or hysteroscopy – to check for uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disorder.
For men, we may test for the quantity and health of the sperm your body is producing. In some cases, we may also recommend genetic testing for men, to check for a few types of abnormalities that can prevent conception or cause early pregnancy loss.
What is IVF?
IVF, also known as in vitro fertilization, is a process of fertilizing eggs in a lab environment. Once a few eggs have accepted a sperm, they can be transferred to the mother’s uterus to try to implant into the lining. If one – or more – eggs successfully implant, a pregnancy may begin.
The process of IVF requires a series of steps to best prepare the body for egg removal, remove the eggs, and then return them.
What is the CNY Fertile Access Network?
IVF and other fertility treatments can be expensive, and many insurance plans don’t cover it. That’s why Summit Women’s Health is a proud member of the CNY Fertile Access Network, which connects patients with reproductive health providers who are committed to offering affordable and accessible care.
You can have your fertility testing and IVF cycle monitoring done right here at Summit Women’s Health, then travel to a CNY Fertility Center, where they’ve been providing some of the most affordable fertility care in the U.S. since 1997.
The providers at Summit Women’s Health will be with you throughout your family building journey and continue to care for you during your pregnancy and beyond.
If you visit a practice that is part of the CNY Fertile Access Network, you can expect IVF monitoring services and fertility assessments to be offered in a manner consistent with The CNY Fertility Way – a standard of care that puts quality and compassion at the center of the patient experience.
Practitioners who agree to participate in the CNY Fertile Access Network have pledged to charge a fixed price for monitoring services, set at a price aligned with the mission to increase access to fertility care nationwide and contribute to making the priceless affordable.®
The providers at Summit Women’s Health are experienced in guiding patients through the process of exploring why a couple may be having difficulty conceiving. They will make sure to give you the best recommendations available to help you become a parent.
To learn more about fertility treatment, book an appointment at Summit Women’s Health with Brandon M. Lingenfelter, DO, PhD, Megan Lingenfelter PA, Sam Snyder, DO, or Valeah Bradshaw, NP, call us at 681 282 5591 or use our scheduling portal.