Are you worried about being infertile? Are you and your loved one trying to start a family but are met with negative result after negative result of pregnancy tests? Try to relax. It’s not yet time to start screaming and pulling your hair out. It may be time to start looking for a fertility doctor though.

Infertility is a disease according the ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine). It occurs in around 7.3 million American couples and, as a disease, it needs to be treated. If you have tried to start a family for at least one year without success, you are now officially within the definition of having infertility and you are warranted to seek out evaluation and treatment from a specialist as soon as possible.

However, if you are a woman above 35, you may want to check with a specialist sooner than a year. If you are having difficulty conceiving at a later age, try to get evaluated sooner. This rapid evaluation is also suggested if you or your partner has had a medical history of fertility related conditions like low sperm counts, or tubal blockages, or moderate to severe cases of endometriosis.

To find your fertility doctor, the first thing you have to do is have a talk with your partner. What you are going to go through as an individual and as a couple can become very stressful and your relationship may be tested. Talking now, before making any decisions, and making sure you are both seeing the same picture is essential if you want a smoother journey through infertility. Talk about your feelings and views about the possible treatments and procedures. Establish the parameters that you both should set to determine how you will proceed with your plans later on. It may not be easy, but starting your own family is well worth the sacrifices you may have to make.

Next, try to get referrals to fertility doctors from your friends, family, or even your family doctors who aren’t necessarily fertility specialists. Friends and family are great for getting second-hand experiences from their doctors. If they have suffered through infertility, they may have more detailed experiences to share that may help you in deciding which doctor to pick later. You family doctors, especially your gynecologist, can be especially helpful. Gynecologists can actually perform some of the initial evaluations and treatments if they have the expertise. Try asking if he or she went through a 2 or 3 year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility. But even if your gynecologist can have the skills to treat you initially, you still have to be ready to look for a specialist down the road. The American Medical Association (AMA) and the National Infertility Association (RESOLVE) both have great websites that can help you in your search.

Once you have built a list of options and possible doctors that can help you, try to investigate them and uncover some more useful information about them. To start, you can check with your state medical board and check the doctor’s license and standing. Some doctors are associated with clinics and treatment centers and it might be a good idea to get some more information on those as well. This is made easy with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC’s website. They have extensive data on fertility clinics and are readily downloadable for you. If the clinic is a SART or Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology member, you can also check them out in the SART website. Keep in mind though that the numbers are only a part of the picture. Always use the statistics in conjunction with actual interviews and meetings with the doctors or clinics and determine if they are indeed the doctor that will be appropriate for your needs. Remember that the treatment that you may have to go through can become very stressful and it may help if your doctor is one you can be very comfortable with.

With these tips, you can find a good fertility doctor for you. You don’t have to back down from infertility. With a good doctor, you can beat infertility and start the family of your dreams.