Before you see a doctor, however, make sure you have done everything in your power to get pregnant.

• Are you tracking your menstrual cycles and using some method to ensure you are having sex at or around your time of ovulation?
• Does an ovulation predictor kit show that you are ovulating normally?

If this is the case, a fertility specialist should be able to help you pin down the reason you have not been able to conceive and discuss methods that will help you conceive or make a pregnancy possible. Statistics show that 85 percent of all infertility cases are curable.

Testing for Him

The doctor first will take down your medical history. Testing typically begins with the male, because his test involves a simple semen analysis. The analysis will look for sperm count, healthy movement of the sperm, and the shape and maturity of the sperm cells to determine the quality. The semen’s consistency and volume will be analyzed – approximately one teaspoon is considered normal. The pH balance will be tested – it should be slightly alkaline to survive in the environment of the cervix.

If the test results show abnormalities, a doctor specializing in male infertility will repeat the exam two times over the next three months. Many different factors – from a fever or illness to sexually transmitted diseases – can affect sperm count. Additionally, intense physical activity – and especially bicycle riding – can reduce sperm count, as can high temperatures, such as those experienced in a hot tub. Even wearing briefs instead of boxers can create a warm environment in the testes that can lower sperm count.

If the next two exams bring abnormal results, your partner will be referred to a urologist, who will perform the following tests:

• A sperm antibody test

• Hormonal blood tests

• Testicular biopies to determine if he is sterile

• Vasography which checks for any obstructions

• Fructose test

• Bovine cervical mucus test which checks the sperm’s ability to penetrate cervical mucus from cows

• Hamster egg test which determines sperm penetration strength. This test is important, because if his sperm can’t penetrate the egg, in vitro fertilization will not be successful.

Testing for Her

If your partner’s semen analysis results are normal, or if all of the tests performed by the urologist show no problems, testing begins for you. A gynecologist specializing in reproductive endocrinology can take you through this stage of fertility testing.

The doctor will first view both of your charts and review your medical history, paying particular attention to past surgeries such as appendicitis, myomectomies or fibroid surgery, and any STDs on record. He will ask about your menstrual cycle – if you’ve ever had irregular periods, etc., and he will ask about your contraceptive history. He will then conduct interviews with both of you, either together or separately.

He will ask you both questions about previous pregnancies and their outcomes, as well as how long you’ve been trying to get pregnant. He will also ask many lifestyle questions including:

• Frequency of sex

• Do you use any recreational drugs?

• Do you smoke?

• How often do you drink alcohol?

• How healthy is your diet?

• Do you exercise regularly? How often and what activities?

• Have you experienced any stressful events recently, such as a death or new job?

It may be tempting to lie when you answer some of these questions but your honest answers will help your doctor discover the cause of your infertility and make changes that will help you get pregnant.

Your exam includes a complete physical, including an internal, when the doctor will examine your ovaries for signs of problems such as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), endometriosis, and PID. An ultrasound may be performed to check the condition of the fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Additionally, blood work will be done or scheduled to check reproductive and thyroid hormone levels and to test for STDs.

A visit to a fertility specialist can be a stressful experience, but knowing what to expect and being prepared can help alleviate some of your concerns, as well as make your visit go smoothly.

How can you prepare?

• Bring a list of questions you and your partner want to ask

• Be prepared with your families’ medical histories and your own medical histories

• Be prepared with information about your menstrual cycle, including ovulation dates from charting your cycle for at least three months.

Author: Dawn Allcot

Piercing your baby’s ears is a very personal decision that each parent has to make on their own. For various reasons what is best for your friend’s family may not be best for yours. There are things to think about however.

Why Get Your Baby’s Ears Pierced?
While men often have one or both of their ears pierced these days, it is still a very feminine thing to do. Many people think it is cute to have their daughters ears pierced and they think it makes them stand out. As a baby it definitely makes your baby stand out as a girl no matter what colors she is wearing, or if she is wearing a dress or onesie. Some babies will be born with little or no hair making boys and barrettes impossibility. Some people will choose to get their daughters ears pierced so that they don’t have to hear the question, or at least hear it as often, “Is it a boy or a girl?”

Another reason why people get their daughters ears pierced when they are babies is because their baby won’t remember it. Even if your baby cries when it happens, within minutes afterwards, with lots of love from you they will probably have calmed down and forgotten it. Also, as an infant your baby can not take her earrings out of her ears and the chance of the area getting dirty is less, since she won’t be playing in much dirt for a few more months.

When Is The Best Time To Do It?
Many people get their daughters ears pierced within the first two weeks of life. Others wait until there babies are a few months old. There is really not “best” time as an infant, but in order to help keep your baby’s hands away from her ears you should probably do it while she is still very little. A three month old won’t understand the concept of playing with her ears like a one year old would. Likewise, a two or three year old is more likely to figure out how to take off those pesky adult proof backings leading to her losing one of her earrings. Yes, she will always just lose one, making you have a lot of single earrings laying around for your baby.

Asleep or awake? Chances are if you do it while your baby is asleep she will wake up and wake up angry at that. If you wait until she is awake make sure she is happy, but be prepared to hold her tight, or if allowed keep her strapped into her infant car seat. This will keep her from jumping and moving too much.

Where Do You Get Them Pierced?
You can get your baby’s ears pierced in many jewelry stores in your local mall. There are even piercing stands in the middle of most malls that for the most part only pierce ears and sell earrings. Ask friends who have had their daughters ears pierced about which place they went to and if they liked it. It is important that you find a place where the woman piercing your baby’s ears has experience in piercing baby’s ears. Ask the people who are piercing your baby’s ears how long they have been doing it. Feel them out like you would your pediatrician before you let them pierce your baby’s ears.

Will It Hurt?
In a word, YES. Most of the time it will hurt, after all they are putting two holes into your baby. However it can be compared to your baby getting his immunizations in the leg. Some people might say that it hurts less because ears are pierced through skin in the lobe with a little gun and it is done quickly. Your baby is given his shots with a long needle stuck into a leg muscle and it takes longer.

Concerns
One big negative of having your baby’s ears pierced is that your baby can’t tell you if there is something wrong. If there is an infection in the hole you may not know it for a couple of days. Also, some babies may have allergies to nickel which is found in silver and other types of piercing studs. If your baby has allergies, she won’t be able to tell you that the holes are itching and hurting. It is imperative that you wants for your baby to be pulling on their ear or rubbing it, and look for redness or puss coming from your baby’s ear.

Make Sure You Keep It Clean
Make sure you get the ear cleaner from the piercing booth and read the directions. You want to make sure that you clean around the earring per the instructions as often as it says. This will help avoid an infection from growing inside the hole the earring is in. You will also want to turn the earring a little bit each day to assure that the hole will not attach itself to the earring as it heals.