A reproductive health physician, also known as a reproductive endocrinologist (RE), is essentially an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) who specializes in diagnosing and treating hormonal issues and conditions surrounding reproductive health.
If you have any of the following conditions or circumstances, you could greatly benefit from the expertise of a reproductive health physician:
- You want to conceive but haven’t been able to even after having unprotected sex for more than a year.
- You have irregular, painful, or absent menstrual cycles.
- You have had one or more miscarriages.
- You have had or are going to have a treatment (e.g., chemotherapy) that could affect your fertility.
- You have symptoms or a diagnosis of uterine fibroids (noncancerous growths in the uterus), endometriosis (a condition that occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of it) or polycystic ovarian syndrome (a hormonal disorder).
How a Reproductive Health Physician Can Help You
To confirm a diagnosis, a reproductive health physician will review your medical history and assess your overall health as well as perform or order a variety of tests. These include:
- Lab tests (e.g., blood sugar, complete blood count (CBC), urine tests, etc.)
- Hormone tests (e.g., estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, etc.)
- Diagnostic imaging (e.g., transvaginal ultrasound, testicular ultrasounds, etc.)
- Fluid tests (e.g., semen analysis and cervical mucus testing)
Based on the results of the evaluation, a reproductive endocrinologist may prescribe medications or recommend surgery, whichever they deem is necessary for your condition.
A reproductive endocrinologist has advanced training to carry out the following procedures:
o Myomectomy- to remove uterine fibroids
o Hysteroscopy- to examine the inside of the cervix and uterus using a hysteroscope (a thin, lighted instrument with a camera attached to its tip)
o Laparoscopy- to view the abdominal and pelvic organs using a laparoscope (a long, slender instrument inserted into a small incision on the abdomen)
A reproductive health physician can also perform the following if you want to conceive a child but have fertility issues:
o Intrauterine insemination (IUI)- involves placing your partner’s sperm into your uterus
o In vitro fertilization (IVF)- involves fertilizing your egg with your partner’s sperm in a laboratory then transferring the best embryo(s) to your own or a surrogate’s uterus.
Reproductive Health Physician Near Me in Syracuse, NY
For first-rate reproductive healthcare services in the Syracuse area in New York, visit us at University OB/GYN Associates. Our board-certified reproductive health physicians utilize the most advanced fertility testing to determine the possible causes of infertility and offer treatment plans tailored to each of our patients’ unique needs.
We have helped countless couples in Syracuse and neighboring areas conquer their fertility issues and achieve their goal of starting a family, and we will consider it a great honor to be part of your success story as well!
Call us today at (305) 464-5162 to experience the warm, friendly care of one of our reproductive health physicians. We look forward to serving you!
