Pregnancy: Conception – Maternity – Trimester
Genetic screening before pregnancy

Genetic screening before pregnancy

What genetic screening before pregnancy means Genetic screening before pregnancy usually refers to carrier screening, a blood or saliva test that checks whether a person carries specific pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants associated with inherited conditions. A carrier typically has one working copy and one altered copy of a gene. For many autosomal recessive conditions, […]

Tests to do before pregnancy

Tests to do before pregnancy

Why pre-pregnancy testing matters The earliest weeks of pregnancy are biologically important, often before a person knows they are pregnant. Organ development begins early, and exposures such as uncontrolled hyperglycemia, certain medications, severe anemia, untreated infections, or lack of folate can matter from the beginning. Pre-pregnancy testing gives you a chance to identify and address […]

Medical checkup before pregnancy and what to expect at a pre-pregnancy doctor visit

Medical checkup before pregnancy and what to expect at a pre-pregnancy doctor visit

Why a pre-pregnancy medical checkup matters Pregnancy places significant physiologic demands on the cardiovascular, endocrine, renal, hematologic, and immune systems. A pre-pregnancy checkup gives you and your clinician a chance to evaluate whether any existing conditions need optimization before conception. This is particularly relevant for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease, epilepsy, kidney disease, […]

Preconception health checklist

Preconception health checklist

Start with a preconception appointment A preconception appointment is a preventive health visit focused on identifying risks before pregnancy. Ideally, schedule it at least three months before trying to conceive, although it is still worthwhile even if you are already attempting pregnancy. Bring a medication and supplement list, vaccination records, prior pregnancy details, menstrual cycle […]

Preconception planning overview

Preconception planning overview

What preconception planning means Preconception planning is a structured review of factors that could influence fertility, pregnancy, fetal development, and long-term parental health. It may occur in obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics for adolescents, reproductive endocrinology, genetics, psychiatry, or other specialty settings. Clinically, it usually includes three overlapping goals: identifying risks, improving […]

Pre-pregnancy health basics: why preparation matters and what to do before trying

Pre-pregnancy health basics: why preparation matters and what to do before trying

Why preparation matters before pregnancy Pregnancy health does not begin with a positive test. It begins in the preconception period, when eggs and sperm are developing, underlying medical conditions can be optimized, and exposures can be changed before implantation and early organ development. This is why organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and […]

Choosing a fertility clinic and evaluating IVF centers

Choosing a fertility clinic and evaluating IVF centers

Start with your goals, diagnosis, and timeline The best clinic for one patient may not be the best clinic for another. Before comparing centers, clarify what you need from care. Are you seeking an initial fertility evaluation, ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, donor eggs, donor sperm, fertility preservation, preimplantation genetic testing, recurrent […]

Side effects and risks of fertility treatments including OHSS

Side effects and risks of fertility treatments including OHSS

Why fertility treatments can cause side effects Many fertility treatments work by altering or amplifying the hormonal signals that regulate ovulation. Oral ovulation medications, injectable gonadotropins, GnRH agonists or antagonists, ovulation triggers, progesterone support, and estrogen preparations can all produce noticeable effects because they influence ovarian activity, endometrial preparation, and fluid balance. In an unstimulated […]

When to stop treatment and deciding next steps

When to stop treatment and deciding next steps

What it means to stop treatment Stopping treatment means discontinuing a specific intervention because it is no longer the best way to meet the patient’s goals or medical needs. It does not mean abandonment, neglect, or the end of professional responsibility. In ethical guidance on withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, the American Medical Association emphasizes […]

When fertility treatments fail and repeated IVF failure

When fertility treatments fail and repeated IVF failure

Understanding IVF failure: not every failure has the same meaning IVF is a highly controlled treatment, but it cannot control every biological step required for a pregnancy. A cycle may fail at several points: the ovaries may produce fewer follicles than expected, no eggs may be retrieved, eggs may not fertilize, embryos may stop developing […]