Question
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Answer
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We have been trying for a baby for eleven months now and I am beginning to panic.
How long should I leave it before getting help?
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First of all don't panic. Not only will stress reduce your chances of conceiving, you
should also know that many couples take twelve months or so. You may, however, wish
to consult your doctor, if only for some reassurance, if you have not conceived after
twelve months. Don't be embarrassed about going. It is thought that between 10 and
15% of couples talk to their doctors about their concerns about fertility.
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My new partner wants us to start a family, but he has had a vasectomy. Is there any way
in which we can start a family?
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About a third of vasectomies are reversed successfully and so your partner may wish to discuss this
option with his doctor. If reversal fails, you both might then consider other options, such as
using donor sperm. Your doctor should be able to advise you.
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I am 35 years old and we are thinking about starting a faimly. I am a little unsure about how long
we can wait, although I know that many women are having babies into their forties.
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First, there is no perfect age to have a baby, as beside the physical aspect, you will also be making
an emotional and even a financial commitment. In terms of fertility, there are many factors that
effect womens ability to conceive including diet and lifestyle. Age is another, Older women
usually take longer to conceive and miscarriage rates can be higher. Whilst a woman in her mid twenties
may conceive in two or three months, a woman in her late thirties may need a year or more. This does
not mean that you will not be able to have a baby when you are in your forties, but many experts now
advise women to start earlier rather than later. So if you feel otherwise ready, you may wish to
go for it now!
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I think I'm pregnant. Shall I keep on taking the pill?
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First of all get a pregnancy test done. If positive, you should stop taking the pill immediately.
But don't worry unnecessarily. There is at present no evidence that exposure to the hormones
will harm the baby, although you might still like to talk to your doctor.
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I came off the pill and fell pregnant before having a "real" period. Is the baby in any danger?
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Ideally it's a good idead to let the body settle down to a normal pattern and to allow the man-made hormones that
are in the pill to have worked their way out of your system. Having periods again also means that it is
easier to monitor the pregnancy accurately as there may be some question as to how advanced the baby's
development is. Fortunately, there is no current evidence to suggest that the baby will have been
harmed in any way.
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I have been on the pill for several years. Will this mean that it will take longer for my body
to get back to having normal periods?
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There is no evidence to suggest that being on the pill for a long time makes any difference. Some women's
periods get back to a regular pattern after two or three months, while others it can take a little longer.
Do, however, see your doctor if you have not had a period after 3 months.
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