Dr. Kaylen Silverberg discusses all topics related to fertility at fertility educational seminar

Over 80 women gathered at the Junior League of Austin headquarters to listen to Dr. Kaylen Silverberg, medical director of Texas Fertility Center. Dr. Tara Mills, an OBGYN at Renaissance Women’s Group in North Austin,  also spoke. They shared valuable information during a “So You Want To Start a Family?” fertility educational seminar.

Dr. Silverberg held a captive audience as he discussed a wide range of topics related to fertility. He also reinforced the value of seeking help. “Treating infertility is a team sport,” he said. “It’s the three of us (patient, partner, and physician) against the disease.”

Dr. Silverberg addresses misconceptions about fertility doctors

Many people do not understand how a fertility doctor differs from an OB/GYN. This mystery often serves as a roadblock when couples seek assistance in getting pregnant.

Dr. Silverberg tried to eliminate this confusion by explaining that both he and Dr. Mills went to medical school and studied obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Mills went into practice after graduation. Dr. Silverberg pursued a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology to become a fertility specialist.

He used a simile: “Seeking help in getting pregnant is like a relay race. Your OB/GYN will take you as far around the track as they can. However, at some point, they typically need to pass the baton to us. We take you around the rest of the track, (ie. treat your infertility) and then pass the baton back to your OB when you are eight weeks pregnant. We are with you for a (hopefully) short period of time. Your OB/GYN takes care of you through the duration of your pregnancy and even into the rest of your life.”

So I want to start a family… what should I know?

Dr. Silverberg offered valuable information to women who were just starting their journey in family-building, were in need of assistance, or were already pregnant. Topics covered included:

Getting pregnant naturally: Dr. Silverberg covered a couple’s odds of conceiving each month, when to start tracking ovulation, how to time intercourse and when to seek help if trying at home isn’t working.

Infertility misconceptions: He covered the prevalence of the disease and its cure rate, cost of fertility treatments, rates of miscarriage and myths surrounding the use of birth control.

Aging and eggs: The correlation between a woman’s age and the quantity and quality of eggs that she releases each year is eye opening. Dr. Silverberg’s advice: “Start thinking about getting pregnant as soon as it makes sense for your family.” Egg freezing is an attainable but vastly underutilized option for many women.

Male factors: These are responsible for half of all infertility cases. The first step in determining if there is a male factor is to obtain a semen analysis, which measures three metrics of a man’s sperm specimen (concentration, % motility, and % normal morphology). If a test is abnormal, it should be repeated, as “It’s common for a normal guy to have a bad day,” as Dr. Silverberg put it.

The six basic causes of infertility: These include problems with ovulation, blocked or diseased tubes, uterine issues, cervical obstructions, endometriosis and male factors.

Topics in the media today: The audience asked a wide range of questions, raising issues about Clomid and Femara, the Zika virus, polycystic ovarian syndrome and the risk of multiples as a result of fertility drugs.

Contact us to speak with a fertility specialist if you have questions about topics discussed at the “So You Want to Start a Family?” seminar.