Focus Magazine of SWFL Swimsuit Heat Wave | Page 30

Tips

Every Woman
Should Take
to the Doctor

FAMILY FEATURES

Tip #2: Your Sexual History will Impact Your Fertility Future:
Knowing your sexual history and having an open line of communication with your doctor can help improve your ability to conceive.
Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine says, “Whether or not
you’re trying to get pregnant, it is important to know your body
and to have a good relationship with your OB/GYN – you should
never feel intimidated or embarrassed to talk about your sexual
activity, menstrual cycle and health. If you are trying to get pregnant, knowing your history will help your doctor discuss a specific
fertility plan, and help you make any lifestyle changes that will
best condition your body and overall health for your pregnancy
journey.”
Tip #3: Know the Risks Before You Begin Trying:
Be aware of potential risk factors and take action before you and
your partner begin trying to get pregnant. Unless you and your
partner are paying for lengthy medical tests and procedures, there
is no way to know whether you will struggle to conceive. But
before running to your doctor, be aware of a few important factors that may affect your ability to conceive. As Barbara Collura,
President/CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
explains, “The guidelines state that you should seek the advice of
a fertility specialist if you are under 35 and have been trying to
get pregnant for 12 months or over 35 and have been trying for
6 months, but factors such as being overweight or underweight,
tobacco and alcohol use, and prior health issues such as surgeries
can all impact your fertility and chances of conception.”
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Tip #4: A Healthy Combination of Good Medical, Mental
and Financial Health is the Cornerstone to a Positive Family Planning Experience:
When it comes to trying to get pregnant, being in good health
is not just physical – it’s mental and financial too. “Planning to
start your family is an important conversation for both partners
to have so they can get on the same page about the major issues
and responsibilities of raising a child. Seeking the counsel of your
physician for preconception care and taking folic acid before you
are pregnant are important early steps to take,” says Dr. Diane
Ashton, VP for Health Equity and Deputy Medical Director of Medical Affairs at the March of Dimes. “In addition to going to the doctor and making important lifestyle changes, budgeting for baby,
and making sure you are both emotionally ready to balance your
careers and free time with having a family is also very important.”
Tip #5: Talk to your Healthcare Provider, at least Once a
Year:
Your healthcare provider plays an important role in your journey, from pre-conception and through pregnancy and birth. Surprisingly, the Yale study revealed that 50% of women had never
discussed their reproductive health with their medical provider,
showcasing the need for more conversations between doctors
and patients. Dr. Elizabeth Yepez, a board certified OB/GYN and
Clinical Instructor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University
of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine says that, “Our role as
medical professionals is to provide an open forum for women to
communicate and be engaged and informed about their health
and lifestyle choices, and to ultimately empower them to make
decisions about their health and well-being.”
Tip #6: Know Sooner:
When it comes to fertility and conception, it’s more important
than ever to know the facts and the risks sooner for a less stressful conception journey. Confirming pregnancy as soon as possible
is important for women to make lifestyle changes and initiate prenatal care as close to conception as possible. To best help women
get the answers they need sooner there is , First Response Gold™
Digital Pregnancy Test and Early Result Pregnancy Tests, which
were both cleared by the FDA to determine if a woman is pregnant up to six days sooner than her missed period and with over
99% accuracy.

www.knowsooner.com

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Tip #1: Understand Your Ovulation Cycle:
Understanding your ovulation cycle is a simple and basic step
in maintaining good overall reproductive health, especially for
women who are trying to get pregnant. A recent study conducted
by the maker of First Response and researchers from Yale School
of Medicine revealed that 40% of women were not aware of the
timing of ovulation in relation to their period, and 60% incorrectly
believed that intercourse should be timed after ovulation to maximize chance of conception. To alleviate the guesswork and stress
around a woman’s cycle, First Response has introduced their new
global smartphone app, the First Response Tracker, available for
iPhone and Android users. The app not only keeps track of a
woman’s period and ovulation cycles, but also calculates her most
fertile days and, if pregnant, will estimate how far along she is
and predict her due date.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

For women today, a yearly check-up with your healthcare provider is an essential part of maintaining your fertility health at
every age. The maker of First Response™ the leading brand of
pregnancy tests, has asked their panel of experts to sh