The appropriate pregnancy counseling depends on
- the individual situation,
- the state of health and
- the needs of the mother or parents.
Special forms of pregnancy counseling include
- Fertility consultations, which take place before the pregnancy,
- advice and support for parents with existing chronic or serious illnesses,
- the pregnancy outpatient clinic for abnormal symptoms or complications during pregnancy and
- Support from state-recognized pregnancy advice centres for very young pregnant women
Concerns about possible malformations or hereditary diseases in the child can also be a reason for pregnancy counseling. As part of prenatal diagnostics, doctors examine the foetus for a few, but not all (!) hereditary diseases or chromosomal changes.
Pregnancy counseling is offered by
- Gynecologists in gynecological practices,
- clinics for gynecology and
- specialized centers.
Other points of contact for general questions about the onset of pregnancy are advice centres run by churches or non-profit organizations.
There are many reasons to seek pregnancy advice © Alexander Raths | AdobeStock
In most cases, a chronic illness is not an obstacle to pregnancy. In the past, women with, for example
were advised against pregnancy. Today, these illnesses are no longer a reason not to get pregnant.
In fact, one in five pregnant women has a chronic illness. These women also have a lower risk of complications during pregnancy than pregnant women without a chronic illness.
However, pregnant women with a chronic illness are both
slightly higher.
Nevertheless, there are diseases (such as some cardiovascular diseases) for which pregnancy is not advisable . Women with serious or chronic illnesses should therefore seek detailed pregnancy advice before becoming pregnant.
Some medications can also be harmful to the unborn child. It is therefore often necessary to change the medication you are taking. Find out about possible risks for mother and child!
These illnesses are a reason for women who wish to have children to seek pregnancy advice:
Endometriosis is also a widespread disease. This is when the lining of the uterus appears outside the uterus. Depending on its severity, endometriosis can affect a woman's fertility. Which treatment methods are possible in this case can be clarified during pregnancy counseling.
Fertility can also be permanently damaged by oncological diseases (cancer). This is caused by the tumor itself, but also by chemotherapy and radiation during treatment. This affects not only women, but also men.
Before cancer treatment, egg and sperm cells can therefore be removed and stored as a precaution(cryopreservation). If necessary, those affected can use them later for artificial insemination.
There are also drugs that protect the ovaries to a certain extent from the damage caused by cancer treatment. For this reason alone, young women and men who have been diagnosed with cancer should also take advantage of pregnancy counseling.
The cases mentioned are examples of so-called high-risk pregnancies. These require
- counseling before pregnancy and
- special care during the pregnancy.
This enables pregnant women to reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy. However, not every pregnant woman with a chronic illness is a high-risk pregnancy.
Every year, around 800,000 couples in Germany wait for their dream baby without their desire for a child being fulfilled. Fertility centers advise couples with an unfulfilled desire to have children on the possibilities of fertility treatment and reproductive medicine.
Before the actual reproductive biology therapy, specialized women's clinics and centers offer fertility consultations. Here, experts answer initial questions and explain the preliminary examinations and methods to be used.
Diagnostics in fertility treatment
The basis of fertility treatment is a thorough search for the causes of the existing infertility. Fertility specialists use so-called infertility diagnostics for this. In women, this includes
Men are examined for, among other things
- Changes in the testicles,
- inflammation of the reproductive and pelvic organs and
- general diseases
are examined. During the physical examination
- testicles,
- epididymis,
- vas deferens,
- prostate and
- the urinary tract
receive special attention. Ultrasound may also be used if necessary.
- The spermiogram provides information about the number and vitality of the sperm. But questions about
- the consumption of drugs, alcohol and tobacco,
- the intake of medication,
- exposure to environmental toxins and
- sex life
are also part of infertility diagnostics.
Causes of involuntary childlessness
One of the most common reasons for an unfulfilled desire to have children is stress with all its effects on the body. Hormonal or organic disorders also play a role. These include, for example
- PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and blocked fallopian tubes in women or
- impaired sperm production and blocked sperm ducts in men.
But also
can be causes of reduced fertility.
Depending on the exact factors standing in the way of pregnancy, the following can be used
- Cycle-stabilizing measures,
- balancing lifestyle changes or
- targeted medical treatments
can promote conception.
Possible fertility treatments
The most common fertility treatments include hormone treatments and artificial insemination methods. These include
As part of hormone treatment, egg cells are brought to maturity and ovulation is induced with medication. This increases the probability of fertilization.
In artificial insemination methods, sperm and egg are brought together in different ways. For example, by transferring sperm into the uterus or in a laboratory dish, or by directly injecting sperm into a previously retrieved egg. The fertilized eggs are then implanted back into the woman's uterus.
Once the causes of an unfulfilled desire to have children have been clarified, various treatment methods can be considered. Would you like to find out more about fertility treatment? Then read on here: Information on fertility treatment.