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The Path to Be a Fertility Specialist

A fertility specialist is a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating fertility problems. They help couples to enhance their chances of having a baby.

They also attend to conditions associated with both male and female infertility such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis and abnormal sperm production.

The study of reproductive science continues to advance in tune with the advancements in science and technology. Over the last four and a half decades, over nine million babies have been born due to various assisted reproductive technology. They include IUI (intrauterine insemination), IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and egg freezing.

If you are considering fertility specialist as a career, read on to know about medical school
requirements and what to expect on the job.

Relevance of a Fertility Specialist

Couples have more alternatives to natural methods of conceiving a baby. This is as a result of the advancements in reproductive technology. This means that there won’t be any shortage of work in the reproductive medicine specialty.

According to recent reports, fertility clinics in the US have witnessed a 4.1% increase in employment between 2017 and 2022. Fertility specialists provide solutions to individuals or couples struggling with infertility. They also assist those who want to extend their timeline for bringing children into the world.

Qualifications To Become a Fertility Specialist

Reproductive medicine is an interdisciplinary field. There are many types of classes an aspiring fertility doctor should consider before starting residency and fellowship training, during college and medical school.

Subjects that need to be studied in pre-med school or medical school years include biology,
genetics and psychiatry or psychology. You also need to aim for high grades as residency usually requires impeccable academic credentials.

Students should be mindful of more implicit admission requirements such as GPAs, MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) scores, clinical experience and research projects.

Approximately, 12 years of postsecondary education is required to become a fertility specialist. After completing four years of medical school to earn an MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree, aspiring fertility specialists must meet the following requirements:

Obstetrics and gynaecology residency spanning four years. The residency will include specialized observation and supervised work in gynaecology, infertility medicine, urology, endocrinology, and andrology.

Three years of reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship. The fellowship should be followed by at least two years of practice before taking the board examinations.

Fertility doctors need to be curious and innovative considering the fact that technology continues to improve. They should also be able to hold a safe space for their patients while being good listeners.

Hope you found this information helpful. All the best with your career aspirations of becoming a fertility specialist. Enroll in a reproductive medicine online course today!