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Release Date: February 2009

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HELP FOR COUPLES HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PREGNANT

Conceiving a child can be difficult, even for couples for whom conditions are just right. If you haven’t become pregnant after being off birth control for a year, it may be time to pinpoint the problem. The Reproductive Health package of free publications from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of Women’s Health and the Federal Citizen Information Center is a good place to start.

You’ll want to make sure you’re trying at the right time of the month. FDA-approved home tests can tell you when you’re ovulating. See a doctor if you’re not having regular periods, which could indicate you’re not ovulating.

Keep in mind your age. It’s harder for women over 30 to get pregnant, and after 40 it’s even more difficult. See your doctor sooner than the recommended year if you’re over 30 and still trying to conceive.

Another culprit could be uterine fibroids. These growths of muscle and tissue inside the uterus are very common in women of childbearing age, especially if they’re African-American or if they’re overweight. You might not have any symptoms, or you might have lower back pain, heavy or painful periods, or miscarriages. The Reproductive Health package outlines other symptoms, as well as the many treatment options available. The good news is that fibroids don’t have to get in the way of having children.

As the fact sheets in the Reproductive Health package point out, your partner can also affect your chances of getting pregnant. Men can be infertile, and factors like not getting enough rest or being under too much stress can affect the amount and health of the sperm he produces. Don’t rule out asking the doctor about tests to look at your guy’s fertility, too.

If you’re having problems getting pregnant, now’s the time to find out what’s going on. Start your investigation with the publications in the Reproductive Health package. There are three easy ways to place your order:

  • Send your name and address to Reproductive Health, Pueblo, Colorado 81009.

  • Visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rc/n86reproductivehealth.htm to place your order online or to read or print these and hundreds of other federal publications for free.

  • Or call toll-free 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO. That’s 1 (888) 878-3256, weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time and ask for the Reproductive Health package.

Get even more information and take advantage of online government resources at www.USA.gov and www.GobiernoUSA.gov—your official English and Spanish web portals to the Federal government.

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  • Please check with Rebecca Fulcher if you plan to use this release after May 15, 2009.
  • To receive New for Consumers releases by e-mail, send a request to rebecca.fulcher(at)gsa.gov or call (202) 501-1794.

GSA #2902

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