Once you have decided to seek specialty support for your fertility problems, you may have trouble figuring out who is who. Everyone may seem to be similarly credentialed. But there are important differences that you should understand.

All medical doctors (M.D.) or osteopathic doctors (D.O.) who are obstetrician/gynecologists have had at least a four-year residency in the obstetrics and gynecology field. This is accredited through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). They have completed basic training in all the subspecialty fields of obstetrics and gynecology.

Fellowships

Some doctors may choose to do additional specialty training known as a fellowship. The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) also oversees a subspecialty fellowship certification for three-year fellowship programs in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. While this is not required to work in the infertility field, it is definitely an advantage in the long run. It gives the doctor very practical experience dealing with patients and research specifically in the field, and this in turn becomes a plus for the patient because the knowledge base of their doctor is greatly expanded.

During the reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship, the doctor is immersed in fertility issues nearly all of the time. He or she learns how to perform basic testing for reproductive issues of both males and females. She learns how to do advanced surgeries to diagnose and repair potential reproductive problems you may be experiencing. Some of the things that she learns are in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surgeries like hysteroscopies, laparoscopies, and other surgical techniques.

Board Certification

When a doctor has finished a fellowship, he or she has gained an enormous amount of knowledge about the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. He is not, however, certified in the field. To be board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility from ABOG, doctors must pass both written and oral board examinations. This normally takes a couple of years postfellowship. Not all practitioners choose to obtain board certification, for various reasons, so this is something you should ask about if you have a preference. Some insurance companies may even require that your reproductive endocrinologist be board certified for you to receive certain benefits.