Fertility specialists are doctors who specialize in assisting women in having healthy babies. Diagnose diseases of the reproductive organs, diagnose diseases related to abnormal menses or ovulation, and improve fertility through various means could all be part of the job. In order to help the patient become pregnant, fertility specialists may prescribe fertility medications, perform surgery, use in vitro fertilization, or use other methods. A college diploma, a medical degree, and specialized training are typically required to become a fertility specialist.
If you want to work as a fertility specialist, a college degree in biology, chemistry, or another science-related field is beneficial. Granted, majoring in a scientific field isn’t required. Rather, you can major in any subject you want; however, majoring in a science field is advantageous because science courses are required as part of the medical school application process. Also, because medical school applications are extremely competitive, getting good grades in all of your college classes can be beneficial. High grades show prospective medical schools that you are academically capable of coping with the demands of medical school.
In most cases, you’ll apply to medical school during your senior year of college. Obtaining official transcripts of your college course work, obtaining letters of recommendation from professors, and taking the Medical College Admission Test are all part of the medical school application process (MCAT). The MCAT, for example, evaluates your science, problem-solving, critical thinking, and writing abilities. Prospective medical schools consider the MCAT to be a strong predictor of your success in medical school, which is why a high MCAT score is critical.
The Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree is earned while in medical school. The MD program will take four years to complete. After medical school, you’ll need to get your MD in order to do more specialized work in reproductive medicine.
If you want to become a fertility specialist, you’ll need to complete several years of residency after medical school. Observation and supervised work in gynecology, infertility medicine, urology, endocrinology, and andrology will be part of the residency. There will also be a board certification exam where you will demonstrate your understanding of medical practice as it relates to patients with fertility issues.
You will become a fertility specialist after completing medical school, residency, and the board certification exam. Working as a fertility specialist can be extremely satisfying. Things don’t always go as planned, to be sure.
The fertility specialist, for example, might be in charge of fertility treatments that don’t work out. Giving patients the news that their fertility treatments have failed can be emotionally difficult in those circumstances. Granted, being a fertility specialist may be a good fit for your career interests if you have the emotional strength to get through both the happy times when patients get pregnant and the difficult times when patients are unable to get pregnant.