SCOPE OF WORK

One of the most common jobs for a reproductive endocrinologist is in fertility treatment. When patients present to their primary care provider with fertility problems, they receive a referral to a reproductive endocrinologist who can conduct testing to see if hormone imbalances are responsible for the infertility. He or she can prescribe medications to address imbalances and increase fertility, helping patients conceive. When patients conceive successfully, the reproductive endocrinologist may be part of the medical team which monitors the pregnancy and supports the patients.

Reproductive endocrinologists can also be involved in the treatment of people going through puberty, or transsexuals and intersexed individuals seeking assistance with hormone treatment as part of their treatment plan. Girls with heavy periods, men and women with sexual dysfunction, and adults experiencing hormone imbalances related to the reproductive system can also be treated by a reproductive endocrinologist. Treatment options available can include surgery, hormone replacement, and concurrent care with another provider such as an oncologist who may address a reproductive cancer while the endocrinologist provides monitoring and treatment of abnormal hormone levels.