Patient Portal
Do you suspect that you and your partner are having fertility issues?
In most cases it is recommended that couples see a fertility specialist if the woman is 34 or younger and has tried to conceive for 12 months or more. For women 35 years and older, we recommend seeing a specialist after trying unsuccessfully for six months or longer. You may also opt to see a specialist if you have had more than three miscarriages in a row.
6 of the Most Common Infertility Tests
Once you get to this point, a fertility specialist will want to run a full fertility workup on both you and your partner to see where the complication(s) originates. This series of tests can raise alarm bells when couples falsely envision multiple, expensive tests that their insurance may not cover. DO NOT BE ALARMED!
In most cases, couples will only need a few diagnostic procedures performed to run a semen analysis in the male and to evaluate the ovulatory, uterine and tubal status in the female. However, there are situations where further testing and diagnostic evaluation may be necessary, in which case we will recommend additional testing.
Here is a list of the six common infertility tests
Physical examination
While not necessarily a test, a full physical can play a critical role in early infertility testing since the health of the mother is integral to fertility and a healthy pregnancy. Issues like obesity, diabetes, lifestyle habits, etc., may help us develop a fairly straightforward fertility plan before moving on to more complicated and expensive testing or medical procedures.
Sperm and Semen Analysis
Typically, male infertility is the result of low sperm count, abnormally shaped sperm, and/or sperm that don’t swim as well as they should. All of these can be evaluated with a sperm analysis. If there are no sperm present at all, the doctor may recommend further exams/diagnostic procedures to see if there are any blockages, anatomical abnormalities, or genetic issues that prevent the sperm from showing up in the semen after ejaculation.
Ovarian Reserve Testing (ORT)
Your doctor will perform a test to see if you have a low egg reserve by testing FSH and estradiol levels. You will be given a dose of clomiphene citrate, which stimulates egg maturity/release, and then she’ll test FSH and estradiol levels again to see if further tests are required.
Hormone Testing
Other hormone tests check levels of ovulatory hormones, as well as pituitary hormones, such as LH, or luteinizing hormone, that control reproductive processes.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
HSG is a special version of an X-Ray which will provide a detailed image of your uterus and fallopian tubes. Your doctor will use dye to test whether or not your fallopian tubes are blocked. Blocked tubes is one of the more common reasons for infertility. It can occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from congenital abnormalities to endometriosis or scarring.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound is a relatively inexpensive test that can provide a wealth of information, including any abnormalities in the shape of your cervix or uterus, the presence of endometriosis, polyps or fibroid tumors, and multiple other anatomical, structural problems.
Are you concerned about your ability to conceive a baby? Schedule an appointment with RRC and we’ll follow a conservative and standardized approach to determine the cause with as few tests as possible.
