Infertility Testing

Diagnosing Female Infertility

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When a couple has tried to conceive unsuccessfully for over a year, they may decide to seek professional advice. One of the first steps the fertility specialist will take is to order fertility tests on both the man and the woman. The male portion of the tests usually involves little more than a physical and a sperm sample. Infertility tests for women are much more complicated, however.

By: Keysha

The first thing that the infertility specialist will do is analyze your medical history and perform a physical examination. He will ask questions about your medical and emotional health, menstrual history, whether you or your partner are under any medications, about your lifestyle, if your or your partner smoke, consume dugs, alcohol or caffeine. All these can help the doctor establish what kind of tests to perform.

The following tests can be performed to determine the cause of infertility:

• Monitoring the body’s temperature in order to determine if ovulation takes place
• A urine test to detect LH surges helps to determine the precise day of ovulation
• Blood and urine tests can be performed to determine hormone levels
• The doctor may take tissue samples of the uterus to establish if the corpus luteum produces an appropriate quantity of progesterone so that to the risk of premature ovarian failure or the absence of ovulation could be eliminated;
• To measure FSH (follicle stimulating hormone, the woman will take clomiphene citrate (a fertility drug) on days 5 and 9 of the menstrual cycle and on the 10th day the doctor will measure FSH to test the ovarian reserve;
• Women with ovarian failure may take a test for autoimmune disease like diabetes or hypothyroidism

If these tests don’t show off any result (which is very possible), then other procedures are performed for examining the uterus.

“Before you have infertility tests, try fertility awareness methods to find the best time to become pregnant. A woman is most fertile during ovulation and 1 to 2 days before ovulation. Some couples find that they have been missing the most fertile days when trying to become pregnant. A woman should keep a record of her menstrual cycle and when she ovulates. This record will help your doctor if you decide to have infertility tests.” - Webmd.com

Ultrasound
The ultrasound procedure uses sound waves, is painless and is used to evaluate the ovaries and the uterus in order to detect ovarian cysts and tumors, fibroids.

Hysterosalpingography
Hysterosalpingography is a procedure used to discover any abnormalities of the uterus and an eventual blockage in the fallopian tubes. A small tube is inserted into the cervix and a special dye is injected through this tube into the uterus and the fallopian tubes. The uterus and the fallopian tubes filled with this dye are exposed to an X-ray. If the X-ray shows that the dye emerges from the end of the tube then there is no blockage. This procedure carries a risk of pelvic infection so it is recommended that the patient take antibiotics prior to the procedure.

Hysteroscopy
A hysteroscopy procedure uses a tube (hysteroscope) inserted into the vagina, then into the cervix all the way to the uterus. The hysteroscope is equipped with a small camera that allows the doctor to view the uterus. This procedure may detect conditions like: fibroids, pelvic scar tissue, endometriosis and correct them by eliminating the scar tissues that may attach organs together. There are some risks associated with this procedure such as: infection, bleeding, or side effects of the anesthesia.

Sheryl’s comment:
While it may be comforting on some level for you to find out a specific cause of your failure to conceive, you very well may undergo these invasive, painful & expensive tests only to hear what many before you have heard. “Unexplained infertility“. Some studies have shown that up to 80% of couples diagnosed with unexplained infertility are able to conceive after undergoing natural treatments for infertility (such as acupuncture) and lifestyle changes (such as yoga for fertility, daily walks and better sleeping habits). Perhaps it makes sense to implement as many of these changes as is reasonably possible prior to undergoing medical fertility testing looking for an answer.

For more information about in vitro fertilization you can visit our site In Vitro Fertilization , find what are the in-vitro-fertilization.eu/infertility-treatment.htm“>infertility treatment . More information here in-vitro-fertilization.eu .

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