Testing
Before you make an appointment at a fertility clinic, you may wonder if it is really necessary. Fertility Testing at Home will provide you with information on a variety of infertility tests you can perform at home. Doing these first may alert you to a problem that warrants a visit to an infertility specialist. If you have decided to make an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist or fertility clinic, then take a look at What to Ask Your Doctor, which lists some useful and important questions you should ask during your initial fertility exam.
When you are being investigated for infertility, there are numerous tests that can be used to help determine what might be causing your fertility problems. Exactly which tests you recieve and undergo will depend upon what your fertility specialist is looking to investigate. However, you can almost certainly expect a physical exam, which will alert your doctor to any possible physical problems that may be hindering your efforts to conceive.
If necessary, a hysteroscopy or a laparoscopy may be done to further investigate any possible scarring, cysts, fibroid tumors or any other abnormalities. However, an ultrasound is likely to be done first, as this can alert your specialist to any possible problems.
Exploratory surgery is not the only way to detect possible fertility problems. There are a number of blood tests that can also be done. In women, the most common ones include:
For women who are suspected of having low ovarian reserves, a Day 3 Inhibin and a Clomiphene Challenge test may be performed.
Other tests that may be a part of your fertility workup may include:
