A simple test that could have saved couple a lot of heartache
A couple has spoken out about their heartbreaking journey to becoming parents and how it could have been a lot less painful had a simple
Doctors recommend that you seek specialist advice and a fertility test if you are younger than 35 and haven’t conceived naturally after one year. If you are older than 35, you should seek this testing after six months.
You might choose to have these tests earlier if you have a family history of conditions that can affect fertility and/or you have any medical conditions that can negatively impact fertility. These conditions include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, fibroids, and thyroid disorders.
Fertility tests fall into two main categories: blood tests and imaging. Blood tests measure hormones in both the male and female partner, and imaging allows the specialist to assess your uterus for physical issues.
While no single test can give you the reasons for your failure to conceive, when considered together, fertility tests provide a diagnostic picture for your doctor to consider. Some or all of these tests are your first steps to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.
Your clinic or doctor will run through a long list of questions for you, including your medical history and any medications you take. It’s always a good idea to arrive prepared with your own list of questions and concerns. Be sure to tell the doctor:
While people used to commonly think of infertility as a ‘woman’s issue,’ today, we know that nearly half of infertility cases are caused by male factor issues.
Semen analysis – The most common male test for infertility is semen analysis. This test looks for abnormalities in sperm and assesses motility, morphology, and overall count. The most common cause of male factor infertility is damaged sperm.
Your fertility specialist may also request a more detailed analysis which may consist of the following tests.
Hormone blood tests – Your blood will be examined for adequate levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone.
Ejaculation analysis – A doctor might look at problems with the functional delivery of sperm, assessing for any blockages in the penis and reproductive tract that could be preventing sperm from leaving the penis normally.
Post-ejaculation urinalysis – If sperm are present in your urine, this can indicate that they are travelling backwards into the bladder instead of out of the urethra. This condition is called retrograde ejaculation.
Psychological assessment – Psychological and emotional issues can cause impotence, which prevents a man from sustaining intercourse and ejaculating.
Scrotal ultrasound: A scrotal ultrasound can help the doctor identify structural abnormalities in the testicles and scrotum. These include varicoceles and epididymal abnormalities, as well as duct blockages.
Each of these hormones needs to be considered in the context of your overall health, and in tandem with other hormonal test results. Keep in mind that you need to have certain hormonal tests on specific days in your cycle. Ask your doctor for guidance.
There are a wide array of different fertility tests for women available. The first category of testing is blood tests. Having too much or too little of certain hormones can have a significant impact on fertility.
Oestradiol is a form of oestrogen that controls and maintains female sex characteristics and reproductive organs, including fallopian tube health and vaginal lining. Oestradiol is produced by ovarian follicles and results in cervical mucus, which is important for preparing the uterine lining for fertilisation. Normal oestradiol levels range between 30 to 400 pg/ml.
Your ovaries produce Anti-Müllerian hormone, which can help determine the number of eggs you have left. Normal AMH levels are above 1.0 ng/ml but having a high AMH level can be a sign of PCOS. However, while AMH levels provide part of the picture of a woman’s fertility, they do not give any information about the quality of those remaining eggs.
Your pituitary gland produces follicle-stimulating hormone at different levels throughout your menstrual cycle. It helps stimulate the growth of follicles, and trigger ovulation. After you ovulate, your FSH levels lower for the rest of the month. A good baseline FSH level is less than 10 mIU/ml but should be considered in line with all other information. High FSH levels can indicate a low ovarian reserve.
FSH stimulates your follicles during the first half of your menstrual cycle, but then your LH (also produced by your pituitary gland) triggers the release of the egg. You can track this surge to predict your most fertile time of the month.
Progesterone helps thicken the lining of your uterus to help prepare it for implantation. If you do conceive, your progesterone levels increase and help promote a healthy pregnancy. However, if you don’t fall pregnant, your progesterone decreases, and you soon get your period. Progesterone fluctuates throughout your menstrual cycle, but levels between 8-10 ng/ml are considered ideal for pregnancy.
While androgens are associated with men, women produce small amounts of testosterone and DHEA-S. Therefore, measuring these hormones is important, because high levels can signify polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Normal testosterone levels in women are between 15 and 70 ng/dL.
Prolactin is present in your body during lactation, as it stimulates milk production. Therefore, if you are not breastfeeding or pregnant, you should have low prolactin levels. High prolactin levels can result from medications or a growth on the pituitary gland, both of which can affect fertility. Normal prolactin levels for non-breastfeeding and non-pregnant women are less than 25 ng/ml.
Measuring your thyroid hormones can help identify fertility problems. The tests measure the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) produced by your pituitary gland. An average TSH level is between 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L.
Considering IVF? Trying to conceive without success? Wondering if you should freeze your eggs? Why not chat through with one of our experts.
Transvaginal ultrasound – Also known as an internal scan, transvaginal ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to create images of your uterus and ovaries. Your doctor will want to see a scan of your uterus to check for fibroids, polyps, masses, and assess your uterine lining and follicle count.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) – This test consists of a thin catheter placed through the cervix, and then contrast liquid is passed into the uterus and fallopian tubes. This real-time X-ray image allows the technician to look for blockages. However, it can cause cramping and pain, so speak with your doctor to request adequate pain management.
Saline Sonogram – Also known as a sonohysterogram, this procedure is similar to a hysterosalpingogram, but uses ultrasound technology instead of X-ray.
Hysteroscopy – This is a more intensive and invasive procedure that passes a camera into the uterus and can also remove fibroids and polyps. While hysteroscopies used to be done under general anaesthetic as a rule, they are increasingly done as outpatient procedures with no pain management. While many women tolerate the pain, up to 1 in 4 describe it as unbearable. If you need a hysteroscopy, you have a right to adequate pain relief and have it done under general anaesthetic.
If you are considering TTC soon, having issues conceiving at the moment or wanting to know how your fertility stands, why not fertility test in the comfort of your home. A woman’s ovarian reserve is a measure of the number of viable eggs a woman has in her ovaries. This simple blood test can be taken on day 1, 2, or 3 of your menstrual cycle to determine whether your ovarian reserve is declining and if any age-related changes have begun.
Measuring AMH, along with FSH and oestradiol, can help to identify premature ovarian insufficiency (early menopause) and can give your fertility specialist an idea of how well you may respond to IVF. While no single test can ever predict your chances of becoming pregnant, this test can help you in family planning and the choices you make about when to start.
Around 40% of fertility issues are male related and so it’s important to get checked. Why not test with this fantastic at home kit with results within 15 mins.
It’s incredibly easy to use. Purchase a device, download the app, take a test, and receive your results within a few minutes. You will then be given a personalised lifestyle program to follow over the next 90 days. Just take a test every few weeks and see how you’re progressing.
Female hormones are essential for a healthy female reproductive system. One that can cause infertility if over or under active is the thyroid. If you have an under or over active thyroid it can be affecting your ability to get pregnant and also affecting your metabolism too.
Once diagnosed, thyroid conditions can be treated but even then it is important to continue to monitor levels of thyroid hormones to ensure that your levels remain optimal.
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