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Basic Fertility Tests You need to Know about

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

An early diagnosis of infertility is imperative as during later ages, fertility naturally decreases. 80% of the couples where the women are under 40 can conceive naturally within a year with having unprotected regular sex. When we say regular sex, it means that having sex every 2 to 3 days without using contraceptives.

Contents

Questions:
Previous issues:
Length of time:
Sex issues:
Contraceptives:
Medical history:
Lifestyle:
Examination:
Fertility tests:
Blood tests:
Chlamydia:
Sonography:
X-ray:
Fertility tests for men:

When to get help?

You need to see your doctor if it is over a year of trying and you are still not pregnant. You need to see your doctor beforehand if:

• You are over 36 years old as the infertility tests consume a lot of time so better to start early as the fertility rate decreases with age.

• You have any reason to be concerned about your fertility, that is, any medical history or surgical intervention or the thought of having sexually transmitted diseases.

• You had a treatment for cancer.

Your doctor will check for the things that are the reason behind infertility and suggest to you what you have to do next. It is always best that the couples visit the doctor together as infertility can affect both males and females. It is an emotional process, so it's better that you both support each other as stress can be a risk factor to the fertility of both the sexes.

Questions:

The doctor may ask you about your past, be it your medical history or personal history to find out the reason and also to know the diagnosis so that the required tests can be done. Some of the queries of any fertility doctor can be:

Previous issues:

• If you are a woman then your doctor will ask you about your children, previous pregnancies, any complications or miscarriages.

But if you are a man then the doctor will ask you about any issues you have and how old are they.

Length of time:

• Secondly, your doctor will ask you about the length of time you were trying to conceive as a couple. Normally, as discussed earlier, 80 percent of the couples conceive within a year naturally with having unprotected sex. So, if you are young and healthy and have not tried for a year then your doctor may advise trying a little longer.

Sex issues:

• If you have any issues with sex, for example, pain during sex or ejaculation problems, then openly talk to your doctor as he is the only one who can suggest you the best options. Most of the sex issues can be resolved easily.

Contraceptives:

• If you have been using contraceptives in the past and are now struggling with getting pregnant, then you need to tell this to your doctor. This is becuse contraceptives take some time to get out of your blood even after stopping.

Medical history:

• Your doctor will ask you if you have regular periods and whether you experience any bleeding between periods. Secondly, he may ask if you have any medical history, that is, if you have gone through any surgical intervention or had taken cancer treatment before.

• You should also mention any medication, including even herbal medication, to your doctor if you are taking them without a prescription.

Lifestyle:

• Many factors of your lifestyle can also affect your fertility and your doctor will ask you some questions about it, such as, do you smoke or drink, or whether you are under any sort of stress or how much is your weight. Hypothyroidism also plays a role in infertility in some cases, so that will be another question from your doctor.

Examination:

• The next step in the diagnosis of infertility is the physical examination of the patient. Your doctor will check your weight first of all and tell you about your BMI and whether you need to lose weight or gain some. Also, he will examine your pelvic area to see if there are external issues such as lump tenderness or any signs of fibroids.

• But if you are a male, then your doctor will check your testicles for any lumps or any sort of swelling or deformities that may be leading to infertility.

Fertility tests:

• If you are a female, then there are some sort of tests that may be advised to you according to your history by your doctor.

Blood tests:

• A sample of your blood will be taken to check the level of the hormones to see if you are ovulating properly or not. The timing of the tests depend on your periods.

Chlamydia:

• It is a condition that can affect your fertility as well. A swab can be taken to collect some cells from your cervix and then will be sent to the lab to do the tests. Alternatively, a urine test can be performed. You will be prescribed some antibiotics to overcome this problem.

Sonography:

• An ultrasound scan is used to check your womb, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Certain conditions like fibroids and endometriosis can also prevent pregnancy.

• A scan can also be used to find out if there is any type of blockage that is preventing the fertilization.

X-ray:

A hysterosalpingogram is a special type of x-ray that is used to find out if there is any blockage of the fallopian tubes after a special dye has been injected. It is very helpful in detecting the blockages that may be stopping the eggs from traveling in your womb.

Fertility tests for men:

Semen analysis: This is to check the low sperm count or the mobility of the sperms that are not moving properly.

Chlamydia test: Your doctor will test your urine for Chlamydia as it can also affect the fertility in males.

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Basic Fertility Tests You need to Know about

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

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