Are you and your partner planning for a pregnancy? Are you unable to get pregnant even after months of trying? Here’s what you need to do.
Although the above circumstances seem different, they are similar in one way: You don’t know whether you and your partner are fertile enough for pregnancy.
Testing your fertility is crucial during your journey toward parenthood. So, whether you are trying to get pregnant or failing to get pregnant, this article will give you some of the tests you and your partner can undergo to test your fertility.
This can give you the chance to correct your infertility issues and try for a successful pregnancy.
Fertility Testing Options For Women
Ovulation Tracking:
Ovulation tracking is one of the best and easiest ways to test your fertility and understand your ovulation cycle. You don’t need to visit a fertility hospital to track your ovulation. You can just do it at home by recording the start and end of your menstrual cycle every month.
Tracking your ovulation can help you,
- Understand whether your menstrual cycle is regular
- Identify the ovulation window for intercourse and a higher chance of pregnancy
- Early detection of infertility issues in case of irregular menstrual cycles.
Below are some ways you can track your ovulation.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Your basal body temperature is the body temperature during rest. This temperature will rise slightly every month during ovulation. Tracking your BBT can be a good way to identify any shift in your body temperature and know when you ovulate.
Ovulation Predictor Kits (OOKs)
You can also use ovulation predictor kits to track your ovulation. These kits measure the increase in the Luteinizing hormone (LH) during ovulation. This kit can be a more accurate predictor of ovulation than BBT tracking.
Blood Tests
During blood tests, your fertility doctor will measure the level of certain hormones in your body that play a role in determining ovulation, egg quality, and overall reproductive health.
Blood tests can give the accurate levels of each hormone. This makes the test more reliable than ovulation tracking kits.
Hormone Levels
Your fertility doctor will conduct a blood test to analyze the levels of the following hormones:
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH)
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Estrogen
- progesterone
Ultrasound Scans
If both ovulation tracking and blood tests did not help you identify any fertility issues, then ultrasound scans are the best option for you. These tests are safe and effective and can give you great insight into the condition and health of your reproductive organs.
Transvaginal Ultrasound
A transvaginal ultrasound is a common ultrasound procedure performed to view the interior of your reproductive organs. A thin probe is inserted via the vagina to evaluate your fertility.
Hysterosalpingography (HSG)
A hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an X-ray done to analyze your uterus and fallopian tubes. This procedure can allow doctors to identify any blockages, adhesions, or other abnormalities in your reproductive organs.
Ovarian Reserve Testing
The ovarian reserve test is done to analyze the number of egg follicles remaining in your ovaries. This test can help doctors understand how many eggs you have and how many good-quality eggs you can produce during fertility treatments.
Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH)
The AMH test is a blood test where your doctor will analyze AMH level in your blood. The AMH is produced by your egg follicles. During an AMH testing, a higher AMH level indicates a higher ovarian reserve and a lower AMH level indicates a lower ovarian reserve.
Antral Follicle Count (AFC)
Unlike the AMH test, the AFC test is done via ultrasound. The antral follicles are fluid-filled sacs that contain the immature eggs. The ultrasound is done to measure the number of antral follicles present in the ovaries. This can give you an estimation of your ovarian reserve.
All the above tests are some fertility tests that you can undergo to analyze your fertility and see if there are any issues that are preventing you from getting pregnant. These tests are useful and have proven effective in identifying and treating issues in women who had difficulties getting pregnant again.
Fertility Testing Options For Men
Like women, men also have some fertility testing procedures that can help them analyze their fertility and take the necessary measures to improve it.
Semen Analysis
A semen analysis test is the basic level of test done to analyze male fertility. Here, the doctor will collect a semen sample from your partner and run tests on it.
The doctor will look into the following factors during the test:
- Sperm count
- Sperm motility
- Sperm morphology
- Sperm volume, and many more.
Blood Tests
Men can also undergo a blood test to test their fertility. In this test, your doctor can conduct a hormonal analysis and measure the amounts of
- Testosterone,
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
- Luteinizing hormone (LH),
- Prolactin, and
- Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in your blood.
This can help the doctor determine whether you have sufficient levels of each hormone for healthy sperm production.
Genetic Testing
Men can also undergo genetic tests to identify if they have any chromosomal or genetic abnormalities. This test is usually performed only when semen analysis and blood tests do not help doctors identify the cause of infertility.
With genetic testing, your fertility doctor can gain insights into
- Cystic fibroids (cysts in the vas deferens),
- Klinefelter syndrome (a genetic condition that causes low testosterone production),
- Microdeletions on the Y chromosome and
- Other genetic disorders.
Scrotal Ultrasound
A scrotal ultrasound can provide valuable information on a man’s fertility by giving detailed images of the scrotal structures that are responsible for sperm production and transport.
With this ultrasound, doctors can get clear images of the testicles, epididymis, and the vas deferens. This can help them analyze their shape and size and identify any abnormalities in them.
Consult with Fertility Hospital Or a Specialist
In case of any infertility issues, you should first know when to see a fertility specialist or clinic for a timely diagnosis and treatment. Here are some instances where a fertility assessment might be necessary.
- If you are having irregular, heavy, or no periods.
- If you are having very painful menstruation.
- If you are planning for your pregnancy and want to test your fertility.
- If you are above 30 and have been trying to conceive for about 6 months to 1 year with no success.
If you are faced with any of the above issues, you need to checkup what causes problems with conceiving? So, it is advisible to visit a best fertility hospital near your location to get a expert advice.
Conclusion
Testing your fertility is an essential step in your pregnancy journey. Through these tests, you can identify any issues with your and your partner’s reproductive system and take the necessary steps to rectify them.
This can increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy and save you from miscarriages and other complications. So, get ready and visit the best fertility hospital in your area and test your fertility today.
FAQs
1. How can I test my fertility at home?
There are some simple fertility testing methods you can use at home to test your fertility.
- Ovulation predictor kits
- FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) test
- At-home semen analysis
2. Why am I not pregnant after a year of trying?
Most times, if you do not get pregnant even after a year of trying, it must be because of an infertility issue. It is best to consult a fertility specialist and test your condition.
3. How can I test if I am infertile?
There are not many outward signs you might experience if you are infertile. The main sign of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. Some other possible signs include irregular, heavy, or no periods, which indicate anovulatory issues.
