IVF involves a series of complex procedures. Before the procedure, both men and women must undergo some tests to check if they are eligible for the treatment.
These tests are done to eliminate issues like embryo abnormalities, miscarriage, or other conditions that can affect the mother’s or baby’s health. These tests also help determine the success rate of the fertility treatment.
This article discusses the various tests women and men should undergo before starting IVF treatments. Continue reading to learn more about these tests.
What Tests Need to be Done Before IVF?
Before the procedure begins, the couple has to undergo a series of tests and screenings to avoid any problems arising during the procedure. Some tests that are done before IVF treatment are listed below.
Blood group and blood sugar level
This test is done to prepare for blood group-related issues, including rhesus disease and ABO incompatibility. A blood test is done with the male and female partner’s blood to test for compatibility issues.
A diabetes test (high blood sugar) may also be necessary. Diabetes must be taken care of if the couple wishes to avoid any complications in the IVF procedure.
Ovarian reserve testing
In this test, the quantity of the eggs is determined. To do this, your fertility doctor will conduct a blood test to detect the concentration of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and estradiol (estrogen) in the blood.
In this test, the AMH determines how many eggs are left. A higher level of FSH indicates a low number of eggs. This may lead to an unsuccessful IVF cycle.
A vaginal ultrasound is also conducted during this test to determine the number of follicles in the ovaries (Antral Follicle Count or AFC). The higher the number of follicles, the larger the ovarian reserve, and vice versa. (Note: This test only determines the egg quantity and not quality).
Tubal patency test
Also called HyCoSy (Hysterosalpingo Contrast Sonography), the tubal patency test is a specialized ultrasound procedure that allows doctors to have a clear view of the fallopian tubes and inner lining of the uterus. This is done by inserting a contrast agent into the fallopian tubes through the uterus.
This test is more advanced than normal X-Ray to ultrasound and helps doctors determine whether the fallopian tubes and uterus are operational for an IVF procedure.
Infectious disease screening
Both male and female partners will be tested for infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis, Rubella, Chlamydia, and varicella. This is to prevent these diseases from passing on to the baby and cause serious complications like miscarriage or other abnormalities.
Semen analysis
In this procedure, the semen sample of a man is sent to the laboratory to test for sperm count, concentration, motility, and morphology.
In these cases where men are infertile, the couple can opt for ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), where a single, healthy sperm is selected to be injected into the egg’s cytoplasm.
Prolactin and thyroid hormones test
Prolactin is an essential hormone for the body to produce breast milk, but too much prolactin can prevent pregnancy. On the other hand, thyroid hormone is essential for the body to conduct normal metabolic activities.
Too much or too less of these hormones can disrupt the chances of pregnancy. Doctors conduct prolactin and thyroid hormone tests to determine their levels in the body and suggest a suitable drug regime to increase the chances of pregnancy.
Mock embryo transfer
Your fertility doctor might conduct a mock embryo transfer to understand uterine receptivity and the best technique to transfer the embryo during the procedure successfully.
This test also helps identify the right time to do the embryo transfer procedure.
Digital high magnification
This test is another form of sperm analysis, where doctors use high-resolution technology to enlarge sperm to over 7300x magnification and analyze them for size and shape.
The best of all sperm is then chosen for ICSI procedures. This test is very useful in cases of male-factor infertility and has high rates of successful fertilization and childbirth
Conclusion
The tests discussed above are very important to understand if IVF is the best option for a couple.
If you don’t know how to test your fertility or you already know you are infertile and want to undergo fertility treatment, visit your fertility doctor and discuss in detail the pros and cons of the treatment before deciding on it.
