All kinds of difficult and large scientific terms may arise when you look into the reasons for your infertility. As they may sound intimidating, they are there to help you explore what is happening to you and help you understand the medical needs of your body.
Usually, couples refer to fertility doctors when they have tried to conceive for over a year with no result. Doctors also suggest to women over the age of 35 to look into their options if they try to conceive for 6 months with no result. That happens because fertility decreases with age.
If you struggle with one of the below conditions it is best to consult your doctor sooner than later, because those conditions are known to make it harder to conceive.
We should point out that even after testing your fertility the results may be inconclusive (unexplained infertility) or take more time than expected so you have to be patient and trust the process and the professionals.
The first thing your doctor will do is to talk about your and your partner’s medical history. He/she will ask you questions about your menstrual cycle, your sex habits and sequence, any erection problems, any underlying diseases, etc.
After the first discussion, blood tests will be ordered in order to check hormone levels. The most common hormones that are checked for their imbalance are: AMH, FSH, Progesterone, Prolactin, and E2. Blood tests will also determine the ovarian reserve (the number of potential eggs remaining in your ovaries).
In terms of imaging tests you will probably perform a transvaginal ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries which may detect the existence of fibroids or polyps, hydrosalpinx, ovarian cysts or polycystic ovaries. It also provides very reliable information on the ovarian reserve. Doctor will also suggest a hysterosalpingography (HSG) which is an imaging test used to detect whether the uterine cavity is normal and whether the fallopian tubes are patent or are pathologically enlarged. This test is an X-ray test to outline the internal shape of the uterus and show whether the fallopian tubes are blocked.
As for the male partner he will be testing his semen for sperm count, movement, shape, quality, and the amount of seminal fluid. The existence or not of antisperm antibodies is also examined during semen analysis. If there are antisperm antibodies present, this means that the man has developed antibodies against his own sperm, which greatly affects its penetration in the cervical mucus and the egg, and reduces fertility.
Doctors may also suggest a DNA fragmentation assay, a more specialized semen test which examines the rate of sperm heads with fragmented DNA. It must be performed when there is severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, a history of repeated unsuccessful IVF attempts or miscarriages, blastocyst formation failure or low quality embryos during IVF. When the rate of sperm with fragmented DNA exceeds 25%, reproductive prognosis is poor.
Another option for male testing is the scrotum ultrasound, an ultrasound that detects possible testicular pathology or the existence of varicocele.
While you are tested and until you get the results, it is crucial for you to maintain a steady mental health state. There should not be any room for extra anxiety and panicking as it has been found that negative feelings and excessive amounts of stress have a negative impact on fertility.
If the doctor finds out that natural pregnancy will be difficult to occur, you will be given the selection of several fertility treatments with high success rates. That’s where MEDIPASS steps in! We promise to offer you a safe and personalized fertility journey, always according to your specific medical needs. Choose your treatment and your doctor and leave the rest to us. You should not be alone during your fertility journey. We are here and we care.
Most common fertility treatments are IVF, IUI, ICSI, Egg Donation and Ovarian Rejuvenation. Always consult with your doctor to determine the right course of treatment.
And if you ever need a safe space to talk we have created just for you a Facebook Group, where we gather and talk about our infertility struggles. We don’t judge, we only share love and support through that difficult time.
DM us or book a free call with our customer success manager in order to further guide you along the process.
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