Infertility (cont.)
How will doctors find out if a woman and her partner have fertility problems?
Sometimes doctors can find the cause of a couple's infertility by doing a
complete fertility evaluation. This process usually begins with physical exams
and health and sexual histories. If there are no obvious problems, like poorly
timed intercourse or absence of ovulation, tests will be needed.
Finding the cause of infertility is often a long, complex and emotional
process. It can take months for you and your doctor to complete all the needed
exams and tests. So don't be alarmed if the problem is not found right away.
For a man, doctors usually begin by testing his semen. They look at the
number, shape, and movement of the sperm. Sometimes doctors also suggest testing
the level of a man's hormones.
For a woman, the first step in testing is to find out if she is ovulating
each month. There are several ways to do this. A woman can track her ovulation
at home by:
- recording changes in her morning body temperature (basal
body temperature) for several months
- recording the texture of her cervical mucus
for several months
- using a home ovulation test kit (available at drug or grocery
stores)
Doctors can also check if a woman is ovulating by doing blood tests and
an ultrasound of the ovaries. If the woman is ovulating normally, more tests are
needed.
Some common tests of fertility in women include:
- Hysterosalpingography: In this test, doctors use x-rays to check for physical
problems of the uterus and fallopian tubes. They start by injecting a special
dye through the vagina into the uterus. This dye shows up on the
x-ray. This allows the
doctor to see if the dye moves normally through the uterus into the fallopian
tubes. With these x-rays doctors can find blockages that may be causing
infertility. Blockages can prevent the egg from moving from the fallopian tube
to the uterus. Blockages can also keep the sperm from reaching the egg.
- Laparoscopy: During this surgery doctors use a tool called a laparoscope to see
inside the abdomen. The doctor makes a small cut in the lower
abdomen and inserts the laparoscope. Using the laparoscope, doctors check the
ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus for disease and physical problems. Doctors
can usually find scarring and endometriosis by laparoscopy.
Next: How do doctors treat infertility? »
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