Infertility is defined as inability to conceive pregnancy after 1 year of unprotected sexual intercourse in women younger than 35 year. If you are older than 35 evaluation is recommended after 6 months of trying. To find exact cause of infertility needed infertility evaluation for both male and female partners.
About 10-15% of young couples are infertile and experiencing infertility often leads to emotional, psychological and social impacts. Because fertility is a function of both the health of the man and woman, both should be evaluated at the same time. The purpose of the first evaluation is to recognize that there may be a cause of infertility, to recognize reversible causes and to recognize if any particular treatment of fertility is necessary. A systematic and comprehensive evaluation enables the healthcare provider to create an individual management plan, as well as increase the chances for successful conception.
Infertility is the failure to conceive, following 12 months of regular and unprotected sexual intercourse by couples with female partner under age of 35 years.
For women over 35 years of age, the rule is to evaluate after 6 months of failure to conceive.
Basic infertility workup is a series of clinical tests, physical exams and consultations on both the male and female partner that will help assess reproductive health. It can be used to help identify other problems, including hormone imbalances, lack of ovulation, abnormalities in the sperm or anatomical problems.
If couples are not successful in achieving pregnancy after the suggested time frame, then they should consider discussing their issue with an infertility specialist.
Routine assessment may be needed earlier for women who have
It’s also important to check men who have
It’s best to see your gynaecologist or fertility specialist right away if you have any concerns with your fertility.
Infertility is a common condition which can be caused by a factor in either man or woman. Male factors play a role in almost half of the cases of infertility, and female factors play a major role as well. Evaluation of both partners at the same time enhances the accuracy of diagnosis and facilitates quicker treatment plans.
One of the most important aspects of the evaluation for infertility is a detailed medical history.
The usual questions that health care providers will ask are:
This information can be used to identify possible causes that can be further investigated.
These tests are useful for detecting uterine fibroids, uterine fibroid polyps, uterine adhesions or congenital defects that could affect implantation or pregnancy. If a structural abnormality is diagnosed early, it is possible to have a more favourable outcome for fertility.
The healthy fallopian tubes allow the egg and sperm to meet, which is the key to natural conception.
The most frequent test used to check for tubal patency is a hysterosalpingography (HSG) which is a procedure that involves injecting a dye into the fallopian tubes and taking an X-ray to spot tubal blockages.
Women who have had a pelvic infection, ectopic pregnancy or abdominal surgery should see a gynaecologist to see if there is a need for fallopian tube testing.
An Ovulation assessment can be used to check if an egg is being released regularly in the menstrual cycle.
For women who do not have a period or irregular periods, they may have a disorder that needs medical treatment and consultation with their gynaecologist.
Ovarian reserve testing is an assessment of how many eggs a woman has left and how good they are.
Some of the most common tests ordered are:
These tests can give important reproductive potential information, and can be used to help make decisions about fertility treatment.
There are some factors that can have a negative effect on fertility in both men and women.
A good lifestyle can enhance reproductive health and make pregnancy more likely. A gynaecologist should be consulted by couples planning pregnancy to get their own personal advice on lifestyle changes to improve fertility.
Semen analysis is the most important part of the male infertility assessment.
If the tests are abnormal, it may be a sign of male factor infertility and should be investigated further. Additional testing may be needed to confirm results, and to help plan the treatment.
Sperms may be affected by hormonal abnormalities and reproductive function may be affected. In some instances, fertility can be enhanced with proper treatment.
Unexplained infertility occurs when all of the usual fertility tests are normal.
Even if the tests are normal, conception can be a problem because there are potentially some minor abnormalities in the reproductive system that are not visible.
When couples have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, they might be able to make use of fertility treatments like Ovulation Induction, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
If you have not been able to conceive after trying for the recommended time, irregular periods, repeated miscarriages, extreme pelvic pain and any concerns regarding your reproductive health, you should seek the advice of a nearby gynaecologist.
The successful treatment of infertility depends on early evaluation, which can also assist in determining whether the cause of the infertility is reversible.
A simple evaluation of the infertile couple is a fundamental process in diagnosing the causes of not being able to conceive. Because infertility may be caused by either the man or the woman, the husband and wife should be evaluated as a couple.
A detailed history, physical examination and laboratory and imaging tests can help make an accurate diagnosis and get you the correct treatment.
If the couple is having trouble to conceiving, they should contact their local fertility clinic or gynaecologist as soon as possible for assessment and treatment. The earlier the treatment is, the better the chances of a healthy pregnancy.