Fertility: Tests, Treatments, and What You Can Do

The subject of fertility often does not come up until a couple decides it’s time to have a baby, have been trying for some time, or see themselves as older and wonder about the possibilities of their being able to conceive. In general there are two steps couples can do at home to test fertility.

Step One: Knowing the woman’s cycle.

When a woman knows her cycle well, she knows when she will ovulate. Having sexual intercourse every other day during the ovulation period or ovulation week, and making sure that one of the days in which sexual intercourse occurs is the ovulation day itself can increase a couple’s chances of becoming pregnant.

Step Two: Monitoring.

Keeping track of the cycle and trying to conceive does take time. This is why monitoring must happen. If a woman is under 35 years of age and has not conceived after trying for 6 months then it is time to see a doctor. If a woman is over 35 and has not conceived after trying for 12 months then it is time to see a doctor. Keep in mind that the couple should go see the doctor together because men can also have fertility problems.

Once it is time to see a doctor different steps are followed.

Step One. Research

Doctors will start every process with an interview, asking the couple a variety of questions which include medical history, history of contraception, frequency of their sex life, past pregnancies, past miscarriages, etc. Lifestyle is also often discussed. Encouraging couples to eat healthier or maintain proper weight, asking men not to take hot baths (heat can kill sperm count), and asking both the man and woman to avoid alcohol or tobacco are often part of the first step.

Step Two. Tests

There are several tests a doctor can conduct to gauge a couple’s fertility. On the woman’s end, a pap smear is one easy and quick test that a woman is familiar with and that a doctor might conduct in order to be sure that there isn’t anything (cervical cancer, for example) that could be interfering with pregnancy.

Checking a woman’s hormones, specifically progesterone levels (to check for ovulation) or thyroid hormones (to look for culprits behind irregular ovulation if suspected) are another test. Along with these, doctors may also check a woman’s blood for anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) which will reveal how many eggs a woman still has. The higher the level, the higher the chances of becoming pregnant.

Other tests include hysterosalpingogram, transvaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy, but doctors are the best people to both decide and explain the reasoning behind each.

After all these tests couples should have a clearer idea of their chances of conceiving. It is important to keep in mind that it can take several months to discover the root cause of infertility, and couples should be prepared for this testing process to take time.

Step Three. Methods

Should the couple and doctor decide, there are several ways to conceive with medical help. On the woman’s side, the first most common method is for the woman to take fertility pills in order to stimulate ovulation.

Second to fertility pills is intrauterine insemination, which is when fresh sperm is injected into the woman during her ovulation period.

Finally, there is in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which involves harvesting a woman’s eggs and fertilizing them in a clinic or laboratory. Once fertilized, the eggs are reintroduced back into the uterus in order for them to cling to the uterine wall to develop into a baby.

Infertility can be a scary thought for men and women, but with various tests, treatments, and options, the best practice for a couple is to stay vigilant and observant of their bodies and act according to doctors’ recommendations.