Fertility Test

A fertility test can range from a test done with a simple at-home fertility monitor to complex testing performed by specialized medical practitioners that work with couples having difficulty becoming pregnant. Basically, a home fertility test simply monitors hormones excreted in the urine when a woman is fertile. Usually the term 'fertility test' refers to the testing performed by a medical professional.

Fertility test does not refer to one simple, single procedure performed by a fertility doctor. It can refer to a series of tests performed until the reason for the apparent infertility has been identified. Before any testing for actual fertility, medical workups are accomplished including in-depth medical histories of both partners, testing for simple vaginal and cervical viral or bacterial infections that can cause difficult in achieving pregnancy but are rather easily treated. After this, the test more often thought of as fertility tests begin.

Often the first fertility test performed is a semen analysis and semen culture as well as sperm penetration and function studies. This is not because the male is more often at fault in the case of fertility difficulties, but it can be much easier to obtain a sperm sample that to extract and examine an egg.

One form of fertility test used for female testing involves what is known as a hysterosalpingogram. This x-ray process allows the doctors to look for problems with the lining, location or structure of the uterus as well as allowing them to determine if the fallopian tubes are open and capable of allowing an egg to pass from the ovaries to the uterus. Frequently scarring around the tubes or ovaries can result in extreme difficulty in achieving pregnancy and these issues can often be seen with this type of fertility testing. Ultrasound is another method of examining the internal function of the female organs.

A woman may also under to mid-cycle fertility testing which looks for what is known as the "LH surge". This hormonal surge occurs just prior to the release of the mature egg from the ovary and is tested by monitoring urine content of the LH quantities. After the LH surge occurs, the couple is asked to have intercourse and then immediately report for post-intercourse examination. At that time cervical mucus can be used to determine if live, healthy sperm are present in the uterus.

There are several other fertility tests that can be performed by a fertility specialist in an effort to determine and potentially resolve the difficulties being experienced by the couple. Once the testing has identified exactly where the problem lies, techniques, therapies and treatments are available, depending on the problem, which can allow the couple to achieve pregnancy and successfully have a child.

Unfortunately, no one fertility test is no magic bullet that will quickly and easily identifies exactly what is causing a couple not to achieve pregnancy quickly. As addition research is performed and advances in medical technology are developed, it may become much easier to perform fertility testing and help couples achieve their goal of becoming pregnant much more easily and at much lower cost.