A fertility specialist is usually an obstetrician-gynecologist (specialist in women's reproductive health) with advanced education, research, and professional skills in reproductive endocrinology. These highly trained and qualified doctors are the specialists to see about infertility.
Couples may want to talk to a health care professional for a referral to a clinic where doctors and staff have this special training. In addition, fertility clinics often have specialized equipment and imaging technology needed to make a diagnosis and to do semen testing and other specialized tests right at the office.
Check the American Society for Reproductive Medicine for a specialist and clinic in your area. A primary care physician or gynecologist will also be able to refer you to a fertility clinic.
Infertility is a problem that involves both partners. Therefore, the infertility specialist evaluates both the woman and the man. Testing for infertility is usually not done until after the couple has tried to become pregnant for at least 1 year if the woman is younger than 35 years, or older than 35 years and have not conceived during a six-month period of trying.
How Is Infertility Diagnosed?
Medical history
A health care professional will take a complete medical history. Couples may be asked to provide the following information:
- Complete medical history for both the man and the woman
- Whether the woman has never been pregnant (primary infertility) or has been pregnant and is now unable to conceive (secondary infertility)
- How long has the couple been trying to become pregnant
- History of the woman's previous pregnancies, if any
- How often the couple has intercourse
- A woman's menstrual history
- Current medical treatment for the man and woman
Physical examination
A health care professional may perform a physical examination on both partners, including the following aspects:
- Routine blood pressure, pulse, and temperature
- Height and weight
- Inspection of sexual organs
- Hormone testing
- Woman: Pelvic ultrasound scan to look for masses, cervical mucus testing
- Man: Genital examination, testicle size, hernias
A health care professional will discuss the findings from the medical history and physical examination. Sometimes, a complete infertility evaluation may take up to two menstrual cycles before the factors causing the infertility can be found.
Further testing for men
The male partner will be asked to submit a semen sample for a complete semen analysis. Even though a man has fathered a child in the past, he will still be asked to submit a semen sample because his reproductive system may have changed.
The semen sample may be collected at the laboratory (in a private room through masturbation). If a sample is collected at home, it must be collected in a sterile plastic container and delivered to the lab at a body temperature no more than 60 minutes after ejaculation.
Some men cannot produce a semen sample through masturbation. Therefore, the sample can be collected through intercourse, using a special non-spermicidal condom provided by the laboratory. For best results, the semen sample should be collected 3 to 5 days after a period of having no sexual intercourse.
A man may produce no sperm for various reasons. He may produce few sperm or sperm that have defects that prevent them from reaching or fertilizing the egg.
Further testing for women
Several conditions may affect a woman's ability to get pregnant. A health care professional will evaluate the entire reproductive system.
The cervix plays a key role in the transport of the sperm after intercourse. Cervical mucus production, amount, and characteristics change according to the estrogen concentration depending on the menstrual cycle.
The uterus is the final destination for the embryo and the place where the fetus develops until delivery. Therefore, the uterus may be associated with primary infertility or with pregnancy problems and premature delivery. Other problems affect the development and function of the uterus (specifically the endometrium or inner layer of the uterus).
Ovaries may not release eggs. Fallopian tubes may be blocked. The doctor will want to evaluate all parts of the reproductive system.
The health care professional may use any of several procedures to examine the woman's reproductive organs:
Pelvic exam: This is a general physical examination in which the doctor feels the uterus for detectable masses and views the cervix.
Hysterosalpingogram: This is an imaging study of the uterus and Fallopian tubes after contrast dye has been injected through the cervix. It shows the shape of the uterus and if the Fallopian tubes are open. The dye appears white on an X-ray. This test is usually performed before ovulation so the dye does not disrupt an egg or developing embryo. The woman may be given pain medication before the test because some women experience minor pain.
Ultrasound: Pelvic ultrasound has become an important tool in the evaluation and monitoring of infertile women. It is a way to detect uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, ovarian cysts, and other abnormalities in the pelvis from the outside with sound waves. A sonohystogram, or saline infusion sonography (SIS) is a test that combines ultrasound with saline solution injected into the uterus.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This is another imaging procedure similar to an X-ray that uses magnetic waves to create images of the internal organs.
Hysteroscopy: This is a method of directly seeing the interior of the uterus with an instrument.
Laparoscopy: This is a surgical procedure that allows the doctor to see directly inside the pelvis with tiny instruments inserted through small cuts in the abdomen.
Endometrial biopsy: This test involves removal of a small piece of tissue from the uterine lining by a catheter inserted through the cervix. This test can help determine whether the menstrual cycle is normal and whether ovulation has occurred.
Infertility may be caused by so many different problems that it is beyond the scope of this discussion to outline them all.
Care Womens Centre is one of the best fertility centres in Indore. We are specialist in providing infertility treatment in Indore through the revolutionary method IVF. Our center is known for its world best treatment and the affordable cost of the treatment that makes the infertility treatment accessible for everyone. Dr Shweta Kaul Jha is a renowned reproductive IVF specialist in Indore at Care Womens Centre. We are providing the best treatments with the top- notched techniques and the latest methods used for IVF such as egg donation, sperm donation, IUI, test tube baby treatment Blastocyst techniques that maximize the success rates by many folds. Book an appointment call now 8889016663 and visit https://www.carewomenscentre.com/ for more information.
Online Book an appointment Today :- https://www.carewomenscentre.com/appointment/
Please go through our social media :
like our page to no more about ivf
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CareWomensCentre/
Please do follow on Instagram
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/carewomenscentre/
To More Post: Facts About Infertility
No comments:
Post a Comment