Female fertility evaluation can pinpoint causes of infertility
While male factors can play a role in a couple’s inability to conceive, there are also many problems that can arise related to a woman’s eggs, uterus and other reproductive organs. A female fertility evaluation is a necessary step in finding out a woman’s reproductive potential and what treatments may be needed to achieve pregnancy. Our fertility doctors in San Antonio have many diagnostic tools to perform infertility testing and assess female fertility.
What is included in a female fertility evaluation?
When you come to your first visit at our San Antonio fertility center, our reproductive endocrinologists will spend a great deal of time getting to know you, your partner, and your medical history. As part of your female fertility evaluation, together we’ll discuss many factors that are relevant to your reproductive health:
- Medications you are taking
- Your menstrual cycle
- Any prior pregnancies
- Attempts to conceive
- Birth control methods used
- Medical conditions
- Lifestyle habits related to diet, exercise, alcohol use, smoking and caffeine
- Past history of any sexually transmitted diseases or surgeries
- Symptoms you may be experiencing
If you have a male partner, we encourage him to join you on this first visit, so that we can learn about his medical history and lifestyle, too.
Types of infertility testing
At your initial visit, we will begin a series of informative tests as part of your female fertility evaluation. For women, infertility testing begins at this first visit, and other tests ordered for specific points in your menstrual cycle.
- Physical exam. Similar to a gynecological exam, this quick in-office examination allows your fertility specialist to evaluate the overall health of your reproductive organs.
- Ultrasound imaging. An in-office transvaginal ultrasound exam will reveal how many follicles, or egg-containing sacs, are visible on your ovaries, which correlates with your reproductive timeline. The ultrasound also allows us to verify that your uterus appears normal and healthy.
- Blood work. By measuring the levels of specific hormones at certain times in your menstrual cycle, we can get a good idea of how the brain and ovary are communicating, and how many eggs remain inside your ovaries.
- Hysterosalpingogram. This X-ray study uses dye to evaluate the shape of your uterus, locate any blockages of the fallopian tubes, and identify any abnormalities, such as polyps, fibroids or scarring inside the uterus.
Based on the results of these tests, additional follow up studies may be completed. If you have a male partner, we will ask that he submit a semen sample for analysis. Sperm problems are a contributing factor in at least 40% of cases of couples’ infertility.
Contact us to begin fertility testing
The good news is, most insurance plans cover fertility testing, and many cover treatment nowadays. So if you’ve been trying to conceive or just want to get a clearer picture of how much time you might have left to start or grow your family, don’t wait. Many causes of infertility worsen with time, so it’s better to know where you stand than to keep trying on your own without success. Contact us to schedule your appointment for a female fertility evaluation with our experienced fertility doctors in San Antonio.