An accurate infertility diagnosis leads to effective treatment

When you are trying to conceive without success, each negative pregnancy test becomes a greater disappointment. The causes of infertility can be complex, sometimes involving both male and female factors that can make it doubly difficult to conceive on your own. If you are struggling to conceive, take heart: an accurate infertility diagnosis can lead to effective treatment to help you grow your family. If you are looking for state-of-the-art fertility testing in San Antonio, you have come to the right place.

In most cases, younger couples who have been trying unsuccessfully for over a year should see a reproductive endocrinologist for answers. When a woman is younger than 35 and having unprotected sex, she has about a 20% chance of pregnancy each month. After age 35, the odds of conception go down along with egg quantity and quality, so that period of trying on your own should go down to 6 months.

How do we arrive at an infertility diagnosis?

While a woman’s age is an important factor in a couple’s fertility, male factors still play a role as well. That’s why when you come to us for fertility testing in San Antonio, we welcome both partners as our patients and order tests that provide a complete picture of a couple’s combined reproductive potential, and to give an accurate infertility diagnosis that leads to effective treatment.

• Semen analysis for the male partner, which provides information about sperm count, motility, shape and quality
• Bloodwork for both partners, to measure the levels of hormones that play a role in fertility
• Ultrasound imaging of the ovaries, which helps us estimate how many eggs remain
• Hysterosalpingogram, or HSG, an imaging study to the fallopian tubes and uterus to ensure they are clear and open

By combining the results of these tests, we can give you valuable information about why it has taken longer than expected to achieve pregnancy.

Causes of infertility

The causes of infertility can range from simple to complex. In some cases, more than one infertility diagnosis may be involved. Some potential examples include:

• Ovulation disorders
• Age-related reduction in egg quality and quantity
• Sperm problems, including low sperm count or poor sperm quality
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Structural abnormalities of the uterus
• Uterine fibroids, scarring or polyps
• Sexual dysfunction or ejaculation disorders
• Unexplained infertility
• Permanent birth control, such as having tubes tied or a vasectomy
• Hormone imbalances
• Premature ovarian failure
• Autoimmune disorders

This long list can be overwhelming, but our fertility specialists have had years-long training to identify the specific causes and start the right treatments. Today’s assisted reproductive technologies make it possible for even complex cases of infertility to be effectively treated. These may include medications, surgery, or advanced fertility interventions such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF.

Get the answers you need

If you’ve been frustrated by failed attempts to get pregnant, or if you have experienced repeated miscarriages, you are not alone. Roughly 1 in 7 couples struggles with infertility. The good news is, getting an accurate infertility diagnosis is a positive step you can take toward the treatment you need to finally move forward with growing your family.

Contact us to schedule an appointment for fertility testing in San Antonio.