Diagnosis Before infertility testing, your doctor or clinic works to understand your sexual habits and may make recommendations to improve your chances of getting pregnant. In some infertile couples, no specific cause is found (unexplained infertility). Infertility evaluation can be expensive, and sometimes involves uncomfortable procedures. Some medical plans may not cover the cost of fertility ...

Assisted conception The following methods are currently available for assisted or artificial conception: Intrauterine insemination (IUI): At the time of ovulation, a doctor inserts a fine catheter through the cervix into the uterus to place a sperm sample directly into the uterus. In vitro fertilization (IVF): Doctors place the sperm with unfertilized eggs in a petri dish, where fertilization can ...

Risk factors: Certain factors may put you at higher risk of infertility, including: Age. The quality and quantity of a woman's eggs begin to decline with increasing age. In the mid-30s, the rate of follicle loss speeds, resulting in fewer and poorer quality eggs. This makes conception more difficult, and increases the risk of miscarriage. Smoking. Besides damaging your cervix and fallopian tubes, ...

Testing and Treatment: The first few days of your monthly cycle is the best time to schedule your first visit to a fertility doctor, so you can start trying to get pregnant right away. Bring along all your medical records, or ask your previous doctor to send them directly to the reproductive endocrinologist. Also, you should make a list of any questions that you'd like to discuss during this initi ...

Assisted conception The following methods are currently available for assisted conception. Intrauterine insemination (IUI): At the time of ovulation, a fine catheter is inserted through the cervix into the uterus to place a sperm sample directly into the uterus. The sperm is washed in a fluid and the best specimens are selected. The woman may be given a low dose of ovary stimulating hormones. I ...

What are uterine fibroids? Fibroids are benign tumors made of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue. They develop in the uterus. It is estimated that 70-80% of women will develop fibroids in their lifetime—however, not everyone will develop symptoms or require treatment. The most important characteristic of fibroids is that they are not cancer, and they do not have the potential to bec ...

Early warning of ectopic pregnancy: Often, the first warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy are light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. If blood leaks from the fallopian tube, you may feel shoulder pain or an urge to have a bowel movement. Your specific symptoms depend on where the blood collects and which nerves are irritated. Emergency symptoms If the fertilized egg continues to grow in the fal ...

Infertility tests for females A female will undergo a general physical examination, and the doctor will ask about medical history, medications, menstruation cycle, and sexual habits. They will also undergo a gynecologic examination and a number of tests: Blood test: This can assess hormone levels and whether a female is ovulating. Hysterosalpingography: A technician injects fluid into the uterus ...