Tests
Female Fertility Tests
Why Female Fertility Tests? Infertility affects approximately one out of every five couples in the United States. It is becoming increasingly more common because people are choosing to postpone dating and marrying for the sake of their careers and even when they do marry they are waiting longer and longer to start having children. These facts are significant because, as a woman gets older, she is less likely to have a successful conception and pregnancy. Especially after the age of thirty five, a woman has limited time to resolve infertility problems before menopause sets in. Apart from age, though, the major causes of infertility in women include ovulatory problems, problems with the fallopian tubes, and problems with the cervix. Fortunately, a number of female fertility tests are available to help physicians plan therapeutic interventions.
Ovulation is the process by which an ovary releases an egg. A woman who has regular menstrual periods every twenty six to thirty five days usually releases one egg each month. A woman who has irregular periods, or no periods at all, may be experiencing ovulatory problems. It is crucial to fertility to determine whether ovulation is actually occurring. Several female fertility tests can be useful in this regard. Daily measurement of basal body temperature is one such test. A low temperature indicates that ovulation is about to occur, whereas a gradual rise in temperature over several days indicates that ovulation has already occurred. Other tests include ultrasound monitoring, ovulation predictor kits, and tests that measure the level of the hormone progesterone either in the blood or in the urine. Finally, the occurrence of ovulation can also be determined by performing a uterine biopsy which looks for changes in the uterus lining that take place after a woman has ovulated.
Problems with the fallopian tubes include abnormalities in structure or in function that are caused by infection, endometriosis, or surgeries. To determine whether such problems exist, the physician might order a hysterosalpingogram. This is a female fertility test that takes a special X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes to determine whether any blockages are present due to congenital abnormalities of these organs, fibrous masses, or adhesions from prior surgeries.
Problems with the cervix include overly thick cervical mucus and the presence of anti-sperm antibodies. Cervical mucus acts as a filter to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus. It also helps to enhance sperm survival. However, this mucus can become so thick that it prevents sperm from penetrating it at all and it can also contain antibodies which kill off otherwise healthy sperm. These problems are diagnosed by means of a postcoital female fertility test in which cervical mucus is swabbed and examined under a microscope for abnormalities of viscosity and content.