Infertility Tests For Women

1 Infertility Tests for Women

There are many different tests and investigative procedures that can be arranged. These include blood tests, various types of scans, X-ray imaging and various types of surgical procedures. All are designed to give your doctors information which will be vital in trying to identify the cause of infertility and in choosing the best approach to assist in conception. It is important to understand that not all women will need all of these tests. Your doctor will discuss with you those that he/she feels are necessary.

1. Blood Tests

Many different parameters can be measured by taking a few millilitres of blood. These include;

Haematology: full blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and others,
Biochemistry: electrolytes and renal function tests, liver function tests, thyroid tests, glucose level and others,
Hormone Profiles: oestrogen, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, prolactin, testosterone and others,
Microbiology: rubella and hepatitis B immunity checks

These blood tests are most often done at your General Practice Surgery or equivalent.

2. Urine Test

This may be required for chlamydia testing and is usually done by your General Practitioner or Practice Nurse.

3. Vaginal swabs

Swabs may be taken from the vagina or cervix to test for various sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and many others.

4. Ultrasound Scan

This pelvic scan can visualise your ovaries and uterus and determine their shape and size. The scan can also reveal the presence of abnormalities such as cysts, fibroids or other growths. Pelvic ultrasound scans can either be done through the abdominal wall or from inside the vagina using a vaginal probe to reveal more detail.

5. Follicle Tracking

This is essentially the same ultrasound scan as described above. However, serial scans can be used to track the development of eggs in the ovary.

6. Hysterosalpingogram

This is a special type of X-ray and is sometimes called a HSG or "tubogram". A radio-opaque dye is injected through the cervix into the uterus. The dye travels through the uterus and up into the fallopian tubes. A series of X-rays are then taken. The dye can then clearly be seen on the X-ray image, outlining the inside of the uterus and tubes. Any deformities of the uterus and tubes or any tubal blockages can also be clearly visualised as the path of the dye may be obstructed by any blockages in the tubes.

7. Hysteroscopy

In this procedure, a thin tube containing a light and camera is inserted via the vagina, through the cervix and into the uterus. This enables the doctor to visualise and inspect the inside of the womb. Abnormalities that may be found include fibroids, polyps or other abnormal structures within the womb. At the same time, an endometrial biopsy can also be taken (a sample of the womb lining is collected and sent to a lab for detailed analysis).

8. Laparoscopy

A thin tube called a laparoscope is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. The scope contains a light and a camera to enable the doctor to visualise and inspect the pelvic organs. This procedure is usually done under a general anaesthetic. Sometimes, a dye is injected into the fallopian tubes via the cervix at the same time. The flow of dye can then be seen with the laparoscope. Any tubal obstructions can then be detected and localised.

9. Hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (HyCoSy)

As with laparoscopy, dye is injected into the fallopian tubes and ultrasound scans are used to detected the dye and localise any blockages of the tubes. This test gives similar but more detailed results compared with laparoscopy but is not suitable for every woman.

10. Endometrial Biopsy

A small catheter is inserted through the vagina and cervix, into the inside of the uterus. A sample of the womb lining (endometrium) is removed and sent to a lab for analysis. This test can be mildly uncomfortable. Therefore, pain killers may be offered before the test. Biopsies can also be taken with hysteroscopy.