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Infertility Tests

Overview

What are infertility tests?

Infertility tests are done to help find out why a woman cannot become pregnant. The tests help find whether the problem is with the man, the woman, or both. Tests usually include a physical exam, Reference semen Opens New Window analysis, blood tests, and special procedures.

See pictures of the Reference male reproductive system Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window and the Reference female reproductive system Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window.

Should I be tested?

Before you have infertility tests, try Reference fertility awareness Opens New Window methods to find the best time to become pregnant. A woman is most fertile during Reference ovulation Opens New Window and 1 to 2 days before ovulation. Some couples find that they have been missing the most fertile days when trying to become pregnant. A woman should keep a record of her menstrual cycle and when she ovulates. This record will help your doctor if you decide to have infertility tests. For more information, see the topic Reference Fertility Awareness.

Consider infertility tests for you or your partner if:

There is a physical problem, such as not being able to release sperm (ejaculate) or not ovulating or having irregular menstrual cycles.
You are in your mid-30s or older, have not used birth control for 6 months, and have not been able to become pregnant.
You are in your 20s or early 30s, have not used birth control for a year or more, and have not been able to become pregnant.

Opens New Window Fertility Problems: Should I Be Tested? Opens New Window

How do infertility tests feel?

Some tests, such as a semen analysis, physical exam, and blood tests, do not cause pain. But some procedures, such as an endometrial Reference biopsy Opens New Window, a Reference laparoscopy Opens New Window, or a Reference hysterosalpingogram Opens New Window, may cause some pain.

Do the tests cost a lot?

Infertility tests can cost a lot and cause stress. You and your partner will need to keep track of the frequency of sexual intercourse and talk about this with your doctor.

Before you have infertility tests, talk with your partner about how much testing you want to do. Sometimes you may not find out what causes infertility even after many tests. So it is important to know how many tests you want to try.

What are the risks of infertility tests?

Simple tests, such as semen analysis, blood tests, or an Reference ultrasound Opens New Window, do not usually cause any problems. Other tests that are medical procedures, such as Reference hysteroscopy Opens New Window or laparoscopy, have a higher chance of problems after the test.

Where are infertility tests done?

Many infertility tests, including the physical exam, medical history, and blood tests, can be done in your doctor's office or clinic by an Reference obstetrician Opens New Window or Reference reproductive endocrinologist Opens New Window. Your Reference internist Opens New Window or Reference family medicine physician Opens New Window may do some of the first tests. Tests on a man may be done by a Reference urologist Opens New Window. Some medical procedures are done in an operating room.

What are the benefits of infertility tests?

Infertility tests may find what is causing the problem and you can sometimes be treated during the tests. For example, a blocked Reference fallopian tube Opens New Window may be opened during a hysterosalpingogram.

Sometimes tests cannot find the cause of infertility. And not all infertility problems can be treated. Infertility in men is often less successfully treated than infertility in women. But you may still be able to become pregnant using Reference assisted reproductive technology Opens New Window, which can treat male or female problems.

What tests are done first?

**Tests to find the cause of infertility**
Who	Test name	Description
Both partners	Medical history	Your doctor will ask questions about your sex life, your birth control methods, any Reference sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Opens New Window, medicine use, and the use of caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs. Your menstrual cycle and exercise patterns will be checked. If STIs are suspected, more tests may be done.
	Physical exam	A complete physical exam of both you and your partner is done to check your health. A woman's physical exam usually includes a pelvic examination and Pap test. For more information, see the topics Reference Pelvic Examination and Reference Pap Test. A man's physical exam usually includes a testicular examination. For more information, see the topic Reference Testicular Examination. Not all fertility doctors will do a physical examination of the man. If there are problems with the semen, the doctor may refer the male partner to a Reference urologist Opens New Window.
	Blood or urine tests	Reference Luteinizing hormone (LH) Opens New Window and Reference progesterone Opens New Window tests may be done during a woman's menstrual cycle to help see whether she is ovulating. LH may be checked in a man to see whether he has a Reference pituitary gland Opens New Window problem. For more information, see the topics Reference Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Reference Progesterone. Thyroid function tests may be done to check for thyroid hormone problems that may be preventing ovulation. For more information, see the topics Reference Thyroid Hormone Tests and Reference Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Prolactin is a Reference hormone Opens New Window made by the pituitary gland. It may be checked if a woman has menstrual cycle or ovulation problems. For more information, see the topic Reference Prolactin. In some cases, Reference follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) Opens New Window may be used to check a woman's egg supply (ovarian reserve). For more information, see the topic Reference Follicle-Stimulating Hormone. FSH testing may also be used for men with a very low number of sperm to try to find out the source of the problem. A Reference testosterone Opens New Window test may be used to see whether a problem with the testicles or pituitary gland is preventing a man from being able to father a child. A low amount of testosterone can lead to low sperm counts. For more information, see the topic Reference Testosterone. Tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may be done. These may include urine samples or samples from the Reference cervix Opens New Window or Reference urethra Opens New Window.
Man	Semen analysis	A semen analysis checks the number of sperm (sperm count), the number of sperm that look normal, the number of sperm that can move normally, the number of Reference white blood cells Opens New Window in the semen, and how much semen is made. For more information, see the topic Reference Semen Analysis.
Woman	Postcoital test	The postcoital test checks a woman's cervical mucus after sex to see whether sperm are alive and able to move normally through the mucus. This test must be done the day before or the day of ovulation. Many doctors question the value of the postcoital test to check for infertility. It is not done very often. For more information, see the topic Reference Postcoital Test.
Woman	Home test	Home LH urine test kits can be used to see when ovulation occurs. Sometimes a woman's Reference basal body temperature Opens New Window (BBT) is also checked at the same time. For more information, see the topic Reference Fertility Awareness.

What if the first tests do not find a cause?

If the first tests do not find a cause for infertility, the woman may have one or more of the following tests.

**Tests for women to find the cause of infertility**
Test	Description
Pelvic ultrasound	A pelvic ultrasound looks at the size and structure of the Reference uterus Opens New Window and both Reference ovaries Opens New Window. It can also check the condition and size of the ovaries during treatment for infertility. For more information, see the topic Reference Pelvic Ultrasound.
Hysterosalpingogram	A hysterosalpingogram is an Reference X-ray Opens New Window test that looks at the inside of the uterus and the fallopian tubes. The pictures can show a blockage of the fallopian tubes that would prevent an egg from reaching the uterus or prevent sperm from moving into a fallopian tube to join (fertilize) an egg. This test may also see problems on the inside of the uterus that might prevent a fertilized egg from attaching (implanting) to it. For more information, see the topic Reference Hysterosalpingogram.
Sonohysterogram	A sonohysterogram is an ultrasound test that uses saline and ultrasound to look at the female reproductive organs.
Endometrial biopsy	An endometrial biopsy is done to take out a small piece of the uterine lining (Reference endometrium Opens New Window) to see whether the lining has normal changes during the menstrual cycle. For more information, see the topic Reference Endometrial Biopsy.
Laparoscopy	Laparoscopy is a procedure to look at a woman's pelvic organs (uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries) using a thin, lighted scope that is put through a small cut (incision) in the belly. This procedure is used to find Reference cysts Opens New Window, scar tissue (adhesions), Reference fibroids Opens New Window, and infections that can affect fertility. Laparoscopy can also be used to treat conditions, such as Reference endometriosis Opens New Window. Laparoscopy is usually done with Reference general anesthesia Opens New Window. For more information, see the topic Reference Laparoscopy.

What other tests may be done?

If a hysterosalpingogram, laparoscopy, or endometrial biopsy does not find a reason for your infertility, or if your infertility treatment has been unsuccessful, one or more of the following tests are sometimes used.

**Other tests to find the cause of infertility**
Who	Test name	Description
Both	Antibody blood tests	Antibody blood tests may be done to find antisperm antibodies in blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. Doctors question the value of antibody tests for finding the cause of infertility. For more information, see the topic Reference Antisperm Antibody Test.
Both	Karyotype (chromosome analysis) or genetic test	Karyotyping is a blood test that looks for problems in the genetic material (Reference chromosomes Opens New Window) in your cells. Some genetic problems make it hard to become pregnant or cause miscarriages. For more information, see the topic Reference Karyotype Test. Genetic tests may be done to help find the cause of infertility. For more information, see the topic Reference Genetic Test.
Man	Ultrasound	Ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of structures inside the body. It may be done to see whether a problem in the Reference testicles Opens New Window is causing a problem with the sperm. For more information, see the topic Reference Testicular Ultrasound.
Man	Testicular biopsy	In rare cases, when men have no sperm in their semen, a testicular biopsy may be done to check the sperm in the man's testicles. For more information, see the topic Reference Testicular Biopsy.
Woman	Hysteroscopy	Hysteroscopy is a procedure that looks at the lining of the uterus using a thin, lighted scope that is put through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. Hysteroscopy is used to find problems in the uterine lining. Sometimes your doctor can use small tools during the procedure to take out growths or take samples of tissue (biopsy) or open a blocked fallopian tube. For more information, see the topic Reference Hysteroscopy.

By:	Reference Healthwise Staff	Last Revised: Reference December 7, 2011
Medical Review:	Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Reference Femi Olatunbosun, MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology

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