It’s funny how life works, right? We spend most of our 20s trying so hard not to get pregnant, but we never thought that once we were ready, it would be such a challenge to have a baby. Maybe you and your partner have been trying for over a year to get pregnant, or maybe curiosity sparked your interest. Whatever it may be, we are here to tell you what happens at that first appointment you scheduled with your fertility doctor.
Fertility Testing for Women
Whether you’re about to start trying for a baby or you and your partner have been trying for several months to a year, many women are curious about their fertility levels. Even if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year, this does not mean that you are infertile. However, if you’re concerned about fertility, the best thing you can do is to make an appointment with a fertility specialist.
Because there’s no one test that determines a woman’s fertility, your doctor will use both a questionnaire and medical testing to tell how fertile you are. When you first arrive at the office, your doctor will likely ask:
- For your medical history, including family fertility problems.
- About any medications you take.
- Use of caffeine, alcohol or cigarettes.
- If you use birth control.
- If you’ve ever been pregnant before or suffered a miscarriage.
After the questionnaire your doctor may rule out any underlying causes by performing other medical testing to assess your fertility levels:
Sonogram (ultrasound imaging)
After the initial consult and questions, your fertility specialist may perform a sonogram of a woman’s pelvic area to rule out any potential issues with fertility. Also, during the sonogram, your doctor may perform an ovarian reserve test which assesses the number of eggs a woman carries in her ovaries.
Hormone blood tests
Several blood tests are available at different times during a woman’s menstrual cycle to measure hormone levels in the blood. A common test for women, Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is drawn on the third day after a woman’s period starts. This test is used to evaluate the egg supply and ovarian function. Another possible blood test that measures hormones is called the Anti- Müllerian hormone (AMH) and estradiol. When this is tested, it will give your fertility doctor a better understanding of your ovarian function and egg reserve. This test can be done any time during your menstrual cycle and can be done while you’re taking oral contraceptives.
Determining a woman’s fertility is not an exact science, however, these tests give doctors a very good understanding of your fertility and likelihood of getting pregnant. Don’t get discouraged, there is hope and the first step is reaching out to your fertility doctor.Asian Egg Bank was established to satisfy the ever-rising demand for Asian egg donors. Thanks to rigorous quality and screening standards, we can offer the highest quality eggs and surrogacy services to improve the chances of a successful pregnancy.