How do I know if I'm infertile? It can be hard to tell whether you're actually infertile. Often there aren't any signs of infertility, except for not being able to get pregnant or stay pregnant. The only way to know for sure is to meet with a doctor and get infertility testing.
Best basic fertility test: LabCorp Rapid Fertility Test
This FDA-cleared test allows individuals to test at home and see their results within 30 minutes. A person should wait 2–7 days without ejaculating before they collect their sample.
What Causes Infertility? Problems with ovulation are the most common reasons for infertility in women. A woman's age, hormonal imbalances, weight, exposure to chemicals or radiation and cigarette smoking all have an impact on fertility.
For the average woman, peak fertility occurs around the age of 24 with a 96 percent chance of conceiving in a year. From your mid-to-late 20s, your chances are still high at about an 86 percent chance of conceiving when trying for a year.
You can use a special thermometer to check your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. You're most fertile 2 or 3 days before your temperature rises. Your cervical mucus becomes clearer and thinner with a slippery consistency, like egg whites.
Look for changes in your vaginal fluids that occur around cycle days eight to 14 (the days leading to ovulation, assuming a 28-day cycle). Ideally, you want to see a clear, slippery fluid that resembles raw egg whites (this is caused by the increased estrogen levels mid-cycle).
Not all male infertility is permanent or untreatable; it is not uncommon for men to treat infertility through one or a combination of actions, even though the clinical effectiveness of many of these treatments has not been proven..
Women's fertility gradually declines with age, especially in the mid-30s, and it drops rapidly after age 37. Infertility in older women is likely due to the lower number and quality of eggs, and can also be due to health problems that affect fertility. Men over age 40 may be less fertile than younger men.
Some causes of infertility can't be corrected. In cases where spontaneous pregnancy doesn't happen, couples can often still achieve a pregnancy through use of assisted reproductive technology. Infertility treatment may involve significant financial, physical, psychological and time commitments.
Fertility tests for women often involve: Medical history discussion, especially to check for ovulation or menstrual cycle issues. Blood tests to check hormone levels and ovarian reserve (the number of potential eggs remaining in a woman's ovaries). Pelvic examination.
Mild pain or discomfort is common with an HSG, both during the procedure and afterward. You may feel cramping when your provider inserts the dye solution into your uterus. You may experience more cramping when your tubes are blocked. The cramping may last anywhere from five minutes after your procedure to a few hours.
How it Works: The patient (and his/her partner) will go in person to the clinic and meet with the fertility specialist for 45 minutes to 1 hour, before having any testing done. This generally costs $350-$500 but can cost upwards of $1,000 for some high profile clinics.
Aside from having trouble conceiving, symptoms can vary significantly from one person to another. Depending on the reason for infertility, sometimes women may experience pelvic pain, heavy periods, skipped periods or unpredictable vaginal bleeding. It's important to discuss any unusual symptoms with your doctor.
Most fertility tests include a physical examination and a review of your medical history, including blood tests that can be carried out at your local GP or by an obstetrician or reproductive endocrinologist. Depending on your circumstance, some tests may take place in an operating room within a hospital.
The GP will be able to do an initial assessment to check for things that may be causing your fertility problems and advise you about what to do next.
These tests are key as they ensure the treatment selected addresses your specific fertility issue. Your GP may also order these tests before deciding whether to refer you on to a Fertility Specialist.
A doctor may order other tests to check for fertility problems. You may get a blood test to check your levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, which triggers your ovaries to prepare an egg for release each month. High FSH can mean lower fertility in women.
When should I consider having an infertility evaluation? Experts recommend an infertility evaluation if you have not gotten pregnant after 1 year of having regular sexual intercourse without using birth control. If you are older than 35, an evaluation is recommended after 6 months of trying.
Is infertility a common problem? Yes. In the United States, among married women aged 15 to 49 years with no prior births, about 1 in 5 (19%) are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying (infertility).
Although NICE recommend up to 3 cycles of IVF should be offered on the NHS, some ICBs only offer 1 cycle, or only offer NHS-funded IVF in exceptional circumstances. You can also ask your GP or contact your local integrated care board (ICB) for more information about NHS-funded IVF treatment in your area.