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Female fertility testing. how is it done?
(April 1, 2010)
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There are several different tests available to check for female fertility. At home, almost all women who are trying to conceive track their ovulation cycles in order to know about their fertility cycles. This usually helps your doctor in determining the cause of infertility and charting a testing and treatment course.
A fertility monitor can be used to keep a track of ovulation and other related fertility aspects. The initial test that a fertility specialist will perform is a measure of the luteinizing hormone (LH) and the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This helps you and your doctors establish a baseline. These tests are performed on the third day of your fertility cycle. After this test, your doctor will call you for several other tests like the cervical mucus test and the ultrasound tests. The cervical mucus tests is performed after coitus. This test is able to determine whether the sperm has been able to penetrate into the cervical mucus and has subsequently survived. This test may also help the doctor screen you for bacterial contamination.
The ultrasound test can help the doctor assess the thickness of the lining of the uterus as well as the ovaries. In another two to three days, another ultrasound is done to make sure that the egg has been released.
After these two screening tests, additional tests are performed to check for certain hormones. The hormones which are tested for fertility are progesterone, FSH, LH, testosterone – both free and total, prolactin, free T3, estradiol, androstenedione and DHEAS. Fertility specialists may often recommend additional tests, some of which are a hysterosalpingogram, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and an endometrial biopsy. All of these are clinical procedures which are performed in a clinical or a hospital setting. The hysterosalpingogram is an X ray of the fallopian tubes and the uterus. To perform this test, a blue dye is injected into the uterus and fallopian tubes through the cervix. The radiologist then monitors the movement of the dye internally to see for any blockages or obstructions.
A hysteroscopy is another procedure where a scope is inserted through the cervix into the uterus and pictures are taken from the inside. This scope allows the doctor to check for any scarring or growths inside the uterus which may be causing infertility. The scope may also be used to retrieve a sample of the endometrial lining of the uterus. An endometrial biopsy is usually performed just before menstruation is due. This biopsy can help the doctor assess if there are any hormonal problems or imbalances.
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Submitted by M T on April 1, 2010 at 01:43
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