Trying for a baby and having no luck conceiving is a frustrating and worrying experience. If you’re having problems getting pregnant, Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. of South Charleston, West Virginia, can help. OB/GYN Kiran Patel, MD, family medicine physician Leela Patel, MD, and their team offer fertility evaluations that help determine the cause of your difficulties and find the best treatment. Call Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. today for more information or schedule a consultation using the online form.
request an appointmentWhat is a fertility evaluation?
A fertility evaluation is a procedure you might need to undergo to see whether there’s anything affecting your ability to conceive.
Most women up to the age of 35 conceive within a year of starting to try for a baby. If you haven’t conceived within a year, you might benefit from undergoing a fertility evaluation.
If you’re between 35 and 40, you should consider having a fertility evaluation after six months, should you still not be pregnant. For women over 40, you need a fertility evaluation as soon as possible because your chances of conceiving fall dramatically at this age.
What is involved in a fertility evaluation?
A fertility evaluation consists of a series of tests, including:
Blood and urine tests
A urine test is a simple way to see if you’re ovulating (producing mature eggs and releasing them). Blood tests are useful for measuring your progesterone levels and checking your egg supply. They can also detect issues like high levels of prolactin that can affect ovulation, and thyroid disease, which can be a cause of infertility.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound can help your provider predict ovulation by revealing changes in the follicles that produce eggs. Sonohysterography is a specialized form of ultrasound used to detect scarring and other issues with your uterus.
Hysterosalpingography
Hysterosalpingography is a specialized X-ray used to see inside your uterus and identify any blockages in your fallopian tubes.
Hysteroscopy
A hysteroscope is a flexible tubular instrument fitted with a camera and light. Your provider at Patel & Patel, MD, Inc. inserts the hysteroscope into your vagina and passes it through your cervix to look at the inside of your uterus.
Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy is similar to hysteroscopy, but instead of entering your body through your vagina, the laparoscope goes through a small abdominal incision. Laparoscopy enables your provider to look at the outside of your uterus as well as your ovaries and fallopian tubes.
What happens after my fertility evaluation?
If your provider at Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. detects any problems during your fertility evaluation, they discuss these with you and offer an appropriate treatment option. It’s not unusual, though, for a fertility evaluation to not find a reason for your problems with conceiving.
In these cases, it could be that your difficulties are due to stress, unhealthy aspects of your lifestyle, or just poor timing. Your provider can help you address any issues like these to boost your chances of conceiving.
It is, of course, vital to consider your partner’s fertility and not just your own. Male partners should undergo tests on their reproductive system and sperm quality.
To arrange a fertility evaluation, call Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. today or book an appointment online.