Most at-home FSH tests are very similar to pregnancy tests administered at home. For easy testing, use a small cup to collect urine from the first urination of the day. Then dip the testing stick into the urine sample and place on a flat surface while the test results register.
There are two basic types of home fertility tests for women: ovulation testing and testing involving a blood sample. Ovulation testing, according to Dr. Montes, involves urinating on a test strip and waiting for results to appear.
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.
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.
They can also help identify underlying issues that could prevent conception, such as hormone imbalance. Plus, home tests are relatively easy to use. They involve collecting blood, saliva, semen, or urine samples for analysis and, depending on the test, may provide results instantaneously—or it may take days or weeks.
An ultrasound probe gets images of the inside of the uterus to check for anything unusual. Fertility for women relies on the ovaries releasing healthy eggs. The reproductive tract must allow an egg to pass into the fallopian tubes and join with sperm for fertilization.
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.
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 a hysterosalpingogram painful? 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.
If you believe that you or your partner may be experiencing infertility, it's important to seek an evaluation with a reproductive endocrinologist as soon as you can. Typically, the first steps will involve a visit to the doctor, blood tests, a pelvic ultrasound and a semen analysis.
Sperm counts are highest if you've waited at least 2 days between instances of ejaculation, but waiting longer than 5 days can mean your sample will have fewer motile sperm and lower sperm quality. So, for best results, you should abstain from ejaculation for 2–5 days before producing your sample for sperm testing.
A woman's peak reproductive years are between the late teens and late 20s. By age 30, fertility (the ability to get pregnant) starts to decline. This decline happens faster once you reach your mid-30s. By 45, fertility has declined so much that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely.
Fertility generally starts to reduce when a woman is in her early 30s, and more so after the age of 35.
Low Follicle Count: Antral follicle count (AFC) is a measure of the number of follicles in your ovaries, each containing a potential egg. A low follicle count can be an indicator of poor egg quality, as it suggests a limited ovarian reserve.
There are two good ways to measure egg count: an antral follicle count and an AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) test. During an antral follicle count, a doctor uses ultrasound to count the visible follicles. Each follicle contains an immature egg that could potentially mature and ovulate.
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.
There are a variety of reasons you may not be able to get pregnant but still, have a period. For example, a chronic health condition like diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure or rheumatoid arthritis may make it difficult to become pregnant.
Experts say the best way to get pregnant fast is to have sex once a day, every other day, during the fertile window right before and after ovulation. If you have sex too often, your partner's sperm count may be reduced—and if you don't have enough sex, the sperm may be old and unable to swim as fast.
The main symptom of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. A menstrual cycle that's too long (35 days or more), too short (less than 21 days), irregular or absent can mean that you're not ovulating. There might be no other signs or symptoms.
Common causes of infertility in women include: Fallopian tube obstruction. Blocked or scarred fallopian tubes that prevent sperm from reaching the egg are a frequent cause of infertility. A history of pelvic infections, sexually transmitted diseases or endometriosis increases your risk for fallopian tube obstruction.
So while infertility cannot officially be “cured,” it can be effectively managed with the variety of treatment options available. If you or your loved one are suffering from fertility problems, contact Dr.
Samples collected between the hours of 5am and 7.30am were found to display a statistically higher sperm concentration, total sperm count and a greater percentage of normally shaped sperm, when compared with samples that were collected later in the day.