Fertility Test
Marquetta Marteney
A woman should consider fertility testing if she has been actively trying to get pregnant, by having unprotected intercourse on a regular basis with her partner, for more than one year. If a woman is age 35 or older, she should consider fertility testing after six months of trying to get pregnant. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, infertility affects men and women equally, so both partners should be tested.
Fertility tests for women help identify the cause(s) of infertility so the condition can be properly treated and the couple can have the best chance to conceive. Fertility tests for women often involve:
The Everlywell at-home fertility test for women provides a detailed assessment for those who are looking for additional information about their hormone levels that can affect menstrual cycle and ovulation.
Our Women's Fertility test is collected in your own home, and results are provided by an experienced, CLIA-certified laboratory. All Everlywell tests are ordered and reviewed by independent physicians. Our at-home fertility test is a cost effective starting point for those interested in a fertility check and who want to take a first step in learning more about their hormone levels to help decide whether to turn to fertility treatment (which may include fertility and reproductive medications, a procedure such as IVF, or other methods).
In addition to at-home fertility tests, Everlywell also has at-home hormone tests available for women who want to be well-informed about their bodies. Hormone testing may be helpful to check for the source of potential fertility problems in women who want to get pregnant. (Hormone testing and semen analysis may also be important in understanding male infertility, as a hormonal imbalance can impact sperm count and production. The Everlywell fertility test, however, is only appropriate for women.)
We will provide you with your levels of each of the 5 hormones measured by our at-home fertility test for women and whether your levels fall within established normal ranges that are often needed to become pregnant and support female fertility.
Everlywell also offers an ovarian reserve test, which provides information about egg quantity and if a woman has a presumed normal age-matched egg count."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What guidance will I get along with my results?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"As with all our tests, we encourage you to share your results with your health care provider as he/she can best offer guidance in your health and fertility questions as well as advice about potential fertility treatment (IVF or other modern fertility methods). If your healthcare provider identifies a fertility problem or provides an infertility diagnosis, they may refer you to a fertility specialist for further care.
As with all our tests, we encourage you to share your results with your health care provider as he/she can best offer guidance in your health and fertility questions as well as advice about potential fertility treatment (IVF or other modern fertility methods). If your healthcare provider identifies a fertility problem or provides an infertility diagnosis, they may refer you to a fertility specialist for further care.
If you and your partner are trying to have a baby but haven't been able to, you may start to wonder if you should get fertility tests. Experts say it's time to check with a doctor if you've had regular sex without birth control for 12 months if you are under the age of 35 and for 6 months if you are over 35.
It's important for the two of you to go for testing together. When you see your doctor, they'll probably start by asking questions about your health and lifestyle. They'll want to know things about you and your partner like:
You may get a Pap smear, which is used to detect abnormal cells around the cervix. The test can detect cervical cancer and other problems with the cervix, or sexually transmitted diseases. Any of these can interfere with getting pregnant.
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. The FSH blood levels get checked early in your menstrual cycle (often on day 3).
Clomiphene citrate challenge testing can be done with the FSH test. You take a pill of clomiphene citrate on the fifth through ninth days of your menstrual cycle. FSH gets checked on day 3 (before you take the medicine) and on day 10 (after). High FSH levels suggest you have lower chances of getting pregnant.
Your doctor may also suggest a blood test to check for anti-müllerian hormone (AMH). AMH levels can give an idea of how well the ovaries function. This is called their ovarian reserve. Very low levels can suggest low ovarian reserve.
Your doctor may also recommend an endometrial biopsy. In this procedure, they take a sample of tissue from the lining of your uterus. But evidence is mounting that endometrial biopsy is not helpful in predicting or treating infertility.
You may not need to have all these tests. Your doctor can discuss with you which ones are best in your situation. After the testing is done, about 85% of couples will have some idea about why they're having trouble getting pregnant.
Your family doctor or gynecologist can test you for infertility, or refer you to a fertility specialist. Your local Planned Parenthood health center can also help you find fertility testing in your area.
There are several types of infertility treatments. The kinds that are best for you depend on the cause of your fertility problems. Sometimes only one person needs treatment, other times both partners will use a combination of treatments together.
Treating infertility usually begins by visiting a doctor who specializes in pregnancy and infertility. Your family doctor or gynecologist can refer you to a fertility specialist. You may also be able to get fertility treatments, or help finding a fertility specialist in your area, from your local Planned Parenthood health center.
There are several ways to treat infertility in cis women. The treatments that are best for you depend on the cause of your fertility problems. Sometimes only one person needs treatment, other times both partners will use a combination of treatments together.
Your family doctor or ob-gyn can refer you to a fertility specialist. You may also be able to get fertility treatments, or help finding a fertility specialist in your area, from your local Planned Parenthood health center.
Before infertility testing, your health care team or clinic works to understand your sexual habits. They might make recommendations to improve your chances of getting pregnant. But in some infertile couples, no clear cause is found. That is called unexplained infertility.
Male fertility relies on the testicles making enough healthy sperm. The sperm needs to be released from the penis into the vagina, where it has to travel to the waiting egg. Tests for male infertility try to find out whether there are treatable problems with any of these steps.
Fertility for women relies on the ovaries releasing healthy eggs. The reproductive tract must let an egg pass into the fallopian tubes and join with sperm. Then the fertilized egg must travel to the uterus and attach to the lining. Tests for female infertility try to find problems with any of those steps.
If pregnancy doesn't happen after a year of unprotected sex, couples often can still become pregnant through infertility treatments called assisted reproductive technology. But treatment can involve big financial, physical, emotional and time commitments.
Depending on your age and health history, your usual health care professional may recommend a medical evaluation. A gynecologist, urologist or family doctor can help find out whether there's a problem that requires a specialist or clinic that treats infertility problems. In some cases, both you and your partner may need a full infertility evaluation.
But infertility is not as bleak as you might imagine. Although a person may be considered infertile after one full year of trying to conceive, 12 months may not mean that much. One recent study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that the majority of women up to age 39 who didn't become pregnant in their first year did become pregnant in their second year -- without any medical assistance. For women between ages 27 and 34, only 6% were unable to conceive in their second year. And for 35- to 39-year-old women, only 9% were unable to conceive in their second year -- provided their partner was under 40.
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