After Your First Visit with a Fertility Specialist
Evaluation of Infertility
After
an initial consultation to comprehensively review your medical history, most
patients will be asked to undergo a complete physical exam and a series of infertility
tests. This evaluation phase involves some blood and hormone tests which your fertility
specialist will
utilize to diagnose the cause of infertility.
The testing generally proceeds from standardized screening which all patients
need to specialized diagnostic tests that are tailored to the unique needs of
each patient. For further information on diagnostic testing, please see our Diagnosis section.
Most fertility physicians will accept relevant standardized screening
test results performed by qualified third parties if the information is still
current and relevant. After this phase of standard testing however, fertility
physicians generally prescribe specific diagnostic tests in accordance with
the patient's individual circumstances. A brief table is presented below that
outlines common diagnostic tests and the method by which they are administered.
Please note that a single blood draw will often provide a sufficient amount to
perform nearly all screening tests.
|
Standard Screening Tests
(typically required)
|
Name of Test |
Reason for Test |
For Female? |
For Male? |
Obtained By |
ABO/Rh |
Blood Typing |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood Draw |
CBC |
Complete Blood Count |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood Draw |
Rubella Titer |
German Measles |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood Draw |
HBsAg |
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood Draw |
Hepatitis C |
Hepatitis |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood Draw |
HIV |
AIDS Screen |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood Draw |
HTLV-1 |
Virus Screen |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood Draw |
RPR/STS |
Syphillis Screen |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood Draw |
Chlamydia |
Infection |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood and Culture |
Mycoplasma Culture |
Infection |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood |
Pap Smear |
Cancer Screen |
Yes |
No |
Office Visit |
Common Diagnostic Tests
(may or may not be needed) |
Name of Test |
Reason for Test |
For Female? |
For Male? |
Obtained By |
FSH/E2 (Follicle Stimulating Hormone/Estradiol) |
Egg Quality |
Yes |
No |
Blood Draw |
Prolactin |
Pituitary Hormone |
Yes |
No |
Blood Draw |
LH |
Luteinizing Hormone |
Yes |
No |
Blood Draw |
TSH |
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone |
Yes |
No |
Blood Draw |
Free T4 |
Thyroid Hormone |
Yes |
No |
Blood Draw |
DHEAS |
Adrenal Hormone |
Yes |
No |
Blood Draw |
Cortisol (am&pm), ACTH |
Adrenal Hormones |
Yes |
No |
Blood Draw |
Hysterosalpingogram |
Uterus and Tubes |
Yes |
No |
Office Visit |
Hysteroscopy |
Uterus |
Yes |
No |
Office Visit |
Ultrasound |
Uterus and Ovaries |
Yes |
No |
Office Visit |
Routine Culture |
Infection |
No |
Yes |
Office Visit |
Semen Analysis |
Sperm Quality |
No |
Yes |
Office Visit |
HEPA |
Hamster Egg Penetration Assay |
No |
Yes |
Office Visit |
Karyotype |
Chromosomal Analysis |
Yes |
Yes |
Office Visit |
Serum Immunobead |
Antibody Assay |
Yes |
Yes |
Blood Draw |
PCT |
Post-Coital Test |
Yes |
Yes |
Office Visit |
The outcome of your testing phase will often lead directly to a diagnosis for the cause of infertility. Please see our Diagnosis section for information on the major diagnostic categories and testing protocols for determining the cause(s) of infertility
