We realize it's never an easy decision to make as to exactly when it is time to talk to a health care provider about infertility. The doctors at The Facility Services Program at Trinity Medical Center suggest it is time when you:
Once contacting a specialist at Trinity's Fertility Services Program, your doctor will test both the woman and the man to search for the cause of the problem.
In the man, testing begins with the examination of the sperm to check for number, shape and movement. Blood hormone levels may also be checked. Other tests, such as a mucous penetrance test or a hamster egg penetration assay, may be necessary.
In the woman, testing begins with examining the ovulation pattern. This is done using an ovulation test kit or by monitoring basal body temperature and cervical mucous. Your doctor may choose to perform other tests to check ovulation, including an ultrasound of the ovaries or blood testing. Once it is determined that a woman is ovulating, other tests may be necessary. These may include: