Fertility Tests

Both male and female infertility are usually diagnosed by carrying out male fertility tests and female fertility tests. In the case of female infertility, fertility testing is carried out to check whether the woman is ovulating and to identify any abnormalities in her reproductive system or menstrual cycle. In the case of male infertility, male fertility tests are conducted to assess whether the man is producing good quality sperm in adequate quantities. Contrary to common belief, 40% - 50% of cases of infertility are due to male infertility.

Your doctor will probably want to have a detailed medical history and may want to perform an examination before you undergo a fertility test. You will be asked about your age, how long you have been trying to get pregnant, how often you have had baby-making intercourse and whether you or your partner already has a baby from your current relationship or from a previous one. Your doctor may also ask you whether you have been experiencing problems during intercourse (such as psychosexual issues, impotence or penetration problems), irregular menstrual cycles or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). All of these questions will help your doctor to decide which are the most appropriate infertility tests for you to undergo.

Below is a list of the most common fertility tests:

• Spermogram
• Pelvic ultrasound scan
• Huhner test
• Coelioscopy/Laparoscopy
• Hysterography

The DuoFertility PC software will allow you to visualise your body basal temperature (BBT) charts in detail. This may help to significantly speed up the process of diagnosis by, for example, reassuring your doctor that you are ovulating regularly, thus enabling them to quickly rule out certain fertility tests.