When Should I Get Tested for Infertility?

If you have been struggling to conceive and were thinking about getting some fertility testing done, you may have come around to the idea of visiting a fertility clinic and scheduling an appointment to discuss your situation and learn more about your options. It may also be that you’re in a relationship and actively trying now or are thinking about getting pregnant in the future, or you may be single and have concerns about your fertility. But have you ever wondered when you should get tested for infertility and how a Fertility Specialist tests your fertility? If nope, let’s take a closer look at everything you need to know about fertility work up, what are the most common signs of female and male infertility you shouldn’t ignore, and why it is essential to consult with a Fertility Specialist as early as possible if noticing something unusual?

How Common Is Infertility? 

For singles and couples struggling to conceive, wondering how common infertility is absolutely normal. Although infertility is not discussed topic and, in most cases, is a taboo theme, the unedited truth is that infertility struggles are common. Moreover, infertility is not exclusively a female issue — 1/3 of infertility cases are caused by male factor infertility.

Each year, up to 10% of couples are diagnosed with fertility issues of known origin. And up to 30% of infertile couples have unexplained infertility when the underlying condition is not found. It may be caused by ovarian and testicular dysfunctions, sperm and oocyte quality, problems with fertilization, abnormal sperm function, tubal function, genetics, endometrial receptivity, implantation failures, and endometriosis that are difficult to treat and/or diagnose. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for maximizing your chances of having a healthy baby — starting from low–tech and non–invasive, such as Follicular Monitoring, Ovulation Induction, and Intrauterine Insemination, and ending with high–tech and sophisticated ones, such as Surgical Sperm Retrieval (for cases of severe male infertility), IVF (in vitro fertilization), Egg Donor IVF, Tandem IVF cycle, FET, Embryo Adoption, and Surrogacy.

Female Infertility Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Infertility is often silent, but it doesn’t just appear at random. It is hard to guess if you are fertile or nope before you start trying to conceive and find that it is not as easy as you thought. But there are some identifying signs your body signals that you may have trouble getting pregnant.

If you notice any of the nine symptoms listed below, instead of neglecting them, give your Ob–Gyn a call. They will diagnose a condition that affects your fertility and tailor the most effective protocol to treat the underlying problem.

• Irregular periods
• Significant changes in the length of bleeding days
• Painful or/and heavy periods
• Unusual bleeding/spotting between cycles
• Pelvic pain
• Hot flashes 
• Stopped periods
• Symptoms of hormone fluctuations (skin issues including more Acne or sudden, severe Acne; loss of hair or thinning hair, unusual hair growth, weight gain)
• Milky breast discharge unrelated to breastfeeding

Male Infertility Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Male infertility can also be silent, but it doesn’t just appear in one day. It also has some symptoms which indicate that something is going wrong and need screening and fixing. It is essential to keep track of your body and listen to what it’s telling you.

If you notice any symptoms from the list below, don’t ignore them. Instead, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider or fertility specialist for a basic fertility workup. They will diagnose the cause that affects your fertility and prepare the treatment protocol to fix things. Although the most common cause of male infertility is a failure of spermatogenesis, most cases are medically treatable. Some cases involve medication only, other — surgical sperm retrieval or reproductive surgeries, and only a few cases of severe male factor infertility may require using the donor’s sperm in fertilization.

• Erection problems
• Issues with ejaculation (no ejaculation or reduced volume of semen)
• Symptoms of hormone fluctuations (skin issues, loss of facial or body hair, unusual hair growth, weight gain)
• Pain, swelling, or a lump in the testicle area
• Testicle pain or swelling of testicles
• Lumps in the testicles, or unusually small and hard testicles
• Unusual loss of smell

What Are My Further Steps?

Once you are past wondering how common is infertility and “is it possible to be infertile if I noticed one or more potential infertility symptoms”, your next question will likely be, what are my further steps, and where can I get fertility testing done? You will want to find an experienced and dedicated Fertility Specialist committed to resolving fertility issues and creating Tiny Miracles. Finding the Right Fertility Specialist may take some time as you will need to do some research on Fertility Clinics and IVF Departments in your city or/and abroad, compare the success rates statistics and offered treatment options, read the reviews and testimonials from the patients, and request additional info regarding an analysis, assessment, counseling, and assisted reproduction, or/and pricelist for understanding the costs involved.

After completing your research and finding a Fertility Specialist, there will be one more step to take — making an appointment to discuss your situation. It is worth noting that sometimes, getting a Second Opinion on your fertility case is vital for understanding the situation and alternative options. It will give you clarity on screenings, treatment protocols, medication, and add–ons before starting an Upcoming cycle to ensure that nothing has been missed. For example, not all clinics offer a genetic test to evaluate your ovarian reserve or a male fertility genetic test to evaluate spermatogenesis, but these tests may provide deep insight into your fertility potential, help to design personalized treatment protocol, and select which medication will be the best in each case.

When Should I Get Tested for Infertility?

Infertility is classically defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of having regular intercourse without using contraception. But it should be added that although a person may be considered infertile after one full year of trying to conceive, 12 months may not mean that much, especially for young couples in their early 20s, as there is a chance to conceive in the next 12 months. So while it is positive news for 20–Somethings and they have more time to postpone their first consultation with a Fertility specialist, for 30–Somethings wishing to have a baby, delaying a visit to a fertility clinic may lead to more complex and sophisticated treatment options which will be more invasive and expensive.

Not sure if it’s a time to schedule your first appointment with a Fertility Specialist? It’s suggested to consult with a Fertility Specialist after one year of trying if you are under the age of 35, and six months if you are 35 or older. Your primary care physician or OB/GYN may also refer you to a fertility clinic if you are dealing with recurrent pregnancy loss or other fertility issues. 

What is a Fertility Checkup? 

A Fertility Checkup (also called a Fertility Assessment, Fertility Testing, and Infertility Work Up) is a series of fertility tests designed to assess your fertility potential and provide unique fertility solutions personalized just for you. 

Routinely, a fertility checkup involves three steps: the first step is an initial consultation with a fertility specialist, the second step is fertility testing, and the third step is a follow–up consultation scheduled after getting your fertility testing results to discuss the unique fertility solutions which will maximize your chances of having a healthy baby.

What to Expect from Infertility Work Up?

Standardly, a fertility workup program includes an initial consultation, fertility tests, and a follow–up consultation with a fertility specialist to review your options and/or tailor fertility treatment to your specific case after getting your fertility testing results. It is worth noting that some fertility assessment packages may cover more tests and be more expensive compared to the basic ones. And vs.: the Basic fertility checkup bundle may include only basic testing and be less expensive than the others. The difference will be in the provided overview about your fertility health — more tests may give deeper insides into your fertility potential and more accurate indications for choosing the most effective medication. 

Depending on the type of infertility workup, there is a female, male, and testing for both. The first part of your infertility workup appointment will be a general fertility consultation. During this time, a Fertility Specialist will revise your medical history, including your fertility history, and answer any questions you may have. The next part is a fertility assessment. This usually includes a series of tests that evaluate male/female infertility.

Female Infertility Testing

To understand the cause of infertility, you will need to share a full medical history and undergo noninvasive and slightly invasive testing. Tests to determine Female Factor Infertility include:

• Hormone testing (blood tests) — they can determine if hormone levels are affecting the ability to ovulate or carry a pregnancy. 
• Luteal phase dysfunction workup — testing is performed with a blood test, uterine ultrasound, and endometrial biopsy to check if the uterine lining can sustain a pregnancy.
• Ovarian reserve testing— is a duo testing that includes a series of blood tests: FSH, Estradiol, and Anti–Müllerian Hormone (AMH); and pelvic ultrasound (antral follicle count or AFC) to evaluate the number of oocytes still in the ovarian follicles and how many follicles remain in reserve.
• Ovulation testing — a series of hormone–detecting blood tests and ovarian ultrasound scans for tracking ovulation patterns.
• Tubal patency test — are two tests done to visualize the fallopian tubes and uterus and if there is a blockage or scarring in the tubes that makes it difficult for sperm to reach the egg. 
• Hysterosalpingography (HSG) — an X–ray test performed to outline the internal shape of the uterus and evaluate fallopian tube patency. 
• Pelvic ultrasound scan — a test that visualizes the uterus and uterine abnormalities that might be causing infertility
• An endometrial biopsy — the uterine lining test which is performed to identify the cause that prevent implantation or lead to recurrent miscarriage.

Male Infertility Testing

To determine the cause of infertility, you will need to disclose your medical history and undergo noninvasive testing. Tests to determine Male Factor Infertility include:

• Semen analysis — it will give a clear indication of sperm health, fertilization potential, and viability, including an overview of semen volume, count, shape, and motility.
• Blood Tests — they can identify your levels of reproductive hormones, including testosterone, and detect hormonal fluctuations affecting fertility. 
• Urine Tests (after ejaculation) — they can determine if you are experiencing retrograde ejaculation, which is when the semen enters the bladder rather than being ejaculated.
• Transrectal Ultrasound — it is used to detect blockages in the tubes that carry semen out of the body or problems with the prostate, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, in which the prostate becomes enlarged.

What Are the Options for Singles? 

In addition to fertility tests, your Fertility Specialist may offer a variety of other services. For example, if you are under 35 or already 35 and haven’t met an ideal partner, they can recommend Egg Freezing or Sperm Freezing. Having oocytes retrieved and vitrified or sperm collected and frozen allows you to postpone pregnancy and have a chance of mothering or/and fathering your IVF baby in the future.

Follow–Up Consultation: Why It Is So Essential?

After completing the fertility assessment, you will have a final consultation with your Fertility Specialist to discuss the issues and options you have, shaping some key insights into what might come next. Although the specifics of your upcoming treatment protocol may not be finalized until a future visit, you will have a step by step guidelines to what to expect from each option and some time to think before deciding what will be the best in your case.

Wrapping Things Up

The words “fertility”, “fertility testing”, “fertility workup”, “fertility assessment”, and “fertility checkup” may not be in your vocabulary until you’re trying to get pregnant and having trouble conceiving. Or, you may just be wondering about your fertility health and would like to know if there is any indication for worrying about potential health issues. Whatever your concerns and circumstances are, getting tested will give you an insight into your fertility potential and outline the most effective strategy for solving potential or actual fertility issues.