Fertility – At What Point Should I Get Tested?

Are you concerned that you might be having some issues getting pregnant? Have you suffered from past miscarriages? You are not alone. One in eight couples today has troubles while trying to conceive. The question is, at what point should I consult with a fertility doctor?

Our caring OB/GYN doctors at Plano Women’s Healthcare have the knowledge and expertise to help you. Here’s a guide on fertility testing and when you might want to contact us to get started.

When Should I See a Fertility Specialist at Plano Women’s Healthcare?

If you have been trying to conceive for a year without success, then it’s probably time to consult with us at Plano Women’s Healthcare. If you are over the age of 35, we recommend you don’t wait for a full year, as the sooner we start working on the issue the better. If you’ve had ongoing issues with miscarriages or other gynecological problems, then schedule a consultation as soon as possible.

Of course, you are welcome to consult with us at any time to discuss your concerns and family planning. We offer a comprehensive suite of women’s health services, and the better your overall health is, the more it will support your fertility.

Sometimes women after 35 come in for fertility testing even though they haven’t experienced problems yet to help with planning. This can be a wise decision and is one way to detect potential issues early on.

What Is Fertility Testing?

When you consult with one of our knowledgeable doctors at Plano Women’s Healthcare, we will review your medical history and any symptoms of infertility you may be experiencing. One of our recommendations might be to start with tracking your monthly cycle and ovulation times. Sometimes an easy fix to not conceiving is to simply know when ovulation is occurring.

However, sometimes we may recommend fertility testing. Today there are many forms of fertility testing, including at-home tests for hormone levels. The issue is that sometimes just one test isn’t enough to troubleshoot the problem.

Thus, while we might utilize hormone testing and other common fertility tests such as AMH. We may also leverage additional testing to pinpoint any factors that might contribute to infertility.

There are several different types of fertility tests we might run, including:

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH): This hormone can give us an idea of how many eggs are left. The amount of eggs tends to reduce as women age.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): FSH that helps eggs to grow; it also regulates the menstruation cycle.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH): This hormone is used to start the ovulation portion of the cycle.
Estrogen (Estradiol): Estradiol prepares the uterus and endometrial lining for egg implantation.
Testosterone: Testosterone is not just a hormone in males; in females it impacts how regular the menstrual cycle is.
Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG): SHBG binds to sex hormones like testosterone to make sure they are in the proper balance.
Prolactin: A prolactin test can identify issues with the pituitary gland, which is responsible for the production of fertility hormones.

We may also recommend other blood tests and take a urine sample. We might conduct some imaging to see what the internal structures of the uterus and fallopian tubes look like. Semen from your partner might also be collected to test for motility.

The Timing of Fertility Testing

Since the levels of hormones change throughout a woman’s cycle, we may need you to get multiple tests done to get an accurate picture of what’s going on. For example, some tests may need to be done within the first few days of the cycle, while others may need to be done in the week before the cycle ends.

Tracking your cycle as accurately as possible can help us schedule your bloodwork and other tests for optimal results.

Interpreting Fertility Test Results

Interpretation of fertility blood test results is definitely a science, but there is also an art to it. At Plano Women’s Healthcare, our doctors are skilled in reviewing test results to look for patterns that might be missed normally. We will always explain to you what your test results mean and what possible treatments might be recommended.

Additional Tests for Fertility

Fertility testing is not one-size-fits-all, and depending on your personal medical history, as well as your family history and genetics, we may recommend other testing.

Thyroid problems, for example, are often a culprit in fertility issues. Both an overactive and underactive thyroid gland can throw off hormonal balance and impact your ability to get pregnant. By checking your thyroid function, we can easily catch a common problem that can be managed with medication.

Thus, treating fertility might include treating an underlying medical condition you didn’t know you had. This is also one of the reasons you might not want to wait too long for fertility testing. Acute and chronic conditions will of course have better outcomes if they are treated, so the sooner you have answers, the better.

And of course, if you are having any acute gynecological symptoms, such as pain, heavy bleeding, or a period that is ongoing and never ending, please contact us right away. Potentially serious issues such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and cervical cancer can also impact fertility. For problems such as cancer, we want to treat it as soon as possible, so if you are in doubt about acute symptoms or chronic pains or malaise, please contact us right away for a consultation.

Getting Started With Fertility Testing in Plano

At Plano Women’s Healthcare, we are passionate about helping women with fertility concerns. If you are having trouble conceiving, are over 35, or have a history of miscarriages, we can help. Our doctors have had great success helping couples conceive, and we hope we can help you too. If you aren’t sure whether it’s time for fertility testing, you can always give us a call and our friendly staff will be happy to answer your questions.