Diagnostic testing helps to determine why you’re having difficulties conceiving or becoming pregnant. Samuel Wood, MD, PhD, MA, MBA, HCLD/CC(ABB), FACOG, and his team at Gen 5 Fertility Center in San Diego, California, offer an extensive range of specialized tests. These include hormonal testing, semen analysis, and hysterosalpingography (HSG). To find out more, call Gen 5 Fertility Center today or go online to book an appointment.
One form of diagnostic testing involves procedures that analyze your blood, urine, or semen. Diagnostic imaging and procedures, such as HSG (hysterosalpingography) and hysteroscopy, can also help determine the cause of your fertility challenges.
Initial diagnostic tests look for underlying health issues, like diabetes or thyroid disorders, that could be causing difficulties conceiving. Diagnostic testing also identifies conditions, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, and endometriosis, that can reduce your chances of conception.
In addition, the Gen 5 Fertility Center team runs specialized fertility tests.
Diagnostic lab testing available at Gen 5 Fertility Center includes:
Semen analysis establishes the quantity and quality of sperm in a man’s ejaculate. It finds problems like high levels of misshapen sperm and poor sperm motility (where sperm move slowly or not at all).
Men have both whole DNA strands and fragments in their sperm. However, a high level of fragmentation reduces fertility and increases the risk of miscarriage.
Hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, are vital to conception. Hormonal testing measures the levels of these and many other hormones involved in reproduction.
The ovarian reserve is the number of eggs you have in your ovaries, which decreases as you age. Measuring your anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), estradiol (a type of estrogen), and follicle-stimulating hormone levels help to determine your egg reserve.
The Gen 5 Fertility Center team performs this test after you have sex to assess the cervical mucus. They can see how healthy it is, how suitable it is for fertilization, and how well sperm functions in the mucus. This test is very rarely used anymore.
Diagnostic imaging tests include ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs. These produce pictures of your body’s internal organs, enabling your provider to see any abnormalities.
If diagnostic images aren’t sufficient, you might need to undergo a procedure like hysterosalpingography (HSG). That involves having a dye injected into the uterus and fallopian tubes that show up on an X-ray. The dye helps your provider identify any problems.
Another option is a hysteroscopy, where your provider inserts a flexible instrument (hysteroscope) into your vagina. A camera on the instrument’s end sends clear images of your uterus to a screen in the exam room.
To learn more about these and other types of diagnostic testing, call Gen 5 Fertility Center today or schedule a consultation online.