Intertility Evaluation

Hormone Evaluation

This procedure is a series of blood tests performed at our office on specific days of the menstrual cycle. Hormone assessments can identify abnormalities in the pituitary, thyroid, or adrenal function, as well as give indications of the health or any disturbance in ovarian function. It can be important to identify any hormone abnormalities on your fertility journey as it can determine the health of your reproductive system.

Ovarian Reserve Test

These fertility care checks include a blood test performed at our office to measure anti-Müllerian hormone, or AMH, and follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, levels. Levels of AMH remain relatively constant throughout your cycle. Because of this, AMH can be checked on any day of the month, unlike some other fertility treatments.

AMH is produced by the granulosa cells within the ovaries and their levels reflect the size of your remaining egg supply. A higher AMH indicates a larger amount, and it is released over time as you have naturally diminished ovarian reserve and low AMH.

This test can help estimate “ovarian age,” which is the most important factor affecting the chance to achieve pregnancy.​ The preferred levels of hormones allow for much easier conception and pregnancy, and certain treatment options help this specifically.

HSG

To have information about the uterus and Fallopian tubes, a radiologist performs a special kind of “x-ray dye test” called a hysterosalpingography, or HSG. The HSG provides information about physical problems in the uterus or fallopian tubes that may contribute to infertility​ such as blocked passageways or a malformed uterus. In this situation, individuals may need surgery or large dietary changes, or consider surrogacy.

Hysteroscopy

For a hysteroscopy, a thin, lighted tube with a camera, called a hysteroscope, is passed through the vagina and cervix enabling the doctor to directly examine the interior of the uterus. A diagnostic hysteroscopy is considered a minor surgical procedure, and it is usually performed in a fertility clinic exam room without anesthesia.

A hysteroscopy can show if uterine problems are involved in your infertility, or whether uterine abnormalities may be causing recurrent miscarriages. With operative hysteroscopy, fibroids and polyps can be removed. Sometimes, fallopian tubes can be opened, increasing the chance of a natural pregnancy.​

Laparoscopy

A laparoscopy is a procedure that is performed under general anesthesia in a surgical setting. Very small incisions are made where instruments can be inserted to help diagnose or repair any problems.

Laparoscopy can assist both in making a diagnosis (like endometriosis) and in actually fixing conditions that cause pain and/or infertility (ovarian cysts, fibroids).​ Utilizing reproductive endocrinology can also help diagnose endometriosis and other endocrine disorders.

Endometrial Biopsy

An endometrial biopsy is a procedure (which is done in an exam room) in which a small sample of uterine tissue is removed and analyzed under a microscope. An endometrial biopsy gives important information about the uterus lining, which is the surface that the embryo must “land on” to implant properly.​

Ultrasound

Using transvaginal ultrasound, we can carefully evaluate the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. The purpose of ultrasound monitoring is to see if your ovaries and uterus are functioning optimally. During treatment cycles, ultrasound is used to evaluate the effect of treatment.

On day 2 or 3, a baseline scan reveals the “antral follicle count” or the likely number of eggs that can be created during a cycle. During the cycle, ultrasound scans of the ovaries are repeated to verify that stimulation is progressing as it should. At each ultrasound examination, we also measure the endometrium, or uterine lining.

This ensures that your uterus is thickening appropriately in preparation for the implantation of an embryo, whether through intrauterine insemination, naturally or at a fertility clinic, or via an embryo transfer created with an IVF or with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI, into the embryo..

Post-Coital Test

Although only done today on rare occasions, this is a classic test of fertility. Within hours after intercourse, we can perform this test, in which we collect a small sample of your cervical mucous to examine under a microscope. Rarely performed in the modern era, the post-coital test can tell us how the sperm and cervical mucous interact.​

Hormone Evaluation

This procedure is a series of blood tests performed at our office on specific days of the menstrual cycle. Hormone assessments can identify abnormalities in the pituitary, thyroid, or adrenal function, as well as give indications of the health or any disturbance in ovarian function. It can be important to identify any hormone abnormalities on your fertility journey as it can determine the health of your reproductive system.