Women’s Health: OCLife Magazine Infertility 101: What Does It Take To Get Pregnant?

Proper Testing Can Identify Roadblocks to Successful Pregnancy
For a normal pregnancy to occur, there are several steps which need to take place. First, ovulation must occur to release a viable egg. Then, the end of the fallopian tube must be open in order to pick up the egg. Next, the man must be able to ejaculate and the sperm, in turn, must be able to swim into the uterus and the fallopian tubes. To produce an embryo (a fertilized egg), a single sperm must successfully find and fertilize the egg. The embryo then travels back down the fallopian tube to the uterus for that final step of implantation, where it will attach to the uterine lining. 

Although there are numerous tests that can be ordered on an individual basis, the three main assessments performed initially include testing the egg (ovulation and ovarian reserve), testing the integrity of the fallopian tubes and the uterus (hysterosalpingogram), and testing sperm quality (semen analysis).

In most cases, if a woman is having regular cycles then it can be presumed that she is ovulating and additional assessments may not be necessary. If on the other hand, she is having irregular menstrual cycles or skipping periods, additional testing may be warranted. 

Ovarian reserve testing is a test to evaluate how well the ovaries are working and is an indication of how quickly one’s “biological clock” is ticking. This becomes especially important in women over the age of 35. A simple blood test is taken on day three of the menstrual cycle and this measures the follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) and the estradiol levels. Ordinarily, if the ovaries are working well, the FSH level would be less than 10 IU/L. Higher levels are usually associated with lower pregnancy rates.

Commonly referred to as the “dye test,” this exam is performed in a radiology department after the menstrual cycle concludes but prior to ovulation. The test provides an X-ray of the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes. It checks for abnormalities within the uterus such as polyps, fibroids, scar tissue or congenital abnormalities, as well as the integrity of the fallopian tubes.

A sperm sample is tested for a number of parameters including volume, count, motility (sperm that are alive and swimming) and morphology (the shape of the sperm).

Patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, a history of pelvic surgeries or a ruptured appendix or endocrine problems can encounter additional problems. One of the most important factors is that of the biological clock and the “race against time” which will be addressed in the March 2008 issue. There are various forms of treatment options for both male and female infertility ranging from low-tech to high-tech medical treatment as well as surgical treatments. These will be addressed in the April 2008 issue.