INFERTILITY DIAGNOSTICS

Advanced diagnostic techniques can be used to identify the cause of an individual's infertility and indicate the best way to treat it. Even when no specific problem is identified, today's advanced reproductive techniques may help the childless couple start a family. This is certainly a welcome news for couples who are unable to achieve pregnancy.

In order to understand why pregnancy doesn't occur, we need to examine the four critical areas which are needed to make a baby - eggs, sperm, fallopian tubes, and the uterus. The tests, which often seem endless, will actually fall into one of these areas. In 40% of cases, the problem will be with the male, in 40% with the female, and in 10% both partners will have a problem. In some cases, about 10%, no cause can be identified (unexplained infertility) even after exhaustive testing.

Before starting with tests, the doctor takes a detailed medical history from the couple, and also performs a physical examination for both of them, to determine if this can provide clues as to the cause of the problem. The doctor will need to find out details about your menstrual cycle, as well as your sexual habits and past history of surgery or illness, so you should be prepared to answer these questions. Many clinics give patients a form to fill out, so that they can provide all this information. A physical examination can also provide the doctor with useful information, and he will look specifically for important clinical findings such as abnormal hair growth, excessively oily skin, or the presence of a milky discharge from the breast.

However, for most couples, investigations are needed to establish a diagnosis. These specialized tests constitute the infertility workup and they can be completed efficiently in one month. Timing the procedures properly during the menstrual cycle is important and we have found the following strategy useful in our practice.

The first day the bleeding starts is called Day 1, and the semen analysis can be done at this time. The wife's blood hormonal tests for Prolactin, LH, FSH, TSH can be done between Day 3-5 of the cycle; followed by a hysterosalpingogram (X-ray of the uterus and tubes) between Day 5-7. Ultrasound for ovulation monitoring is done between Day 11-16 ; and this is used for timing the PCT (postcoital test) as well, during which time the cervical mucus is assessed also. A serum progesterone level is then measured on Day 21, about 7 days after ovulation, and this provides information about the quality of ovulation. The laparoscopy or hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy can be performed in the same month (Day 20-25) if desired.

With this strategy, time is not wasted, and couples can be reassured that a possible reason for the cause of the infertility, if it exists, will be detected within one month.

The workup should not stop when a problem is discovered - it is still important to complete the testing, since it is possible that infertile couples may have multiple problems. Many diseases, such as pelvic inflammatory disease ( PID) which can cause the tubes to get blocked, can be "silent", so that the patient may have absolutely no signs or symptoms.

A single test abnormality does not necessarily mean that a problem exists and the test may need to be repeated, to confirm that it is a persistent problem.

Unfortunately, it is very common to find that tests are done piecemeal - or sometimes, not done at all. Often treatment is started before coming to a diagnosis. Conversely, some doctors take so long to do the tests that patients get fed up - after all, they want treatment!

The couple must be seen together and the first test which should be done is a semen analysis. Sadly, sometimes the wife will have undergone innumerable tests (sometimes repeatedly); and the husband's semen analysis (where the problem lies) has not been done even once.

It is only after the workup has been completed, that a treatment plan can be formulated - and you will now need to make decisions about treatment options.