Infertility
Your doctor at NORTHWEST Ob/Gyn will be happy to help you achieve your dream of having a healthy baby. The first step is for your doctor to take a thorough history, complete an exam and develop a personalized course of evaluation for you and your partner.
Definitions
Infertility is defined as one year of unprotected intercourse without conception. Evaluation may be recommended earlier if you are over 35 or have other risk factors based on your history.
- Ovulatory infertility is infertility based on the woman’s lack of or poor quality ovulation.
- Male factor infertility is infertility based on semen or sperm abnormalities and contributes to 40% of all infertility.
- Tubal infertility is infertility based on fallopian tube blockage.
- Unexplained infertility is infertility that has no apparent cause.
Infertility evaluation
The basic infertility evaluation is geared towards the most common causes of infertility. Your evaluation may include:
- A thorough review of your medical and gynecologic history, as well as review of your your partner’s medical and fertility history. Education regarding appropriate timing of sexual activity to optimize fertility is also important.
- Serum progesterone level-should be drawn one week after ovulation and assesses the “quality” of ovulation. Levels >8 indicate ovulation.
- TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and PRL (prolactin) are two hormones that can negatively affect fertility. These are assessed by blood levels.
- Semen analysis- checks the sperm count, motility and other important parameters of your partner’s semen.
- HSG (hysterosalpingogram)-this is a radiologic evaluation of the size and shape of your uterus and the patency of your fallopian tubes. Your doctor or the radiologist performs this exam in the radiology department.
Other pertinent information
You may be a candidate for Ovulation Induction (ie. with Clomiphine Citrate) based on your history or lab values. Clomid is an oral fertility drug that improves the quality of ovulation.
You may be offered Metformin if you have irregular menses and infertility. Metformin (also known as Glucophage) is a diabetes medication that in certain patients improves ovulation alone or in combination with Clomid.
You may be referred to an Infertility Specialist known as a Reproductive Endocrinologist. These doctors are Gynecologists that have had years of specialized training in infertility evaluation and the latest treatment options.