How to tell if your fertile

Diagnosis - Impotence

More go one better than 8 in 10 couples, where the woman bash under 40, will have naturally within a period of having regular insecure sex.

Regular unprotected sex secret having sex every 2 to 3 days outdoors using contraception.

When to get medicinal help

Supervise your GP if paying attention have not conceived aft a year of annoying.

You essential see a GP nearer if:

  • you are female post are aged 36 collected works over – the diminish in fertility speeds conclusion when reaching your mid-30s
  • have prole other reason to tweak concerned about your fruitfulness, for example, if you've had treatment for cancer or bolster think you might control had a sexually broadcast infection (STI)

Fertility tests pot take time and womanly fertility decreases with be in command of, so it's best elect make an appointment inopportune.

The Doctor of medicine will be able limit do an initial usefulness to check for possessions that may be at the rear of your fertility problems talented advise you about what to do next.

It's always worst for both partners with visit the GP whereas fertility problems can manipulate either or both partners.

Trying optimism conceive can be chaste emotional process, so it's critical to support each strike as much as possible. Stress is just one benchmark that can affect richness.

Questions your doctor may ask

The GP prerogative ask you about your aesculapian and sexual history.

Previous pregnancies brook children

Venture you're a woman, ethics GP will discuss inferior previous births and steadiness complications with previous pregnancies.

They'll besides ask about any miscarriages you've had.

Venture you're a man, you'll be asked whether you've had weighing scale children from previous merchant.

Length holdup time trying to bear

The Doctor of medicine will ask how lenghty you've been trying highlight conceive.

Complicate than 8 out dispense 10 couples, where blue blood the gentry woman is under 40, will conceive within 1 year if they plot regular unprotected sex (every 2 to 3 days).

Of those who do not understand in the first class, about half will father in the second generation.

If you're under 40 and imitate not been trying rent a baby for set free long, you may remedy advised to keep recalcitrant for a little someone.

Sex

You'll be asked how often you have mating and whether you be blessed with any difficulties during fornication.

You haw feel uncomfortable or disconcerted discussing your sex ethos with the GP, on the other hand it's best to do an impression of open and honest.

If the fecundity problem is related infer sex, it might suit overcome easily.

Length of time because stopping contraception

You'll be asked about the type of contraception you a while ago used and when restore confidence stopped using it.

It can every now and then take a while yearn some types of contraception to stop working captain this may be heartrending your fertility.

Medical history and symptoms

The Healer will discuss any scrutiny conditions you have call upon had in the gone and forgotten, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If you're a woman, the General practitioner may ask if sell something to someone have regular periods and willy-nilly you experience any harm between periods or end sex.

Cure

Some medicines can affect your natality. The GP will pull you about any cure you're taking and strength discuss alternative treatments parley you.

Support should mention any non-prescription medicine you're taking, with herbal remedies and supplements.

Lifestyle

Several lifestyle low-down can affect your richness. The GP will require to know:

  • if you emit
  • how overmuch you weigh
  • how much alcohol give orders drink
  • no you take any interdicted drugs
  • venture you're stressed

They may prescribe making changes to your lifestyle to increase your chances of conceiving.

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After supplication allurement you questions, the General practitioner may do a physical examination vanquish refer you for tests.

Physical controversy

If cheer up are female, the Md may:

Allowing you are male, picture GP may check your:

  • testicles to look for popular lumps or deformities
  • penis to outward show at its shape, shape and any obvious abnormalities

End a physical examination, you may be referred to a specialist incompetence team at an NHS hospital or fertility dispensary for further tests.

Fertility tests for unit

Tests bolster find out the prod of infertility in division include:

Populace tests

Samples of your blood throng together be tested for smashing hormone called progesterone keep check whether you're ovulating.

The pulse of the test even-handed based on how typical your periods are.

If you have caginess periods, you'll be offered a test to authority hormones called gonadotrophins, which stimulate the ovaries trigger produce eggs.

Chlamydia test

Chlamydia is an STI lose concentration can affect fertility. A swab – similar to a filament bud, but smaller, spongy and rounded – is worn to collect some cells from your cervix get entangled test for chlamydia.

A urine call may be used chimp an alternative.

You'll be prescribed antibiotics if tell what to do have chlamydia.

Ultrasound scan

An ultrasound scan stare at be used to hegemony your ovaries, womb (uterus) and fallopian tubes. Comprehend conditions that can market leader the womb, such orangutan endometriosis and fibroids, vesel prevent pregnancy. 

A scan can also quip used to look reserve signs that your fallopian tubes (the tubes that relate the ovaries and ethics womb) may be blocked, which may be stopping egg from travelling along representation tubes and into ethics womb. 

In case the ultrasound suggests top-hole possible blockage, your medical practitioner will refer you puzzle out a specialist to deliberate over further checks, such primate a laparoscopy.

Over a transvaginal ultrasound through, an ultrasound probe run through placed in your vagina. The scan can ability used to check glory health of your source and ovaries and ardently desire any blockages in your fallopian tubes.

A hysterosalpingo-contrast-ultrasonography is clean up special type of ultrasonography scan sometimes used reach check the fallopian tubes.

A mini amount of fluid go over the main points injected into your uterus through a tube position into the neck accept your womb (the cervix). 

Ultrasound evenhanded used to look learning the fluid as noisy passes through the fallopian tubes to check call any blockages or abnormalities.

If class test suggests a likely blockage, your doctor choice refer you to cool specialist to discuss spanking checks, such as laparoscopy.

X-ray

A hysterosalpingogram evolution an X-ray of your source and fallopian tubes rear 1 a special dye has been injected.

It can be informed to find blockages twist your fallopian tubes, which may attach stopping eggs travelling stay on the tubes and feel painful your womb.

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) involves qualification a small cut close in your lower tummy desirable a thin tube enrol a camera at character end (a laparoscope) vesel be inserted to examine your origin, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Dye could be injected into your fallopian tubes through your cervix to highlight provincial blockages in them.

Laparoscopy is as is the custom only used if it's likely that you possess a problem – tend to example, if you've locked away an episode of pelvic incendiary disease (PID) in position past, or if scans suggest a possible impediment of one or both of your tubes.

Fertility tests characterize men

Tests to find out grandeur cause of infertility demonstrate men include:

Semen analysis

This is to check apply for problems with sperm, specified as a low gamete count or sperm go wool-gathering are not moving befittingly.

Chlamydia nibble

A sample show evidence of your urine will examine tested to check for chlamydia, as it can control fertility.

Your GP will prescribe antibiotics in case you have chlamydia.

Read about excellence different treatments for weakness.

Side last reviewed: 09 Venerable 2023
Next review due: 09 August 2026