Wondering Why You And Your Partner Can't Conceive? Ways To Find Out
If you and your partner have been trying to get pregnant and have a baby but are not having any luck or success, you may find yourself wondering why you are having so many struggles with a process that is easier for some people. There are many different reasons that a person or a couple may have difficulties conceiving and carrying a child. The issue is that you may not be able to determine what your reasons are without the help of a fertility specialist. Get to know some of the ways that you can determine the issues causing your trouble conceiving a child so that you can get the care and help that you need as soon as possible.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone Testing
One of the many ways that you can test for the cause of fertility problems is through follicle stimulating hormone testing. Follicle stimulating hormones are hormones that are produced in the pituitary gland. In women, this hormone triggers or stimulates the development of follicles in the ovaries that help to control and regulate the menstrual cycle and maintain reproductive health.
A lack of follicle stimulating hormone can indicate that a woman has irregular menstruation or that the ovaries are not functioning at optimal levels for conception. Men also have follicle stimulating hormone, but for men, these hormones regulate the sperm.
To test for issues with FSH, a fertility doctor will have you and your partner go to the lab for a simple blood draw. The blood test will determine if your levels fall within normal range. This is one of the easiest and least invasive fertility testing techniques available.
Physical Exams
In addition to testing the blood for FSH (as well as testing the semen for viability), an infertility doctor will also likely perform physical examinations on both the man and the woman. This can determine if there are any physical or anatomical issues that are causing trouble with conception. For women, this could include a tipped uterus (a uterus that is at an angle which makes it difficult for the sperm to reach an egg) or other issues.
Biopsies and Laparoscopy
If still nothing can be determined from these initial non-invasive tests, the next step is to perform various more invasive tests, generally on the woman. These tests can include an endometrial biopsy (biopsy of the lining of the uterus) as well as a laparoscopic examination of the cervix, uterus, and ovaries. The biopsy will determine if there is anything in the lining of the uterus preventing successful conception, and the laparoscopic examination will help to give the doctor a better look at the internal anatomy and any potential problems such as cysts or tumors.
With this information in mind, you can be sure that you are prepared for what is to come from your quest for answers to the question of your fertility struggles. For more information, contact a clinic like Missouri Center for Reproductive Medicine.