Female fertility issues

Every female has dream to bring new life in their family to cheer their heart and sole. In Indian methodology, the word “mother” signifies the goddess, whom we all pray, who nurtures little ones inside their womb. She is the first one to introduce life on this earth.
But there are some of our female friends who are having problem in conceiving. The first step in any infertility check up is a complete medical history and physical examination. Sexual technique and timing, menstrual history, genetic history, lifestyle issues (such as smoking and drug, alcohol, and caffeine consumption), any medications being taken, and a profile of the patients general medical and emotional health can help the physician decide on appropriate tests.


Preliminary Steps: Before going for any expensive fertility test, you can follow these easy steps which are very helpful and low-cost:

1. Monitoring basal body temperature: This is accurate in determining if ovulation is actually taking place.
2. LH surges check: Take an over-the-counter urine test for detecting LH surges. This helps determine the day of ovulation.

Laboratory Tests:

1. Hormonal balance: Blood and urine tests are taken to evaluate hormone levels. Hormonal tests for ovarian reserve (the number of follicles and quality of the eggs) are especially important for older women. This test includes series of conditions such as:                                  

• High FSH and LH levels and low estrogen levels suggest premature ovarian failure or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

• High LH and low FSH may suggest polycystic ovary syndrome or luteal phase defect.
• A high FSH and high estrogen level on the third day of the cycle predicts poor success rates in older women trying fertility treatments.
• LH surges indicate ovulation.
• Blood tests for prolactin levels and thyroid function are also measured. These are hormones that may indirectly affect fertility.

2. Ultrasound and Sonohysterography: Ultrasound is the standard imaging technique for evaluating the uterus and ovaries, detecting fibroids, ovarian cysts and tumors, and also obstructions in the urinary tract. It uses sound waves to produce an image of the organs and entails no risk and very little discomfort.

3. Transvaginal sonohysterography (TV-SH): Sonohysterography may have many applications for infertility evaluation. It has been used to diagnose and locate endometrial polyps, intrauterine adhesions, and separated uteri.
4. Hysteroscopy: Hysteroscopy is a procedure that may be used to detect the presence of endometriosis, fibroids, polyps, pelvic scar tissue, and blockage at the ends of the fallopian tubes. Some of these conditions can be corrected during the procedure by cutting away any scar tissue that may be binding organs together or by destroying endometrial implants. (It may miss cases of uterine cancer, however, and is not a substitute for more invasive procedures, such as D&C or endometrial biopsy, if cancer is suspected.)
5. HSG: All HSGs were conducted under the supervision of the same radiologist. They were performed between the 5th and the 14th day of the menstrual cycle. HSG performed to discover possible blockage in the fallopian tubes and abnormalities in the uterus.