Patient's question:
What tests should women undergo for infertility?Doctor's answer:
What tests are needed for female infertility? Experts from Shanghai Changjiang Hospital for Infertility and Sterility explain that this is a common question among many women. Below is a brief introduction to some of the tests for female infertility：【Systematic examination in addition to a general physical examination】 should also include a reproductive system examination. In addition to general visual and tactile examinations, vaginal speculum examination and internal examination (bilateral or triple vaginal examination) are required to preliminarily understand the general condition of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and pelvic cavity, such as the size and position of the uterus, whether it is normal, the presence of masses, tenderness in the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, uterine elevation pain, and the mobility of the adnexa, etc.【Determining ovulation and predicting the ovulation period】can be judged through basal body temperature measurement, cervical mucus examination, or hormone determination.【Endometrial examination】If necessary, a biopsy can be performed to understand the functional state of the endometrium. Moreover, cervical examination is a reliable method to determine whether ovulation or corpus luteum function is present, and it can also help assess the size of the uterine cavity and rule out uterine cavity lesions, such as tuberculosis, uterine fibroids, etc.【Endocrine function tests】If serum estrogen and progesterone levels are measured at different times during the menstrual cycle, ovarian function can be assessed; basal metabolic rate can be measured to evaluate thyroid function; adrenal function tests and serum prolactin determination can also be conducted.【Tubal patency tests】This includes tubal patency tests (such as tubal insufflation or tubal infusion) and hysterosalpingography, primarily to assess whether the fallopian tubes are patent and whether the development of the uterine and fallopian tubes is normal or if any abnormalities are present. These tests also have a therapeutic effect on mildly impaired tubal patency (e.g., mild adhesions).【Chromosome examination】Some infertility cases are related to the presence of antisperm antibodies in the body, so relevant immunological tests may sometimes be required.