new to this and would like some basic tips for fertility testing, both for me and him!!

[emeraldgirl1]

What can we do to find out how fertile we are as a couple (apart from getting on with the baby-making bit !!!) I'm having some tests done re PCOS next week, a vaginal ultrasound and some blood tests. But are there different tests that will tell me about my egg quality/quantity that these basic tests won't cover?

And for him - are there any home sperm count tests that are good? Come to think of it, are there home fertility tests for women too or are these a waste of money and/or useless?

Or are there clinics that we could visit to have his tests done (though I know he'd dread that...!). We're in London and prepared to pay privately to get some answers. It's a complicated situation and some financial sacrifice is worth it for us to have the information.

Sorry for the basic q's - as I say we're very new to this. We just sat down last night for the first time ever (in our 10 year rel/ship...) and talked about TTC and when we should start. For many different reasons (far too many to go into) we would really be better to put it off for a while longer yet, but we won't if either of is is looking dubious on the old fertility front. We're both 33 and aware that time is not as on our side as it was 5 years ago. But many v serious reasons we'd be better to wait if poss.

You will have a day 21 test which will see whether you are ovulating as well as a sperm test for him (on the NHS). Don't bother with home tests. Recommend you buy Dr Zita West's guide to getting pregnant - explains all of this very well

Hi emerald1
DH and I were investigated for fertility problems, and these were the tests that were done:

• DH: sperm test: sperm count and motility
• me: scan of womb and ovaries (revealed PCOS and polyps), blood tests to see whether I was ovulating (I wasn't) and what they call "dye test", that's when they inject you with a dye to see if your tubes are blocked (they weren't).

I don't think you'll be able to be tested on the NHS, as they don't normally do tests unless you've been ttc for a year (6 months if you're over 35) or you have clear symptoms of PCOS (irregular periods for example). I would not do any home tests as they are not generally reliable. I don't think you need to worry too much about egg reserve unless there is reason to suspect you could have a premature menopause. I can recommend my gynaecologist/fertility specialist, he is very good and treated me for my infertility very successfully (2 pregnancies, second one successful). His name is Mr Priddy and he works at the Clementine Churchill Hospital. Phone No: 0208-426-2097 (private secretary). He is very good and contrary to some fertility clinic has no interest in pushing women to have IVF (it can happen) if there are other options - and there are plenty. hope this helps a bit. x

Thank you so much Mouette, I so appreciate the contact and so glad to hear you had a successful pregnancy! It's great to get a name like that as it can be a bit bewildering, so thank you!!

And thankswhomovedmychocolate for the Zita West recc, I think I will buy her book and see what I can glean from it. I've seen her on TV and she seems pretty good...

No probs. Do bear in mid though that the tests will give you some information, but the only way to know if you are really fertile as a couple is to ttc, as unexplained infertility does exist and will not be picked up by any tests. Also the tests may show everything is OK now, they won't mean everything will be OK in 5 or 7 years' time. Obviously at 33 you've still got plenty of time (I started ttc at 35, finally had my son 5 months before my 38th birthday), and I don't know how long you would be planning to wait, but bear in mind that fertility does drop after 35 and scientists believe that most women become infertile 10 years before the menopause - the average age of the menopause is 51, although it does vary. If your mother reached the menopause earlier, there is a chance you might too, so it's worth thinking about the age factor. Finally, I'm sure you know this already, to maintain fertility it is advisable to have a healthy lifestyle: BMI within the required limits, no smoking, not too much drinking, healthy diet, keeping stress under control. All the best!