Infertility testing

[FeckinNC]

Coming up to six months TTC and 35 rapidly approaching. I'm considering going to have some "tests" done to hopefully rule out any issues (not in UK and covered by private health). Could someone please advise what tests are usually done to check fertility? I have read about 21day tests, progesterone and egg reserves, I have no idea about any of this! TIA

Hi, I had prolactin FSH LH thyroid oestradiol testosterone progesterone and chlamydia tests, then a scan of my ovaries and a semen analysis for Dh. There are others too to test that your tubes are open but think these are the main ones to start with. Good luck x

Yes cd 21 for progesterone and cd2 or so for fsh/ lh
The fsh / lh should be approx equal if lh is *2 or 3 higher it could indicate pcos.

Do you have irregular cycles? This could indicate pcos. Excess hair etc.

You could also get your tsh tested. For hypothyroidism. Usually a sign of this would be excess weight. But not necessarily. Tsh should be below 2 or 2.5 but depends on clinics etc.

Internal scan to check for pcos.

But almost if it is covered i would have a sperm analysis done first. I suppose because that seem the most conclusive. You can have your bloods done at same time. (Whether you ovulate could be irrelevant if you need ivf for sperm issues)

Thank you so much for the comprehensive replies, I will need to do some googling I think to look up what most of those abbreviations mean. I assume that all the "hormone" type tests are bloods and then a scan to look at the tubes and ovaries. Will break it to DH that he will need to get his sperm checked too.

Fsh - follicle stimulating hormone
LH - leutenising hormone
TSH - thyroxine stimulating hormone
I think 6m is still early days but you never know, better to know now.
Some people have had success with opks (ovulation sticks) or ovulation monitors like clear blue fertility monitor

If you are concerned about egg reserve your best ones are

AMH
FSH
Antral follicle count (scan)

Lauren x