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Fertility Tests Explained

Fertility Tests

Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system that prevents the conception of children. Infertility, as defined by The International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART), is a disease characterized by the failure to establish a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse or due to an impairment of a person’s capacity to reproduce either as an individual or with his/her partner. 
 
It affects approximately 10-15% of couples throughout the United States. The diagnosis of infertility is usually given to couples who have been attempting to conceive for at least 1 year without success.

Endocrine Function

Testing for individual hormone levels that are produced by various hormone-producing glands can identify irregularities that can produce negative effects on menstrual and reproductive function.

Genetics

Identifies chromosomal abnormalities and DNA mutations that correlate with infertility related disorders. Typically genetic abnormalities are the cause of spontaneous abortions and increases the possibility that a baby will be born with a specific medical condition

Immunological

A woman’s ability to successfully maintain a pregnancy is significantly influenced by a complex alteration of her immune system designed to prepare her body to host a developing embryo. 

Infectious Disease

During the diagnostic work-up of both male and female infertility, various blood tests have to be conducted prior to assisted reproduction attempts in order to verify the presence or absence of various infectious diseases, which  could be a contributing factor to a couple’s infertility issues.

Ovarian Reserve

Ovarian Reserve

A term used to determine the capacity of the ovary to provide eggs. Essentially egg quantity is what is being measured and gives an estimation of the number of eggs a woman has remaining for future use. 

PCOS

A condition found in women who typically don’t ovulate. Testing for PCOS includes testing for excessive production of androgens (male sex hormones) and insulin, as well as hormone imbalance

Premature Ovarian Failure

A loss of ovarian function by a woman under the age of 40. As a result a woman does not ovulate each month. Some women will have menopause-like symptoms that may include infertility. 

Recurrent Miscarriage

​2-3 consecutive miscarriages in the first or early second trimester. Many factors can be involved including: genetic/chromosomal, age, hormones, metabolic abnormalities, anatomic abnormalities, immunological problems, clotting disorders and more.

Hormone Monitoring

Blood tests for hormone monitoring can be used to determine a patient’s normal hormonal levels at the beginning of a cycle and to assist in determining medication type, dosage and start date for IVF

Thrombophila

Refers to inherited or acquired disorders that can result in an increased chance for abnormal blood clotting. During pregnancy this can cause microscopic clots to form in the placenta depriving the fetus of adequate blood flow.

Antimüllerian Hormone

The primary use of AMH testing is to assess a woman’s ovarian reserve status or, in more basic terms, it is an approximation of the supply of eggs a woman has remaining. 

Zika

Zika virus infection is primarily spread to people through mosquito bites. It can also be passed by infected individuals to their partner during sex. A pregnant woman infected with Zika virus can pass the virus to her developing fetus and many who are infected do not have any symptoms. 

Male Infertility

Any condition that interferes with a male’s ability to initiate a pregnancy with the female partner. There are a wide range of causes that can be tested for and are due to genetics, hormonal disorders, sperm function or sperm quantitative/qualitative features.

Male Reproductive Health Panel

The MRH panel identifies approximately 35% of the males whose sperm are analyzed in the tests as having male related issues. It is made up of three tests: Sperm DNA Accelerated Decondensation (SDAD) Test, Sperm DNA Decondensation (SDD) Test, and Sperm Chromatin Fragmentation Assay (SCFA)

For further comprehensive information regarding the proprietary tests included in the Male Reproductive Health Panel, please visit 
www.malefertilitycheck.com.

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