What Does a Basic Infertility Workup Entail?

Our Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Deborah Smith, and her award-winning team at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center understand that the journey through infertility is often difficult and highly emotional.

It’s why our group focuses on providing the most advanced treatments available in a warm and welcoming environment that’s built on a foundation of trust regarding the costs and success rates for the various therapies they offer.

Dr. Smith notes that her team’s mission is to always offer the highest level of care, starting with a comprehensive infertility workup that gives us the insight we need to design a personalized treatment strategy that aligns with your dream of having a child.

When should I consider undergoing an infertility workup?

We generally recommend couples begin an infertility workup if they’ve been trying to get pregnant for one year without success. This may seem like a long wait, but only 20% or so of normally fertile couples conceive after one month. About 90% become pregnant after 6-12 months of actively trying.

There are exceptions to this “rule,” however. Because the possibility of infertility increases with age, we recommend you undergo an infertility workup after six months if the female partner is over age 35.

Other reasons to consider an infertility workup sooner rather than later include personal history of:

• Abnormal menses, including long and heavy flow versus sporadic or very light menses
• Pelvic infections, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, endometritis, or infection with IUD use
• Ovarian cysts
• Endometriosis
• Cesarean section
• Multiple miscarriages
• Surgery on the fallopian tubes
• Abnormal Pap smear with subsequent cryosurgery or laser therapy

While these factors may or may not play a role in your infertility, seeking help early can prevent unnecessary delays.

Thanks to significant advances and improvements in medical technology, training, and technique, our team at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center is better equipped than ever to overcome these challenges. Even a previous tubal ligation or vasectomy may be reversible.

What can I expect during an infertility workup?

The essential components of a basic infertility workup include a detailed discussion and careful review of your medical history as well as a physical examination and additional tests as indicated.

For the female partner, infertility tests generally focus on:

• Ovarian reserves
• Ovulatory function
• Structural abnormalities.

Tests to assess the timing and quality of ovulation may include ultrasound and various labs to evaluate hormone levels. Depending on those results and your medical history, Dr. Smith may also recommend imaging studies to identify structural abnormalities that may be preventing conception.

For the male partner, we usually recommend starting with an advanced semen analysis, which assesses the quantity and quality of sperm, and includes such measures as:

• The amount of semen ejaculated
• The number, shape, and size of the sperm present in each milliliter of semen
• The percentage of sperm within the specimen that show movement
• Total number of moving sperm in the sample

Note that because sperm must be mobile enough to reach the egg, sperm with little or no forward movement may impair fertility.

What infertility treatments are available?

Our high success rate here at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center is due in large part to our holistic approach to infertility that combines superior medical techniques with genuine patient-focused support.

Along with highly accurate testing to diagnose the cause of infertility, we offer a full suite of basic and advanced infertility treatments that are explained in further detail here on our website.

To reduce your stress levels and increase your understanding of the process, Dr. Smith also guarantees that she and her team will always explain your best options, the success rates and the costs involved in fertility care, and even potential setbacks that may occur during your treatment.

We want to help turn your dreams of having a baby into reality. Schedule an evaluation with us at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center at either of our offices in Parker, Colorado, or Rapid City, South Dakota.