What is Infertility?
The natural ability for a woman to conceive and give birth to children is called “fertility.” A woman is considered “infertile” if she is unable to conceive after months of trying for pregnancy. While there may be many causes for female infertility, many of those problems can be diagnosed and treated, allowing many infertile women to go on and carry a healthy, viable pregnancy to term. Currently, about 6.7 million American women aged 15-44 suffer from diagnosed infertility.
Investigating Female Infertility
So how is the cause of infertility diagnosed? The first step is finding medical doctors called Reproductive Fertility Specialists, such as the ones at Oregon Reproductive Medicine. The specialists then evaluate each individual patient, taking note of each individual’s personal medical history to inform their final diagnoses and treatments. Because no single test is a perfect to diagnose infertility, tools at Portland-based Oregon Reproductive Medicine include:
- Diagnostic interviews that cover health and reproductive history
- Tests of the uterus, including a saline infusion sonogram
- Tests of the fallopian tubes, including a hysterosalpingogram
- Tests of the ovaries
- Tests of the cervix
Diagnosing Female Infertility
To diagnose the cause(s) of infertility in females, specialists begin a series of hormone testing and evaluation. They will confirm that ovulation is occurring regularly, and they will test and measure the thickness of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) and levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormones). An additional diagnostic examination evaluates the health and condition of the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding environments to determine if there is anything abnormal, or if there may be a blockage. Additionally, fertility testing can also see whether the cervical mucous has the correct consistency to effectively carry sperm to the uterus.
Learn More About Female Infertility Treatments
You can find out more about how women and couples are successfully treating infertility at a free informational seminar, where doctors from Oregon Reproductive Medicine answer all your questions and discuss the promising treatments now available.
