Infertility means not being able to get pregnant after at the minimum one year of trying. If a woman keeps having miscarriages it is also known as infertility. Female infertility can result from hormone problems, lifestyle, age, physical problems, or environmental factors. Seek help from a gynaecologist if you’ve been unable to conceive within a reasonable period of time.
Fertility tests may include:
Hysterosalpingography – X-ray contrast is injected into your uterus and taken out to detect abnormalities in the uterine cavity. Hysterosalpingography also determines whether the fluid passes out of the uterus and spills out of your fallopian tubes. If any abnormalities are found, you’ll likely need further evaluation. Hysterosalpingography improves fertility in a few women by flushing out and opening the fallopian tubes.
Ovulation testing – Ovulation testing is done at-home, over-the-counter ovulation prediction kit. It detects the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) that occurs before ovulation. A blood test for progesterone can also document that you’re ovulating. prolactin hormone also may be checked.
Ovarian reserve testing – Ovarian reserve testing helps determine the quality and quantity of eggs available for ovulation. Women at risk of a depleted egg supply may have this series of imaging and blood tests.
Imaging tests – A type of test that makes complete pictures of areas inside the body. Imaging tests use x-rays, radio waves, radioactive substances, and ultrasound. A pelvic ultrasound looks for fallopian or uterine tube disease. A sonohysterogram is used to observe details inside the uterus that can’t be seen on ultrasound. Sonohysterogram is also known as saline infusion sonogram.
Other hormone testing – Hormone tests check the levels of ovulatory hormones, thyroid hormones, and pituitary hormones. These hormones control reproductive processes.
Laparoscopy – Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgery. The process involves making a small incision underneath your navel and inserting a thin viewing device to inspect your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. A laparoscopy identifies the blockages or irregularities of the fallopian tubes, endometriosis, scarring, and problems with the uterus and ovaries.
Genetic testing – Genetic testing helps to determine whether there is a genetic defect that caused infertility.
Other imaging tests – Depending on the symptoms, your doctor may suggest a hysteroscopy to look for a fallopian tube or uterine disease.
Treatment
Female infertility treatment depends on your age, personal preferences, the cause, and how long you’ve been infertile. Infertility is a complex disorder. The treatment may require significant physical, financial, psychological, and time commitments. Some women need one or two therapies to restore fertility. Treatments attempt to restore fertility through surgery or help get pregnant with advanced techniques.
Fertility restoration: Reviving ovulation with fertility drugs
Fertility drugs stimulate or regulate ovulation. Fertility drugs are the major treatment for women who are infertile due to ovulation disorders. Fertility drugs normally work like natural hormones to trigger ovulation. Fertility drugs are also used in women who ovulate to try to stimulate a better egg or an extra egg. Clomiphene citrate, Fertility drugs may include Gonadotropins, Metformin, Bromocriptine, and Letrozole.
Surgical procedures can improve female fertility. Surgical treatments may include:
Tubal surgeries – Laparoscopic surgery is recommended by gynecologists to remove adhesions, dilate a tube or create a new tubal opening if your fallopian tubes are blocked or filled with fluid. Tubal surgeries are rare since the pregnancy rates are better with IVF.
Reproductive assistance includes:
Assisted reproductive technology – IVF is the most common assisted reproductive technology. It includes retrieving mature eggs from a woman and fertilizing them with a man’s sperm in a dish in a lab. Then shifting the embryos into the uterus after fertilization. IVF cycle requires daily hormone injections and frequent blood tests.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) – During Intrauterine insemination, millions of healthy sperms are positioned inside the uterus close to the time of ovulation.
For an infertility evaluation, you’ll likely see an expert Gynaecologist. Evaluate and identify potential causes. Premium Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre is a renowned hospital in Qatar that offers the service of the best Gynaecologist in Qatar. The Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Premium Naseem provides high-quality care and services including infertility and other women’s health-related conditions.