Infertility Initial Investigations

Female

A Hormonal profile, taken between Day 2-Day 6 of the cycle. In addition, screening investigations will be performed for HIV, Hepatitis B and C.

FSH- Follicle Stimulating Hormone which stimulates the ovary to produce a follicle
LH- Luteninizing Hormone which matures the egg in the follicle
Oestrogen- Which helps thicken the lining of the uterus
Day 21 Progesterone- Checks ovulation

Baseline Scan

In any form of investigations or treatment a baseline ultra sound scan will be performed. This is to check the position of the uterus and to determine if there are fibroids or polyp’s present that could cause complications with an embryo implanting. The ovaries are also scanned and measured. The size of the ovaries can be used as another indicator of the female’s ovarian reserve. The ovarian reserve relates to the number of eggs present in the ovaries. The size of the ovaries may also be an indicator of how a woman may respond to the drugs used in fertility treatment. The eggs themselves cannot be seen in the ovary hence the measurement of the ovaries. In addition the number of antral follicles present at the beginning of the cycle may be noted. Antral follicles are small follicles that are reacting to the production of FSH produced from Day 2 to Day 6 of the cycle. These follicles will not all develop into mature follicles, only one/ two will continue to grow to become a dominant follicle. The number of antral follicles present acts as another indicator of the ovarian reserve.