Your Guide to Fertility Testing

There is no perfect answer to this question, but as a general rule of thumb, it’s recommended that patients get their fertility evaluated after a year of trying if they are under the age of 35 or after six months of trying if they are over the age of 35. However, Individuals who have a higher risk of having fertility problems (e.g. a family history of early menopause in women, Klinefelter syndrome in men, etc.) should consider getting their fertility evaluated as early as possible.

Your doctor will help you determine which tests are most appropriate for your specific fertility evaluation based on your unique medical history. During the initial appointment, be sure to mention anything unique about you so that your doctor can develop a diagnostic road map. The most common fertility tests for women are blood tests, transvaginal ultrasounds, and pelvic exams, whereas the most common fertility test for men is semen analysis.

Yes! Contrary to popular belief, fertility impacts men just as much as it does women. In fact, it’s estimated that about 50% of infertility cases amongst married heterosexual couples are attributed at least partially to male infertility. To get their fertility checked, men mostly have to produce a semen sample for analysis.

There are many at-home fertility tests available on the market for both men and women. These tests can be used to measure things like FSH and LH levels in women or sperm count in men. While these DIY kits may be helpful for some individuals, most people should consider scheduling a consultation with a fertility specialist instead. For one thing, an at-home fertility testing kit may be able to provide some results, but unable to fully synthesize the context of the results or make a well-reasoned plan for how to proceed. Furthermore, the results of these tests are particularly vulnerable to user error and won’t necessarily provide the full picture of your fertility.