How To Test To See If You Can Get Pregnant

Getting Pregnancy And Fertility Tests

Working with a doctor can help you determine the most appropriate fertility tests for your situation and can ensure that you understand fertility testing, that your sample is collected properly, and that the analysis is conducted by a certified laboratory. Insurance may cover fertility testing when it is prescribed by a physician.

While primary care physicians can perform fertility testing, patients dealing with infertility concerns may also find it helpful to locate a fertility specialist or obstetrician-gynecologist who is experienced in the evaluation and treatment of infertility.

Many types of at-home fertility tests are available. Doctors may recommend at-home urine testing of luteinizing hormone as a quick and helpful way to track ovulation. At-home LH testing involves testing a sample of urine to detect an increase in LH that occurs prior to ovulation. Some doctors my also recommend an Anti-Müllerian hormone or AMH test depending on the circumstances.

Fertility monitors used at home are digital devices that predict ovulation based on electrolyte levels in saliva, LH levels in urine, or a womans basal body temperature. At-home fertility monitors can store information over multiple menstrual cycles to help women better predict ovulation timing and plan for pregnancy.

Natural Ways To Check Pregnancy At Home

Becoming a mother is the most joyous thing in a womans life. But, the path leading to it is uncertain and strenuous and so is taking a pregnancy test at the beginning of this long journey. At the time of taking a pregnancy test, anxiety about the results can get you worked up. Naturally, you would want your pregnancy test to be more of a private affair than a public one in a doctors lab.

When you are looking for ways of doing home pregnancy tests, you will come across many pregnancy test kits available in a drugstore these days. Studies claim that they are not as accurate as they are portrayed.

So, women either go for a blood test in a doctors lab or natural tests at home. In the olden days, our grandmothers would check pregnancy at home using traditional medical practices and natural ingredients. It was not only efficient but also safe in many ways.

Keeping this in mind, we have listed some DIY pregnancy tests that will prove to be useful when you want to check your pregnancy status privately.

Tests To Find Out If You Can Get Pregnant

These tests could help you learn if you are able to get pregnant:

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Can An Opthamologist Detect High Blood Pressure

What you may not know is that theres another routine that can also help doctors get a clear look at your blood pressure: your annual eye exam. By viewing the blood vessels in the retinas of your eyes, your eye doctor is able to look for early signs of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

Do I Need Infertility Treatment

If youre having trouble conceiving, an infertility specialist may be able to help. The first step after 12 months of trying to conceive is to schedule an infertility evaluation. This multipart assessment includes:

• Physical examination
• Evaluation of the uterus and fallopian tubes

If you or your partner have a known medical condition that affects the uterus, fallopian tubes, sperm or ovulation, talk to your doctor to see if you should be evaluated sooner. For example, if you know that both of your fallopian tubes are blocked, youll need to see an infertility specialist even before trying to get pregnant.

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Is It Ok To Take An At

Maybe.

Couples who have just started trying to conceive might find some reassurance in an at-home test or could potentially identify a problem a bit earlier, Kallen says.

But for couples who need a more thorough infertility workup such as those ages 35 and under who have been trying for more than a year or those ages 35 and over who have been trying for more than 6 months she suggests skipping the at-home testing and heading into the clinic.

Overall, Petrini recommends thinking of at-home testing as a complement to, not a substitute for, the services offered by fertility specialists.

While the potential for easier testing and evaluation is exciting, if you want a clear diagnosis, a comprehensive in-office evaluation is necessary.

Fertility Tests At Walgreens

If youre planning or trying to conceive, fertility and pregnancy tests can help you determine fertile times during your cycle and plan for pregnancy. Walgreens offers a variety of fertility tests, pregnancy tests, and supplements online and in stores.

For pregnancy to occur, sexual activity must take place around the time an egg is released from the ovaries, a process known as ovulation. Ovulation occurs around the middle of a woman’s cycle, about two weeks before menstruation. If you have irregular periods, it may be hard to predict when ovulation will occur. Fortunately, ovulation prediction tests may help predict when ovulation is about to happen so you can time sexual activity in order to increase your chances of conceiving. You can also use other fertility tests such as home sperm count tests to determine if there are other factors affecting conception.

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Treatment For Fertility Problems

Here are a few tips that might improve your chances to get pregnant:

What If I Notice Some Cramping During Pregnancy

Pregnant women may experience some light cramping early in pregnancy. The cramping is often like light menstrual cramps through the lower abdomen or on one side or the other. It is often a result of all the changes that are occurring in the uterus as the implanted egg begins to grow and develop. Also, a cyst, called the corpus luteum cyst, can develop on the ovary at ovulation.

This cyst forms in the spot on the ovary where the egg comes out before making its journey to the uterus. It then produces progesterone until the placenta has formed enough to begin producing its own progesterone. The cyst can cause some discomfort for women in early pregnancy.

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Infertility Tests For Women

There is no single best test for infertility. Doctors use a variety of ways to identify any problems that might help cause fertility trouble.

You may get a Pap smear, which is used to detect abnormal cells around the cervix. The test can detect cervical cancer and other problems with the cervix, or sexually transmitted diseases. Any of these can interfere with getting pregnant.

To get pregnant, you need to release an egg each month — called “ovulation.” You may need tests that check for that.

Your doctor may ask you to take a urine test at home for luteinizing hormone, or LH. This hormone shows up in high levels just before you ovulate.

Your doctor also may check levels of the hormone progesterone in your blood. Increases in progesterone show that you are ovulating.

On your own, you can check your body temperature each morning. Basal body temperature rises a bit just after ovulation. By checking it each morning, you’ll learn your pattern of ovulation over several months.

Your doctor may also run tests on your thyroid, or check for other hormonal problems, to rule out conditions that might cause missed or irregular ovulation.

Who Should Get Testing

People who are experiencing infertility or who have underlying medical issues should speak to their physician to find out if they should get tested and which tests are indicated for their unique situation.

Fertility testing can help you plan for pregnancy, whether the goal is to become pregnant or to avoid pregnancy.

In addition to those already experiencing infertility, there are some risk factors to identify that may affect fertility. An infertility evaluation may be important when you meet one or several of the following risk factors:

• Women over age 40
• Impotence or other sexual dysfunction
• History of fertility issues with another partner

In women between 35 and 40 years of age without a risk factor, an infertility evaluation may be recommended after attempting to conceive for six months.

In younger people without risk factors for infertility, experts recommend trying to conceive for a year before having an infertility evaluation. People in this category may benefit from tracking fertility and timing intercourse with ovulation. A physician or reproductive endocrinologist can assist you in creating a tailored plan for fertility testing.

If you suspect youre pregnant, you should get a pregnancy test, whether at home or from your doctor. During pregnancy, your doctor will recommend prenatal testing to monitor the health of you and your baby.

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Ways Doctors Can Help You Get Pregnant That Dont Involve Ivf

IVF is not always necesary. Read this Glamor Health artilce about alternatives.

Most of us spend years trying to avoid getting pregnant. But, when you actually want to conceive, it can be harder than you thought.

If its taking time for you to get pregnant, doctors stress that you shouldnt freak out and assume you need in vitro fertilization . Not that theres anything wrong with IVF, of courseit can just be costly, doesnt have a guaranteed success rate, and can be tough on you and your partner.

Luckily, there are many other things doctors can try first. IVF is not necessary in most cases, says Lauren Streicher, M.D., an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and author of Sex Rx: Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever. Theres a protocol we go through. Nobody goes straight to IVF.

Board-certified ob-gyn Pari Ghodsi, M.D., also points out that a third of fertility problems can be attributed to the guy, and another third are due to unknown factors, so it takes some trial-and-error. There are many tests to diagnose the problem and each has individualized treatments, she says.

Most doctors wont want to have the fertility talk unless youve been having regular, unprotected sex for a year without getting pregnant, Dr. Ghodsi says. At that point, there are a variety of options they can look into:

What Fertility Tests And Examinations Can Our Gp Do

• A cervical smear test, if you haven’t had one recently .
• A blood test to check whether you are immune to rubella . A rubella infection during the first three months of pregnancy can cause birth defects in unborn babies .
• A blood test to check your immunity to varicella , which can cause problems for babies if caught for the first time in pregnancy . This test may not be necessary if you’ve had chickenpox before, or been vaccinated against it.
• A vaginal swab or urine test for chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection that can cause damage to the fallopian tubes .
• A blood test to check for the hormone progesterone, which shows whether or not you’re ovulating. The test needs to be carried out at a particular point in your cycle. If you have irregular periods, you may also be offered a test for another ovulation hormone, gonadotrophins .

• a urine test for chlamydia

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How Do Doctors Check For Problems

Once a woman is trying to conceive, its up to her and her partner to work with their healthcare provider to figure out why they arent getting pregnant and how best to help. Doctors will ask about a range of lifestyle factors, from over-exercising or smoking to taking certain medications or supplements. Those lifestyle habits may seem unrelated, but each one has been linked with fertility problems.

So the first step in finding a solution is figuring out whats causing infertility in your particular casefor example, diet, stress level, or general health issues such as diabetesand then figuring out how to address it. The more information you have on your doctors end, the better equipped theyll be able to help.

Length Of Time Trying To Conceive

The GP will ask how long you’ve been trying to conceive.

About 84% of people will conceive within 1 year if they have regular unprotected sex .

Of those who do not conceive in the first year, about half will conceive in the second year.

If you’re under 40 and have not been trying for a baby for very long, you may be advised to keep trying for a little longer.

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When Should You Consult A Doctor

Most women avoid going to a doctor until they are well within a few months of their pregnancy. This is not recommended at all since there can be several complications during a pregnancy that needs to be tended to by a medical professional. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult a doctor regarding your pregnancy at the earliest chance possible.

How Soon After Sex Can You Take A Pregnancy Test

Chapel Hill Obstetrics & GynecologyAll Articles, Pregnancy

You want to know as soon as possible.

If youre wondering if youre pregnant, you need an answer. Immediately. However, thats not necessarily possible if you want the most accurate results.

How soon can you take a pregnancy test after sex? The answer may surprise you.

Many women panic when they realize theyve missed a birth control pill or theyve missed a period, said Dr. Hardison. We want you to know that we can help guide you through this process in a way that ensures youre getting the most accurate results.

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If You’re Not Sure You Want To Be Pregnant

If you’re not sure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with a healthcare professional. Your options are:

• continuing with the pregnancy and keeping the baby
• having an abortion
• continuing with the pregnancy and having the baby adopted

As well as a GP or a nurse at your GP surgery, you can also get accurate, confidential information from the age of 13 from the following:

• the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory service website

All these services including community contraceptive clinics are confidential. If you’re 13 or older, the staff won’t tell your parents. They’ll encourage you to talk to your parents, but they won’t force you.

If you’re under 25 and would prefer advice specifically for young people, the sexual health charity Brook provides a range of services for young people. The Brook website contains information on pregnancy choices. You can also use the Ask Brook 24/7 service.

Checking Your Fallopian Tubes And Uterus

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What Are Pregnancy And Fertility

Fertility is the ability to conceive and produce a child. Pregnancy begins with the fertilization of an egg by a sperm cell, but male and female bodies must go through several steps for a healthy pregnancy to be possible. Some of the steps include:

1. Hormones trigger an ovary to release one egg in a process called ovulation.2. A partner must produce viable and sufficient sperm.3. As the egg travels through a fallopian tube to the uterus, it must encounter a sperm cell to be fertilized.4. The fertilized egg must then get implanted in the lining of the uterus, where it can grow and develop during pregnancy.

If an egg is not fertilized in that cycle, the body sheds the egg and the lining of the uterus during menstruation.

Pregnancy is the period of fetal development, which usually lasts about 40 weeks from the last menstrual period to delivery.

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