Lesson 2: Initial Testing and Diagnosis

In this Lesson, we will explore the different blood tests that should be ordered, how to evaluate the results of tests, and also look at lifestyle issues that could be contributing to infertility.

Overview of Lesson

Tests mean very little if you don't understand what the results mean. It is not just tests that will be covered in this Lesson though. Here we will be looking at some of the factors that could be the cause of infertility, how it can be diagnosed, and what can be done to correct them, and your fertility.

In the first section, we will discuss in greater detail blood tests, which ones you should have done, and at what time during your cycle they should be performed. Simply put, if you have all the blood tests done, but done on the wrong days, the results won't mean a thing to you or to your doctor. After finding out which tests to have, and when they should be done, we will move on to evaluating the results of the tests.

When we discuss evaluating the results, we will be talking about you and your doctor actually discussing what the results are and what they mean to you and your partner. Your doctor should be able to hand you a report of what your hormone levels are, what the 'normal' ranges are, and how your results relate. Among these tests and results, we will also discuss your thyroid and the part it plays in your fertility.

After discussing how the thyroid works, we will delve deeper into lifestyle issues that could be causing fertility problems for both men and women. The first of these lifestyle issues is weight. Here we will look at why being over or under weight can interfere with your cycles and your ability to ovulate.

Moving from weight issues into eating, the phrase 'You Really Are What You Eat' takes on a whole new meaning. Not only does it matter what you eat, but also what you don't eat. After looking at eating habits, we will explore Vitamins and Minerals, what you need when you are trying to conceive, and dealing with infertility.

This will not be limited to just the women either, men also need to consume certain vitamins and minerals to help with proper sperm development. We will continue looking at proper sperm development with the last section on habits. As with the vitamins and minerals, both men and women will be advised on habits that could be hurting their fertility, as well as what habits can help increase fertility.