Diagnostic Procedures to Help Determine Your IVF Protocol

Whether you’ve been trying for years to get pregnant or you’re frustrated by early unsuccessful attempts, you’re now looking at in vitro fertilization (IVF) as the best path forward. 

While you’ve undoubtedly been through considerable testing already to determine the cause of your fertility problems, there are a few more diagnostic procedures to undergo before we begin your IVF.

At NOVA IVF, our team of fertility specialists, under the guidance of Drs. Meera Shah and Richard Schmidt, is invested in the successful outcome of your IVF protocol, which is why testing plays an important role.

Here’s a look at a few of the diagnostic procedures we may perform to help determine your IVF protocol.

Ovarian reserve testing

One of our frontline diagnostic procedures is testing the woman’s ovarian reserve to determine the quality and quantity of her eggs. 

There are several ways in which we test ovarian reserve, starting with measuring the amount of follicle-stimulating hormones, as well as estradiol and anti-mullerian hormones, which we accomplish with a blood test.

We also perform an ultrasound of the ovaries so that we can perform a visual analysis.

Semen analysis

You and your partner may have already conducted a semen analysis to identify any potential problems with the size, shape, and mobility of the donor sperm, but we may run this test again before your IVF cycles begin.

Uterine exam

Whether the female partner or a surrogate is planning on carrying the baby, we may first examine the uterus to ensure that the organ is in good health and ready to bring a baby to term. 

There are several ways in which we can test uterine health, including a hysteroscopy or a sonohysterography, a procedure in which we inject fluid into the uterus and then use ultrasound to gather images.

Screening for infectious diseases

A key step in determining your IVF protocol is to ensure that the sperm donor and the woman carrying the child are free from infectious diseases, including:

• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Syphilis

These diseases can create pregnancy complications and/or threaten the health of the unborn child. 

We may also perform a Pap test on the woman to ensure that there are no abnormal cells on her cervix.

Determining your protocol

Once we’ve completed this testing, we make any necessary adjustments to your IVF protocol, and then we get started. 

We know that you’ve waited a long time, so we run these diagnostic procedures quickly. Whether you embark on a routine IVF protocol or an aggressive IVF protocol, we’re here with you every step of the way.

To learn more about IVF diagnostic testing, please contact our office in Mountain VIew, California, today to learn more.