A pre-cycle evaluation is a fertility assessment that doctors use to confirm your candidacy before starting fertility treatments. This evaluation helps your infertility specialist identify potential obstacles to conception and administer a treatment plan for you. You’ll undergo various tests, including hormone level checks and anatomical examinations, to identify the causes of your fertility challenges. Here are several reasons to complete a pre-cycle evaluation:
Find Hidden Fertility Problems
Completing an evaluation helps you discover unknown fertility issues, such as blocked fallopian tubes or ovulation disorders. An infertility specialist uses tests to evaluate your reproductive health. These tests help reveal hormonal imbalances or other challenges that may affect your ability to conceive. Knowing your condition can help you decide which treatment options suit your situation, whether it’s in vitro fertilization (IVF), medication to stimulate ovulation, or surgical procedures to correct anatomical issues.
Personalize Your Approach
The information gathered during a pre-cycle assessment helps personalize your treatment strategy. Your specialist may advise you to adjust your life habits or use a specific medication regimen to increase your capacity to conceive. If a specific fertility issue is identified during the pre-cycle assessment, the specialist can tailor the treatment more efficiently. This may lead to less trial and error while saving time, resources, and effort.
Check Your Egg Supply
Ovarian reserve testing may be included in a pre-cycle evaluation. This assessment provides clarity regarding the quantity and quality of your remaining eggs. Your doctor can use this information to estimate your reproductive potential and predict how you might respond to fertility treatments. People who understand egg supply can establish achievable plans. If your reserve is lower than expected for your age, your doctor might suggest aggressive options or discuss an alternative way of becoming a parent.
Look at Male Fertility Factors
A semen examination can reveal issues with sperm morphology that may contribute to fertility challenges. Timely detection of these conditions contributes to successful medical intervention. Some fertility problems in men can indicate genetic disorders, which may require further testing. An infertility specialist is qualified to recommend safe strategies to improve sperm quality, such as dietary changes and fitness routines.
Evaluate Hormone Levels
Hormones play a significant role in regulating various aspects of fertility, including ovulation and reproductive health. During pre-cycle screening, doctors assess your level of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH). AMH is a hormone produced by ovarian follicles, and its levels are indicative of ovarian reserve. A higher AMH level suggests a greater number of available eggs, while low levels may indicate diminished reserve. Additional hormones that can be measured during screening include follicle-stimulation hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Assess Your Reproductive Organs
Some screening requirements help evaluate the physical condition of the reproductive organs. A hysteroscopy is a procedure that allows doctors to examine the inside of the uterus. It uses a thin, lighted tube called a hysteroscope. This minimally invasive procedure can identify abnormalities such as polyps, fibroids, or intrauterine adhesions that may impact fertility.
Partner With an Infertility Specialist
Infertility specialists help couples find various ways to conceive, including through IVF or medication. They also identify the possible causes of infertility and verify treatment candidacy through pre-cycle evaluations. Contact a specialist today to learn about their fertility screening requirements.
