Published April 2024
Professor Kelton Tremellen – Repromed Medical Director SA
Dreaming of having a baby? We’re here to help get you there. That’s why we offer our patients a range of tests to assess their fertility.
Remember – everybody’s fertility journey is different. Your GP or referring doctor may have already sent you for some tests. Great! In that case, our Fertility Doctors can review your results, order additional tests and suggest possible treatment options.
If you haven’t had any tests yet, not to worry. We’re experts in assessing fertility, and we can help.
Female Fertility Testing
Ovulation testing and tracking
Your Repromed Fertility Doctor will usually start by checking if you are ovulating. They will do this with a blood test and/or an ultrasound.
With a series of transvaginal ultrasounds, your Fertility Doctor can track how your follicles are developing within the ovaries. Ideally, these follicles contain immature eggs – known as primordial follicles – that will mature into leading or dominant follicles over the first half of your cycle.
Your Fertility Doctor tracks the follicles’ progress using ultrasound. They may also order a series of blood tests to assess your levels of oestrogen and progesterone (female hormones). Together, this information helps determine your fertile window: the best time for you and your partner to have sex.
Pelvic ultrasound
Your Fertility Doctor might refer you for a pelvic ultrasound to assess your reproductive system. This includes the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other pelvic structures.
A pelvic ultrasound can help find answers if you’re experiencing:
- heavy, irregular, or infrequent periods in premenopausal women
- pelvic pain
- infertility
Pelvic ultrasounds are also used to diagnose polycystic ovaries. For more complex cases, a patient may require a specialised pelvic ultrasound – such as a HyCoSy (used to examine the fallopian tubes and other pelvic organs) or a Sonohysterogram (a study of the uterus).
Checking fallopian tubes
Fertilisation occurs in the fallopian tubes. So it’s a good idea to make sure they’re healthy if you’re struggling to fall pregnant.
Your Fertility Doctor can check if your fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged by:
- laparoscopic surgery
- an x-ray
- a tubal patency test (a dye test)
The tubal patency test can be completed through our Dulwich clinic.