Reaching the cause of infertility is the first step to creating a plan tailored to your unique needs. Your provider at Duke Fertility Center will identify the tests needed for comprehensive diagnosis. During your initial consultation visit, your infertility specialist will evaluate your history and your individual circumstances that will dictate which testing will need to be performed.
An evaluation for infertility is appropriate for women who have not become pregnant after having 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. Being evaluated after six months is appropriate for women who are older than age 35 or who have one of the following in their medical history or physical examination:
- History of irregular menstrual cycles (over 35 days apart or no periods at all)
- Known or suspected problems with the uterus, fallopian tubes, or other problems in the abdominal cavity, such as endometriosis or adhesions.
- Known or suspected male infertility problems.
We start with the least invasive methods for detecting the most common causes of infertility. When conducting medical evaluations, we consider the couple’s preferences, the woman’s age, the duration of infertility, other unique features of the couple’s medical history, and the results of physical examinations.