Common Fertility Tests Before Starting IVF: What You Should Know

A lot of couples have trouble starting IVF since it affects their bodies, minds, and wallets. Before starting drugs, doctors usually suggest a group of reproductive testing. These tests let them learn more about your reproductive health, find any problems that might come up, and figure out the best and safest way to treat you. You’ll feel more ready and sure of yourself if you know about these tests before you go to an IVF center.

Let’s talk about the fertility tests that doctors most typically suggest doing before starting IVF. We’ll discuss about what they show and why we need them.

1. Checking the Ovarian Reserve

The term “ovarian reserve” tells you how many eggs a woman has left and how excellent they are. This helps doctors figure out how much ovarian stimulation medicine to give you and how your body could react to IVF.

Some common tests are:

AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone)

A simple blood test that tells you how many eggs you might make if you are turned on. A greater AMH level suggests that IVF will function better, while a lower AMH level means that fewer eggs are likely to be produced.

AFC (Antral Follicle Count)

An ultrasound that counts the tiny follicles in the ovaries at the start of the menstrual cycle.

AMH and AFC together give a decent idea of how many eggs are in the body.

2. Tests for Hormones in Blood

Hormones are very important for ovulation, egg development, and keeping the menstrual cycle on schedule. Your doctor may check a number of hormones, such as:

Hormone that stimulates follicles (FSH)

If your FSH levels are high, it could mean that your ovaries aren’t generating enough eggs.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

Luteinizing Hormone helps you know when you are ovulating.

Estradiol (E2)

Estradiol lets you know how well the ovaries are working.

TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone)

TSH is a hormone that makes the thyroid work harder. It can be harder to get pregnant and less likely that IVF will work if your thyroid isn’t working appropriately.

Prolactin

It can stop ovulation if you have a lot of it.

These tests let your doctor find any hormonal problems before IVF starts.

3. A test with an ultrasound

A pelvic ultrasound is done to:

Fibroids and polyps are two examples of conditions that can make it harder for an embryo to implant. They usually need to be addressed before IVF.

4. HSG or SSG: Looking into the Uterine Cavity and Fallopian Tubes

Doctors still want to make sure that the fallopian tubes are clear and not blocked or filled with fluid (hydrosalpinx), even though IVF doesn’t use them. This is because these things can make it tougher for the embryo to attach.

The tests are:

HSG (Hysterosalpingogram)

A test that uses X-rays to look at the uterus’s structure and tubes by putting dye into it.

SSG (Sonosalpingography)

An ultrasound that looks at the uterus and tubes by using saline instead of water.

5. Examining the Semen of the Male Partner

A semen study is very important because almost half of all infertility cases are caused by problems with male fertility. This test checks:

If there are any problems, more testing may be needed, such looking for hormones or DNA fragmentation.

This tells us whether IVF alone will work or if we need to utilize ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).

6. Looking for diseases that can spread

Both spouses may get tested for:

IVF laboratories can’t work with embryos until they pass this test to make sure they are safe and clean.

7. Blood Group & Basic Health Evaluation

Doctors also check the woman’s overall health to make sure it’s safe for her to get pregnant and take IVF drugs.

This includes:

If you are healthy, IVF is more likely to work and you are less likely to get pregnant.

8. Looking at the Endometrium

The lining of the uterus needs to be healthy and ready to accept the embryo before it may be moved. Here are some tests that could be done:

An endometrium that is ready to accept an embryo enhances the odds of implantation.

9. Genetic Testing (If Necessary)

For couples that have:

Doctors could say:

This helps find genetic problems and keep them from being passed on to the baby.

Why These Tests Are Important

These tests for fertility tell doctors a lot about:

What could happen to your body after IVF
How much and what drugs to take
What is the best approach to treat this: IVF, ICSI, or something else?
Any issues that need to be worked out before therapy
The chances of having a safe pregnancy

In short, they help you figure out what form of treatment will work best for you.

Conclusion

Starting IVF can be daunting, but knowing what the basic tests are will help you feel better. It is very important to take all of the tests because they increase your chances of getting pregnant and make sure that the path to pregnancy is safe.

If you wish to go to an IVF clinic in Jalgaon, talking to your fertility doctor about these tests will help you decide what to do next and make you feel good about commencing treatment.

Dr Gajanan G. Patil

Gynecological Endoscopic Surgeons

Dr Gajanan G. Patil is one of the leading gynecological endoscopic surgeons in Jalgaon who has performed over 7000 endoscopies and other gynecological related procedures to treat more than 10000 patients throughout his practice. He is an acclaimed student MBBS students from prestigious B J Medical College, Pune & MS from SRTR Medical College Ambejogai, Beed and visiting Laparoscopic Surgeon in over 50 medical facilities in and around Jalgaon.

Member Since Dec 2025

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