How We Diagnose Infertility

Our purpose at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center is to help you achieve the miracle of parenthood. Led by award-winning Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Deborah Smith, our team uses the most sophisticated technology available to accomplish that goal.

But we also know that our high success rate comes from blending the team’s extensive medical skill and expertise with a compassionate patient-first approach to fertility issues.

Because we believe we’re part of your fertility team rather than your medical decision-maker, we always focus on your comfort level with the choices you face during the sometimes daunting process of diagnosing and treating infertility.

We’re happy to provide information about our infertility evaluation.

Understanding the cause of infertility

Causes of infertility range from something as simple as inappropriate timing of intercourse  to a structural abnormality within the uterus that requires a surgical fix. Usually, though, the reason lies somewhere between those two extremes.

To confuse matters further, it’s an even split between which partner is struggling with fertility. The cause is related to female infertility a third of the time, male reproductive issues a third of the time, and both partners or unknown causes a third of the time.

More common causes of infertility include:

• Absence of ovulation (anovulation) in 20% of infertile women
• Abdominal issues (i.e., adhesions, scar tissue, endometriosis), 20-40% of infertile women
• Abnormal sperm count in 30% of infertile men
• Unknown cause in about 15% of cases

While identifying the cause of your infertility helps us determine recommendations for therapy, none of these issues closes the door on successful fertility treatments.

What should I expect during a female infertility evaluation?

At Rocky Mountain Fertility Center, the female portion of a fertility evaluation begins with a physical exam and detailed review/discussion of your past medical history, reproductive cycle, and current medications or other therapies you’re undergoing.

Based on those findings, Dr. Smith often starts with studies that help determine the timing and quality of ovulation. These may include:

• Ultrasound study to see if eggs are growing
• Blood test to identify whether you have ovulated
• Labs to check anti-mullerian hormone, FSH, and estradiol levels
• Ultrasound study to determine your ovarian reserve (antral follicle count)

Dr. Smith may recommend further hormonal evaluation if these tests prove inconclusive or indicate problems with ovulation. You might also require imaging studies to assess for structural abnormalities related to the pelvis, uterus, or fallopian tubes.    

What’s included in a male infertility evaluation?

The male fertility evaluation usually starts with a detailed review of your medical and reproductive history and current medications. The next step is a semen analysis.

At Rocky Mountain Fertility Center, we require a complete analysis that includes:

• The amount of semen ejaculated, measured in milliliters
• Sperm concentration, which measures the number of sperm present in each milliliter of semen
• Sperm motility calculation to measure the percentage of sperm showing movement
• Total motile count, which measures the total number of moving sperm in a sample
• Sperm morphology, which is a qualitative evaluation of the size and shape of sperm

The semen analysis also includes a measure of progressive sperm motility, which refers to the quality of sperm motility. Sperm that have little forward movement may not be able to reach an egg. This can impair fertility.

What happens after the infertility evaluation?

Dr. Smith calculates the results of the evaluation and shares with you the findings, as well as her recommendations for further studies and/or fertility treatments.

Our focus at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center is supporting you throughout this decision-making process and providing the most effective treatments available as we help you achieve the  dream of becoming a parent.

Schedule an evaluation today to find out more about the treatments we offer by calling our center in Parker, Colorado, or Rapid City, South Dakota, or requesting an appointment online.