Ultrasound testing enables Dr. Vandermolen to accurately diagnose female infertility
Trying to conceive without success often leads to disappointment. By identifying the causes of female infertility, David T. Vandermolen, MD, MS, our Northern Louisiana fertility expert, can prevent discouragement from turning into despair. One of the tools Dr. Vandermolen uses to make an accurate diagnosis and uncover potential issues is ultrasound testing.
What is infertility?
When a couple tries to conceive for 12 months and doesn’t achieve a pregnancy, we define this as infertility. For situations where the woman is over age 35, the timeline shrinks to six months. Infertility can affect the female partner, the male partner, or a combination of the two.
How you do you diagnose infertility?
To pinpoint barriers to conception, Dr. Vandermolen will order a full fertility evaluation. This comprehensive testing will identify any issues related to male or female infertility. A typical fertility assessment includes the following.
- A detailed medical history to provide background on both partners
- Blood work to measure hormone levels
- A physical exam to analyze overall health
- Ultrasound testing to look for physical abnormalities and determine ovarian health
- A semen analysis to offer initial information about your partner’s sperm production
Understanding transvaginal ultrasound testing
While both abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound are available, we utilize transvaginal ultrasounds to gather information about possible female infertility problems. With ultrasound technology, high-frequency sound waves create real-time imaging of organs inside the body.
Our Northern Louisiana fertility expert employs transvaginal ultrasounds to visualize your reproductive system. For this procedure, the technician covers the thin probe with a condom and inserts it into the vagina. Although you may feel a bit uncomfortable, transvaginal ultrasounds don’t usually cause pain.
What does ultrasound reveal about female infertility?
For a woman to conceive, her uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes all need to function correctly. With ultrasound testing, Dr. Vandermolen can generate detailed images of your reproductive organs. For example, transvaginal ultrasound enables our Northern Louisiana fertility expert to assess the size, shape and thickness of the uterus. He can also evaluate the ovaries and look for ovarian cysts. Additionally, this test will also indicate whether further evaluation is needed to confirm the presence of physical concerns, such as fibroids, polyps, scarring or endometriosis.
At ArkLaTex Fertility, our goal is to assist couples and individuals in creating or building the families of their dreams. Dr. Vandermolen is committed to accurately identifying female infertility issues using advanced diagnostics, including ultrasound testing. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with our Northern Louisiana fertility expert.