How is female infertility investigated?

Written by Zou Fu Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on March 04, 2025
00:00
00:00

There are many tests to be done for female infertility. For example, during menstruation, a fasting blood test can be done to check for six sex hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Between days 3-7 after menstruation ends, a fallopian tube hydrotubation and imaging can be performed, but intercourse must be avoided and there should be no gynecological inflammation to proceed with this examination. Additionally, routine vaginal secretion and mycoplasma infection tests can be conducted to check for any related issues. Moreover, around the tenth day of the menstrual cycle, a follicle monitoring ultrasound can be done to observe if there are dominant follicles and whether ovulation occurs. The male partner should also undergo some related tests. In summary, different tests can be conducted at different times for female infertility.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
45sec home-news-image

How is infertility caused?

Infertility can occur if there is an issue with either partner. The main factors causing infertility in women include ovulation disorders, fallopian tube factors, and abnormal endometrial receptivity. The primary factors causing infertility in men are abnormal spermatogenesis and ovulation disorders. Common etiological diagnoses generally include ovulation disorders, abnormal semen, fallopian tube abnormalities, unexplained infertility, endometriosis, and other immunological infertility. Additionally, cervical factors can also lead to infertility, such as cervical stenosis, which accounts for more than 5% of cervical factors.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
42sec home-news-image

How many people are infertile?

The infertility rate in our country is around 12%. According to the data released by the China Population Association and the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the infertility rate among couples of childbearing age in China has climbed from 2.5%-3% twenty years ago to about 12%-15% this year, with the number of affected individuals exceeding 50 million. Among these 50 million patients, 50% are women, 40% are men, and about 10% are cases involving both partners. With increasing environmental pollution, delayed childbearing age, and growing life pressures, the number of couples experiencing infertility continues to rise.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
51sec home-news-image

Can low estrogen cause infertility?

If a woman's blood test reveals low estrogen levels, it may affect normal conception. Firstly, with low estrogen levels throughout the menstrual cycle, there can't be a peak change, which may lead to abnormal ovulation or anovulation. Additionally, if estrogen levels are low, the endometrium cannot proliferate effectively, leading to insufficient endometrial thickness and making it difficult for the fertilized egg to implant. Some women may conceive despite these issues; however, due to insufficient hormone levels, they may experience abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, threatened miscarriage, or even arrested fetal development.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Su Min
Obstetrics
51sec home-news-image

Why am I infertile after a cesarean section?

Infertility after cesarean section may be due to the manipulation of surgical instruments on the uterus or postoperative puerperal infection, leading to pelvic inflammation and fallopian tube blockage, resulting in infertility. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to hygiene during the puerperium after a cesarean section, monitor the recovery of the uterus and the lochia, and observe the color and odor of the lochia daily. If the uterus does not recover well, and the lochia is excessive or persists for a long time, it is important to seek medical advice early. If there is a foul odor, timely treatment is necessary to avoid chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. It is also essential to get out of bed and move around timely to prevent the formation of venous thrombosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Wei Wei
Integrative Medicine
1min 13sec home-news-image

Can infertility ovulate?

I would like to discuss the causes of female infertility. The main causes of female infertility are ovulatory disorders and fallopian tube factors. If infertility is primarily due to fallopian tube factors, the patient does not have ovulatory disorders and can ovulate normally. Many cases of infertility are due to ovulatory disorders, which may be caused by ovarian dysfunction leading to persistent anovulation. Some are due to ovarian diseases, underdeveloped ovaries, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian failure, and functional ovarian tumors. Or it could be due to dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis causing anovulation. It could also be due to endocrine metabolic diseases, such as hyperfunction or hypofunction of the thyroid or adrenal cortex, which can lead to anovulation. Therefore, in women with infertility caused by fallopian tube factors, ovulation can occur; if it is caused by ovulatory disorders, it involves ineffective ovulation or an inability to ovulate.