Infertility

First, your healthcare provider will get your full medical and sexual history.

Fertility for people with a uterus involves ovulating healthy eggs. This means your brain has to send hormonal signals to your ovary to release an egg to travel from your ovary, through your fallopian tube and to your uterine lining. Fertility testing involves detecting an issue with any of these processes.

These tests can also help diagnose or rule out problems:

Pelvic exam: Your provider will perform a pelvic exam to check for structural problems or signs of disease.
Blood test: A blood test can check hormone levels to see if hormonal imbalance is a factor or if you’re ovulating.
Transvaginal ultrasound: Your provider inserts an ultrasound wand into your vagina to look for issues with your reproductive system.
Hysteroscopy: Your provider inserts a thin, lighted tube (hysteroscope) into your vagina to examine your uterus.
Saline sonohysterogram (SIS): Your provider fills your uterus with saline (sterilized salt water) and conducts a transvaginal ultrasound.
Sono hysterosalpingogram (HSG): Your provider fills your fallopian tubes with saline and air bubbles during an SIS procedure to check for tubal blockages.
X-ray hysterosalpingogram (HSG): X-rays capture an injectable dye as it travels through your fallopian tubes. This test looks for blockages.
Laparoscopy: Your provider inserts a laparoscope (thin tube with a camera) into a small abdominal incision. It helps identify problems like endometriosis, uterine fibroids and scar tissue.

How is male infertility diagnosed?

Diagnosing infertility in people with a penis typically involves making sure a person ejaculates healthy sperm. Most fertility tests look for problems with sperm.

These tests can help diagnose or rule out problems:

Semen analysis: This test checks for low sperm count and poor sperm mobility. Some people need a needle biopsy to remove sperm from their testicles for testing.
Blood test: A blood test can check thyroid and other hormone levels. Genetic blood tests look for chromosomal abnormalities.
Scrotal ultrasound: An ultrasound of your scrotum identifies varicoceles or other testicular problems.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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