Fertility assessment
Understand your fertility before deciding what comes next
If pregnancy is taking longer than expected, you have concerns about your fertility, or you simply want a clearer picture of your reproductive health, a fertility assessment can be a useful first step.
A place to start
An assessment does not mean committing to IVF
The purpose of a fertility assessment is to gather useful information about factors that may be relevant to conception. At IVF(SG), we look at both female and male fertility factors and then review the results with you.
Once your results are available, your consultation with Dr Yeong gives you the opportunity to understand what they mean in the context of your circumstances and discuss what, if anything, may be appropriate next.
Fertility assessment packages
Two levels of assessment
Our comprehensive assessment includes sperm DNA fragmentation testing alongside the core female and male fertility tests.
Comprehensive fertility assessment
A broader starting assessment of key female and male fertility factors, including sperm DNA integrity.
- Hormonal profile including TSH and AMH
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Semen analysis
- Sperm DNA fragmentation testing
- Consultation with Dr Yeong to review your results and discuss next steps
Standard fertility assessment
Core female and male fertility testing without sperm DNA fragmentation testing.
- Hormonal profile including TSH and AMH
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Semen analysis
- Consultation with Dr Yeong to review your results and discuss next steps
What can the tests tell us?
Understanding each part of your assessment
No single fertility test provides the complete picture. Each part looks at a different aspect of reproductive health and is considered alongside your medical and fertility history.
Female fertility
Hormonal profile and AMH
AMH is used as a marker of ovarian reserve and can help your specialist understand the remaining pool of eggs and how the ovaries may respond to stimulation if treatment is considered.
AMH does not measure egg quality and, by itself, cannot predict whether you will conceive naturally.
Hormone testing, including TSH, also provides information about hormonal factors that may be relevant to ovulation, menstrual cycles, thyroid function and reproductive health.
Male fertility
Semen analysis and sperm DNA fragmentation
A semen analysis assesses key characteristics including sperm concentration, movement (motility) and shape (morphology).
Our comprehensive assessment also includes sperm DNA fragmentation testing, which assesses the integrity of DNA within sperm and provides information that is different from a standard semen analysis.
Results are interpreted together with the wider clinical picture.
Female fertility
Pelvic ultrasound
A pelvic ultrasound allows the specialist to assess the ovaries and uterus. This may include an antral follicle count (AFC), the uterine lining and findings such as fibroids, polyps or ovarian cysts.
Putting it together
Consultation with Dr Yeong
Your results are reviewed in the context of your history and circumstances. Dr Yeong can explain the findings, whether further investigation may be useful and what options, if any, you may wish to consider next.
Looking at the whole picture
Testing provides information. Interpretation gives it context.
Individual results are most useful when considered together. Your medical history, fertility history, age and the findings from both partners can all help inform the discussion about whether further assessment or treatment may be appropriate.
What happens at IVF(SG)?
From testing to understanding your results
Arrange your assessment
Our team will guide you on the tests required and how they are scheduled.
Complete your tests
Complete the relevant blood tests, ultrasound and semen testing. The comprehensive package also includes sperm DNA fragmentation testing.
Review with Dr Yeong
Once the results are available, Dr Yeong will review them with you and discuss what they may mean for your circumstances and possible next steps.
What an assessment cannot tell you
Fertility is more than one test result
Fertility testing can give us useful information about several important factors, but no single test, or group of tests, can provide every answer.
AMH gives us information about ovarian reserve, but it does not tell us the quality of the eggs or whether pregnancy will occur.
An ultrasound can tell us a lot about the ovaries and uterus, but other tests may be needed to check the fallopian tubes.
It gives us useful information about sperm count, movement and shape, but no single sperm test can give us the complete picture.
Sometimes the initial tests are within the expected ranges, but there is still no clear explanation for why pregnancy has not happened. This is sometimes described as unexplained infertility, and your doctor can discuss whether further investigation or support may be appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
Before your fertility assessment
Does having a fertility assessment mean we need IVF?
No. The assessment is intended to help you understand your fertility. What happens next depends on your results, history and individual circumstances.
Should both partners be assessed?
Where applicable, assessing both partners can provide a broader picture because factors relating to eggs, ovulation, reproductive anatomy and sperm may all be relevant to conception.
What is the difference between the two packages?
Both include the hormonal profile including TSH and AMH, pelvic ultrasound, semen analysis and consultation with Dr Yeong. The comprehensive assessment also includes sperm DNA fragmentation testing.
What if we already have recent fertility test results?
Bring or share your recent results with the IVF(SG) team. The clinical team can advise whether they remain useful and whether any additional or repeat testing is appropriate.
Can a fertility assessment tell us why pregnancy has not happened?
It may identify factors that could be relevant, but sometimes initial testing does not reveal a clear explanation. Dr Yeong can interpret the results together with your history and advise whether further assessment may be useful.
A clearer place to start
Understand first, then decide what comes next
Whether you are concerned about how long pregnancy is taking or simply want more information about your fertility, an assessment can give you a more informed starting point for a discussion with your specialist.
The information on this page is general and does not replace individual medical advice. Tests recommended may depend on medical history and clinical circumstances.
