Fertility test can reveal reasons for infertility

Having a fertility test at Bourn Hall Clinic in Cambridge was one of the best things Bedfordshire couple Rebecca and Robert Tear have ever done.

The test revealed the cause of their infertility and now the couple are proud parents to IVF baby Amelie.

Most people don’t know they have a fertility issue until they try to conceive and even then it can be several years before they can be referred for tests.

The fertility test is a series of tests that check the basics such as sperm count and ovulation and also includes more detailed scans to rule out any issues such as blockage in the fallopian tubes or cysts on the ovaries.

If the tests reveal anything that may impact fertility the couple is able to make informed choices of what to do next.

Dr Thomas Mathews, UK medical director at Bourn Hall Clinic, explains that it can help a couple choose their next steps: “Some timely lifestyle advice may be all that’s needed to help improve someone’s chance of becoming a parent or indeed to start trying for a baby sooner than initially planned might be the answer.

“If, however, the tests reveal an underlying fertility issue such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, where small cysts are visible in the ovaries, or a blockage in the man’s reproductive system that is preventing sperm from reaching the epididymis, where it becomes semen, then treating this early may allow couples and individuals to maximise their chances of success.”

For the Tears it gave them the information they required to be referred for fertility treatment.

The couple had previously been devastated, when Rebecca miscarried after becoming pregnant naturally.  She remembers: “To come so close to motherhood and then lose the baby really upset both of us. Our doctor said I would be more fertile after becoming pregnant and urged us to keep trying.  Month after month passed and nothing happened, which we both found difficult.  Instinct told me something wasn’t right.”

The couple eventually decided to go for a fertility test at Bourn Hall Clinic and this in depth investigation revealed underlying causes for their infertility.

Rebecca became pregnant on the first IVF cycle after returning to Bourn Hall for treatment. She says: “I would urge anyone not to give up on their parenting dreams and try and stay positive. There’s so much that can be done to help couples.  I can’t thank Bourn Hall enough. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have Amelie.”

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