What Blood Tests Can Tell You About Infertility

If you are unable to become pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse, or six months if you are a woman over 35, you and your partner should have a full physical and medical evaluation. Several blood tests are available to determine if you, your partner, or both of you have a problem that is causing infertility.

FSH

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) helps control a woman’s menstrual cycle and the production of eggs. In men, it regulates the production and transportation of sperm.

For women, a FSH test is done on the third day of the menstrual cycle and is used to evaluate egg supply. For men, the test is used to determine sperm count.

Estradiol

Estradiol is an important form of estrogen. An estradiol test is used to measure a woman’s ovarian function and to evaluate the quality of the eggs. Like FSH, it is done on the third day of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Luteinizing Hormone Level

In women, luteinizing hormone (LH) is linked to ovarian hormone production and egg maturation. In men, it stimulates the hormone testosterone which affects sperm production.

An LH test is used to measure a woman’s ovarian reserve (egg supply) and a man’s sperm count. It is done during a woman's menstrual cycle to see if she is ovulating

Serum Progesterone

Progesterone is a female hormone produced by the ovaries during ovulation. It causes the endometrial lining of the uterus to get thicker, making it receptive for a fertilized egg.

A serum progesterone test is used to determine if ovulation is occurring. Since progesterone levels increase towards the end of a woman’s cycle, the test is done during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (just before her period starts).

Prolactin

The hormone prolactin is made by the pituitary gland and causes milk production.

In women, a prolactin test is done to find out why they are not menstruating, or why they are having infertility problems or abnormal nipple discharge. The test is done in men when there is a lack of sexual desire, difficulty getting an erection, or if there might be a problem with the pituitary gland.

Androgen

Testosterone is probably the most well-known androgen and it affects the sexual functioning of both men and women.

In men, an androgen test is used to find the cause of a low sex drive, the inability to get an erection, or infertility. In women, it is used to determine the cause of irregular periods or a low sex drive.