Basal Body Temperature (BBT Chart)
After a women ovulates, there is a rise in body temperature, as much as 1° . To record a basal body
temperature, a women takes her temperature every morning before she gets out of bed and then records it
on a temperature chart. It is important to record the temperature each day from day one of your menstrual
cycle to the onset of the next menstrual cycle. This test may suggest whether ovulation has occurred and
whether it occurs on a regular basis. It may be helpful in planning other appropriate tests.
Ovulation Predictor Test
This test offers a way to predict ovulation by using a urine test kit at home. This test measures luteinizing
hormone (LH), which is released by the pituitary gland to cause ovulation. If the test is positive, it
indicates that ovulation is about to occur. Sometimes these kits are used in conjunction with basal body
temperature charts.
Progesterone Measurement
After a woman ovulates, the ovaries produce progesterone, a hormone that prepares the lining of the
uterus to nourish a fertilized egg. A blood test, taken 5- 10 days before a woman's period is due, can
be used to test for ovulation by measuring progesterone.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
A small amount of fluid is placed into the uterus through a tube inserted through the cervix. An X-ray
is then taken. The fluid outlines the inside of the uterus and shows (by a spilling of fluid outside of
the tubes) if the fallopian tubes are open or blocked. It is usually performed right after the menstrual
period in the radiology department.
Surgical Treatments
The surgical treatment for infertility may eliminate the need for assisted reproductive technology.
Operative laparoscopy and hysteroscopy can correct some major causes of infertility, including endometriosis,
fibroids, certain congenital anomalies and pelvic adhesions.
Laparoscopy is usually performed under general anesthesia, hysteroscopy is performed under local, regional
or general anesthesia depending on the specific procedure being performed. Both procedures do not require
an overnight hospital stay.
Ovulation Induction
This common treatment relies on oral and or injectable medications that stimulate the ovaries to release
multiple eggs and improve the likelihood of fertilization. These drugs are used in conjunction with intercourse
or artificial insemination, depending on each couple's circumstances.
