Fertility Screening is a series of tests that assesses your ability to conceive. It is sometimes referred to as a fertility test or fertility MOT. This assessment allows us to detect if there are any problems that may be affecting your ability to have a child. If an issue is found, a fertility assessment is an important diagnostic tool that helps you and your doctor plan your treatment safely and effectively.

At LifeSure we offer fertility assessments/screenings suitable for couples or individuals seeking to start fertility treatment or who wish to understand which fertility treatment is right for them.

Answer the questions below to discover your female infertility risk factors.

Take this personal risk assessment to help you understand what the underlying causes of your infertility might be.

Are you over age 35?

Age is an important infertility risk factor, yet one that you cannot control. After age 35, a woman’s fertility potential starts to decline. Then after age 40, the chance of getting pregnant sharply declines. The aging process decreases the number of eggs you have, as well as makes the eggs more susceptible to chromosomal abnormalities. Women over 35 have a higher chance of miscarriage, too.

Do you smoke?

Smoking is a serious infertility risk factor, but one that you can change today by stopping smoking. Smoking can damage your fallopian tubes and cervix and make conception more difficult. It also can decrease your egg supply, age your ovaries at a faster rate than normal and even bring about early menopause. If you do get pregnant, studies show that smokers have a greater risk of miscarriage and premature births.

Are you overweight?

Fortunately, your weight is typically one fertility risk factor that you can change. Just a BMI (body mass index) 10 to 15 percent above normal can lead to higher levels of estrogen in your body that can disrupt normal ovulation. Additionally, overweight women often have excessive amounts of androgens, as well as insulin, which can disrupt ovulation and make it hard to get pregnant.

Are you underweight or have an eating disorder?

On the flip side, women who are underweight are often hypo-estrogenic, which means they don’t produce enough estrogen to ovulate normally. Underweight women are unable to produce the necessary hormones to trigger ovulation, which is essential for conception. Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, can also lead to abnormal menstrual cycles and infertility. It’s best to seek professional help right away if you suffer from either condition.

Do you exercise excessively?

Studies have shown that excessive and strenuous exercise can lead to irregular periods or no period at all. It is not uncommon for dancers, professional athletes and runners to have ovulation problems. Cutting back on exercise may resolve this infertility risk factor, so talk with your doctor.

Do you have a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

STDs such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia are common infertility risk factors that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if left untreated. PID can result in complications such as scarring, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and blocked fallopian tubes – all of which can adversely affect your chances of getting pregnant.

Do you have irregular periods or experience bleeding or spotting between periods?

Ovulation is essential to getting pregnant. If you don’t have a period, or if your cycles are more than 35 days apart or less than 25 days apart, you may have an ovulatory disorder, one of the leading causes of infertility. Even if you do experience normal periods, you still may have problems ovulating. Abnormal bleeding or spotting between periods should also be taken into consideration as part of your infertility risk assessment. Any sort of unexplained bleeding could signal hormonal problems, fibroids, polyps, or uterine or cervical problems.

Do you experience pain during your periods or sexual intercourse? 

Pelvic pain may indicate endometriosis, tubal disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, or fibroids, all of which can negatively affect fertility.

Do you have a history of recurrent miscarriage? 

Recurrent miscarriages may be caused by structural abnormalities of the uterus or uterine fibroids. A uterine infection, low hormone levels or a dysfunction of the immune system can also trigger multiple miscarriages.

Do you drink excessive amounts of coffee or alcohol or use illicit drugs? 

Lifestyle choices do make a difference when it comes to making a baby. Excessive amounts of caffeine have been linked to recurrent miscarriage and endometriosis. Alcohol and drug abuse have been shown to increase your chances of ovulation disorders and endometriosis and can interfere with getting pregnant and/or carrying the pregnancy to term.

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your fertility might be at risk.

Answer the questions below to discover your male infertility risk factors.

What are a man’s risk factors for infertility? Take this personal male fertility risk assessment to help you understand what the underlying causes of your infertility might be.

Do you smoke cigarettes or marijuana or use illicit drugs?

Lifestyle choices do make a difference when it comes to making a baby. Cigarette smoking, cocaine or heavy marijuana use can temporarily reduce the number and quality of sperm. Chemical compounds in marijuana have also been shown to impair the sperm’s ability to swim and to penetrate the egg.

Have you experienced prior trauma to your testicles or have you noticed physical changes in the pelvic region?

A history of scrotal or pelvic trauma or a spinal injury can limit a man’s ability to produce sperm or get an erection. Similarly, anatomical issues, such as a testicular mass or a varicocele (a group of dilated veins draining the testicle) should raise a red flag. Further, previous surgery, cystic fibrosis, or certain types of birth defects can cause a blockage in the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis, causing infertility.

Do you have a chronic health condition?

Chronic medical conditions may cause potential problems with conception. Medical conditions that can affect male fertility include diabetes, HIV, thyroid disease, Cushing syndrome, heart attack, liver or kidney failure, and chronic anemia. Certain types of medications taken for these and other medical conditions can also impair sperm production, such as medicines for ulcers, psoriasis, depression, and high blood pressure.

Do you frequent hot tubs or saunas?

Testicular overheating, such as from saunas, and hot tubs, and even high fevers, may temporarily lower sperm count.

Do you have a history of sexually transmitted diseases or other infections of the genital?

Repeated STD infections, such as Chlamydia or gonorrhea, are most often associated with male infertility by causing scar tissue and blocking sperm passage. Human papilloma viruses (HPV), the cause of genital warts, may also impair sperm function. Non-STD infections that may affect fertility include prostatitis (inflammation in the prostate gland), orchitis (in the testicle), semino-vesculitis (in the glands that produce semen), or urethritis (in the urethra), perhaps by altering sperm motility. Even after successful antibiotic treatment, infections in the testes may leave scar tissue that blocks the passage of sperm.

Are you overweight?

Obesity may impair hormonal levels and adversely affect fertility. Fortunately, your weight is typically one fertility risk factor that you can change.

Are you exposed to toxic chemicals or heavy metals on a regular basis?

Occupational or other long-term exposure to certain types of toxins and chemicals (such as herbicides and pesticides) may reduce sperm count by either affecting testicular function or altering hormone systems. Estrogen-like and hormone-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A, phthalates, and organochlorines are particular potential concerns. Chronic exposure to heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, or arsenic may affect sperm quality. These chemicals generally affect men who have long-term and intense exposure to them.

Do you ride bicycles frequently?

Bicycling may affect erectile function when pressure from the bike seat damages blood vessels and nerves that are responsible for erections. In particular, mountain biking, which exposes the perineum to more extreme shocks and vibrations, increases the risk for injuries to the scrotum.

Do you use performance enhancing drugs, such as testosterone or steroids?

Anabolic steroids used to enhance strength and fitness can actually drastically lower a man’s sperm count, sometimes even to zero in many cases. Similarly, testosterone supplements can also cause sperm counts to plummet.

Do you have a history of cancer?

Certain cancers, particularly testicular cancer, impair sperm production, often severely. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can damage sperm quality and quantity, causing infertility. The closer radiation treatments are to reproductive organs, the higher the risk for infertility.

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your fertility might be at risk.