Laboratory Tests Performed Before the IVF Procedure
Before starting IVF treatment, various laboratory tests are requested separately from the male and female partners who have infertility problems. In this way, the success rate of the IVF treatment is increased.
Infertility screening should be performed simultaneously on candidates.
The basic tests applied at the initial stage are as follows:
Sperm test for father candidate,
Blood (hormone) tests to investigate the expectant mother's ovulation,
Tests to determine whether the expectant mother's fallopian tubes are open and the inside of the uterus is normal. For this purpose, the most common x-ray of the uterus (hysterosalpingography, HSG) is taken.
Laboratory Tests Performed on Women Before In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Treatment
Basal hormone tests:
It is important to perform FSH, LH, E2 (2nd or 3rd day of menstruation), TSH, PRL and if necessary DHEAS, Total-Testosterone hormone tests before in vitro fertilization treatment.
Especially basal (2nd or 3rd day of menstruation) FSH levels higher than normal (12 and above) and E2 values above 80 pg/ml indicate “low ovarian reserve”. Low ovarian reserve is a negative factor for pregnancy.
Hysterosalpingography (medicated hysterosalpingography) or Office Hysteroscopy
Although whether or not the tubes are blocked is not an important symptom before IVF treatments, the regularity of the inside of the uterus is an important criterion.
If there are adhesions in the uterus or polyps in the uterus (endometrial polyps), this may cause problems with the baby's implantation after embryo transfer (ET), which may result in miscarriage.
Transvaginal ultrasound: The "basal ultrasound examination" performed on the 2nd or 3rd day of menstruation (in the basal period) is important for examining both the uterus and the ovaries.
The reserve status of the ovaries (“ovarian reserve”), whether polycystic ovaries are present, and whether cysts or endometrium ( chocolate cysts ) are present should be determined on ultrasound.
Ultrasound also determines whether there are myomas or polyps in the uterus, the size of the uterus, and whether there is an anatomical (structural) problem.
In in vitro fertilization and infertility treatments, ultrasounds are mostly applied from below (vaginally).
Hormone tests, transvaginal ultrasound and hsg or office hysteroscopy are required for expectant mothers before in vitro fertilization (ivf) treatments. The following other tests are requested in various special cases:
HIV, Hbs Ag, Anti-HCV:
HIV (AIDS test) and Anti-HCV (Hepatitis C test) indicate the presence of viral diseases in the expectant mother that have no treatment and can be transmitted to the baby at birth if pregnancy occurs.
HbsAg indicates Hepatitis B carrier status, and if the mother-to-be is a Hepatitis B carrier, the baby will be protected from "Type B jaundice" by administering Hepatitis B vaccine and Hepatitis B serum after birth.
Blood group:
If the mother's blood type is negative and the father's is positive and pregnancy occurs, there is a risk of blood incompatibility in the baby, so the "Blood Incompatibility Injection (Anti D immunoglobulin)" is applied duringpregnancy .
Rubella IgG:
Rubella Ig G positivity helps detect previous rubella infection and is a positive finding. If Rubella Ig G is negative, the expectant mother is at risk for rubella and pre-pregnancy vaccination or avoiding rash diseases is recommended.
If rubella infection occurs during pregnancy, it can cause serious disabilities in the baby. For this reason, termination of pregnancy is necessary.
aPTT, PTT, INR, Protein S and Protein C:
These are factors related to blood clotting. Especially in cases of clotting mechanism disorders (“thrombophilia disease”), pregnancies may result in miscarriage (abortion). Factors such as aPTT, INR and PTT and Protein S, Protein C decrease in thrombophilia.
Complete blood count (hemogram):
A complete blood count (“hemogram test”) may be performed to investigate whether there is any anemia or a problem with platelets in the blood.
Laboratory Tests Applied to Father Candidates Before IVF Treatment
Semen analysis (Spermiogram)
Sperm tests are required for prospective fathers before IVF treatments. The following other laboratory tests are performed in special cases. These are:
HIV, Hbs Ag, Anti-HCV
Blood group
If needed, FSH, LH, T-Testosterone, PRL
If the FSH hormone is higher than normal, as in women, this indicates "low testicular reserve", similar to the situation in women.
Urological examination if necessary
Urological examination is performed to evaluate an existing "varicocele" situation, especially in father candidates with low sperm test results. Urological examinations are performed by a urologist who is an expert in infertility treatments.
If necessary, genetic examination (Chromosome analysis):
In cases where no sperm can be detected in the semen, called "azoospermia", it is useful to perform genetic tests on prospective fathers.
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