What can the General Practitioner do?
The General Practitioner can perform the following examinations:
Step 1
The sperm quality is determined by the doctor, in a microscope, counts how many sperm there are and assess their movement and appearance. The man produces the sperm sample at home or at the laboratory in a glass. If the sperm sample is produced at home, it must be delivered to the laboratory within an hour and during the transport, it must not be cooled below room temperature.
Step 2
It is possible to measure the fluctuations of the woman’s hormones, from blood samples. The blood samples reveal hormonal disturbances that can explain lack of or postponed ovulation. It is also possible to assess how many eggs the woman has left in her Fallopian tubes from blood samples.
Steps 3 and 4
An examination of the uterus and the Fallopian tubes can determine adhesion of Fallopian tube or changes in the uterus that can hinder pregnancy. A general practitioner can refer to an ultrasound scan to investigate this.
At an ultrasound scan (hysterosalpingoultrasonography), first, the doctor injects – quite slowly and carefully – saltwater through a small catheter that has been inserted up into the uterus. At an ultrasound scan you can both see the water pass and get an impression of the looks of the uterus. The examination is usually painless.
Step 1: The sperm swim from the vagina up through the uterus to the Fallopian tube.
Step 2: The sperm meet an egg in the Fallopian tube.
Step 3: A sperm enters the egg – fertilisation.
Step 4: The fertilised egg is led from the Fallopian tube to the uterus where it attaches itself.