Fertility Evaluation of Infertile Women: A Committee Opinion

    November 2021 in “ Fertility and Sterility ”
    Alan S. Penzias, Ricardo Azziz, Kristin Bendikson, Marcelle I. Cedars, Tommaso Falcone, Karl R. Hansen, Micah J. Hill, Sangita Jindal, Suprita Kalra, Jennifer Mersereau, Catherine Racowsky, Richard H. Reindollar, Chevis N. Shannon, Anne Z. Steiner, Dale W. Stovall, Cigdem Tanrikut, Hugh S. Taylor, Belinda J. Yauger
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    TLDR The conclusion is that women under 35 should start fertility checks after 12 months of trying to conceive, women over 35 after 6 months, and women over 40 should start immediately. The checks should include ovulation status, reproductive tract structure, and male partner's semen evaluation.
    The document "Fertility evaluation of infertile women: a committee opinion" provides a detailed review of the methods for evaluating infertility in women. It recommends initiating the evaluation at 12 months for women under 35 and at 6 months for women aged 35 and above. For women over 40, immediate evaluation and treatment may be necessary. The evaluation should include an assessment of ovulatory status, the structure and patency of the female reproductive tract, and a semen evaluation of the male partner. Ovulatory dysfunction is identified in about 15% of all infertile couples and accounts for up to 40% of infertility in women. Uterine abnormalities occur in 16.2% of women presenting for infertility evaluation. Hysteroscopy is the definitive method for diagnosing and treating intrauterine pathologies, and tubal disease can be diagnosed and treated using a combination of techniques. The document concludes that a systematic, expeditious, and cost-effective evaluation should be conducted to identify all relevant factors in infertility.
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