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If you go to your doctor, he/she will usually begin by doing some basic tests: a blood sample for the female (to check your hormone levels) and a sperm sample (sperm will be counted and checked activity levels). The doctor may send you to a fertility clinic or the hospital for further checks.

Female fertility tests can include:

• Blood test to find out if ovulation is occurring.
• Ultrasound scan to check the womb and ovaries.
• Follicle tracking using ultrasound scans to follow the development of a follicle and check whether an egg is developing.
• Hysterosalpingogram which is an X-ray that checks your fallopian tubes.
• Analysis of a tissue sample from the lining of the womb.
• Laparoscopy during which a dye is injected through the cervix and a tube with a camera attached to it is used to look for blockages in the fallopian tubes.
• Hysteroscopy – a telescope with camera attached to it is used to check the uterus for problems such as fibroids or polyps.
• Hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) during which a vaginal ultrasound probe is used to check for blockages in the fallopian tubes.

Male fertility tests can include:

• Semen analysis to check numbers and quality of sperm.
• Sperm antibody test checking for protein molecules that could prevent sperm fertilising an egg.
• Sperm invasion test to check that sperm are swimming through the cervical mucus and are still active.