Tests & results

What a complete evaluation includes, what each test measures, and what to ask when a result comes back normal.

Starting an evaluation

What happens at the first fertility appointment? What actually happens, what they'll ask, and what to bring so it isn't wasted. What tests should both partners have? Roughly half of cases involve a male factor. Here's the full list for both of you.

Specific tests

What does AMH actually tell me? It estimates quantity, not quality — and it does not predict whether you can conceive. What does an HSG test, and what's it like? What the dye test looks for, what it feels like, and how to prepare. What should my thyroid levels be if I'm trying to conceive? TSH targets, the 2.5 rule, thyroid antibodies — and where mainstream and functional medicine part company. Which blood tests are worth asking for before you conceive? What's worth testing before you try, what's worth asking for in the right situation, and what isn't worth your money.

Making sense of results

They said everything is normal — now what? The questions that turn "everything looks fine" back into a plan. What does unexplained infertility mean? A label, not a dead end. What guidelines recommend when everything comes back normal. What does my beta hCG number mean? What the number means, why the trend matters more, and when to worry.