There are many different tests that are done as a part of fertility treatments. Each test has a different task in order to check your fertility. The test we are going to learn about today is the post coital test. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
The post coital test is a test done after you and your partner have sex to see whether sperm are present and moving normally and whether or not your cervical mucus is hostile. The test is common during fertility work-ups especially when a couple has been unsuccessfully trying to conceive for over a year or more, and can be helpful for doctors to see how sperm and cervical mucus react in your body after sex.
The timing of a post coital test is very important. Post coital tests are only done one to two days before ovulation when the cervical mucus is thin and stretchy. Your doctor will want to collect and look at a cervical mucus sample somewhere between two to eight hours after you have intercourse with your partner.
You will visit your doctor’s office between two to eight hours after you have intercourse with your partner. Your doctor will use a speculum and a swab to remove a small amount of cervical mucus from your cervix. The doctor will use the sample to look at it under a microscope and look for signs of how your cervical mucus and sperm are reacting.
Your doctor will examine the cervical mucus sample under a microscope to look for several things. One is ferning. When the cervical mucus dries on the microscope slide, it should look like the leaves of a fern. This ensures that the timing was perfect, and that there was enough estrogen in the body. Your doctor will also look at the amount of cervical mucus (there should be a lot), and the clarity of the cervical mucus (it should be very clear). The doctor will also want to examine the elasticity of the cervical mucus, and also determine if there are any other cells present other than sperm.
If the doctor thinks the results of your post coital test turned out poor, it could mean that your cervix could be irritated or infected. The test might have also not been performed at the right time. This happens often during these tests, as it can be hard to get the timing just right. Medications that a woman is on, such as Clomid, can also affect the results of a post coital test.
Comments