REVIEW

Best Practice No 170

Investigation of infertility with the emphasis on laboratory testing and with reference to radiological imaging

C Williams, T Giannopoulos and E A Sherriff

Assisted Conception Unit, St Helier Hospital, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 1AA, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to
Dr T Giannopoulos, Assisted Conception Unit, St Helier Hospital, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 1AA, UK;
tgiuk{at}yahoo.co.uk

This review will discuss the investigation of infertility, with emphasis on laboratory testing and reference to the value of other investigations, including clinical and radiological. The role of laboratory investigations is viewed within an appropriate clinically directed pathway that includes medical, surgical, and social history together with environmental factors. Because embryology and assisted reproduction techniques are developing rapidly and produce continuous changes in everyday practice, this article gives a critical review of the plethora of tests that are currently used.

Keywords: infertility; laboratory testing; guidelines; ultrasound

Abbreviations: ASAB, antisperm antibody; BMI, body mass index; CMSPT, cervical mucous sperm penetration testing; CV, coefficient of variation; DHEAS, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; EQA, external quality assessment; FSH, follicle stimulating hormone; IBT, immunobead testing; ICSI, intracytoplasmic sperm injection; LH, luteinising hormone; MAR, mixed antiglobulin reaction; PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome; PRL, prolactin; SHBG, steroid hormone binding globulin; TFT, thyroid function test; WHO, World Health Organisation

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Cooke, R P D, Chui, D K C (2004). Best practice guideline on microbiological investigation of infertility requires further review. J. Clin. Pathol. 57: 110-110 [Full Text]  

eLetters:

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Re: Investigation of infertility

S Vivekanandan

JCP Online, 22 May 2003 [Full text]