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Newton-Wellesley Hospital

2014 Washington Street

Newton, MA 02462

617-243-6000

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Ambulatory Care Center - Natick

307 W Central St

Natick, MA 01760

617-243-5345

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Ambulatory Care Center - Newton

159 Wells Ave

Newton Centre, MA 02459

617-243-5777

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Ambulatory Care Center - Walpole

111 Norfolk Street

Walpole, MA 02081maps

617-243-5345

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Ambulatory Care Center – Wellesley

978 Worcester Road (rte 9)

Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482

781-235-5200

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Maxwell Blum Emergency Pavilion

2014 Washington Street

Newton, MA 02462

617-243-6000

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Outpatient Surgery Center - Wellesley

25 Washington Street

Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481

617-219-1520

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Waltham Walk-In

9 Hope Ave

Waltham, MA 02453

617-243-5590

Monday through Saturday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Sunday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

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What tests are often part of the basic medical workup for infertility?

Both Partners:

  • medical and sexual history (to evaluate possible physical causes of infertility and if sexual intercourse has been appropriately timed)

Woman:

  • Physical examination: a complete physical examination (including a Pap smear and testing for infection) will be necessary.
     
  • Ovulation evaluation: an evaluation of ovulation function using an analysis of body temperatures and ovulation called the basal body temperature chart, or with ovulation prediction methods using urine samples, may be recommended.
     
  • Hormone testing: hormone testing may be recommended, as certain hormones increase and decrease in production at various times in the monthly cycle.

  • Ultrasound: ultrasound can show the presence of follicles (the sacs containing developing eggs) and the thickness of the uterine tissues. Ultrasound can also show abnormal conditions such as ovarian cysts or fibroids (benign tumors in the uterus).

  • X-rays: a hysterosalpingogram may be recommended. This test uses a radio-opaque dye injected into the cervical opening to visualize the inside of the uterus and determine if the fallopian tubes are open.

Man:

  • Semen analysis: a collection of a semen sample obtained by masturbation that is analyzed in the laboratory for the sperm count, sperm motility, sperm shape, quantity, and evaluation of the ejaculate liquid may be recommended. According to the ASRM, a normal ejaculate contains more than 20 million sperm per milliliter of liquid, more than 50 percent of the sperm should be moving forward, and more than 30 percent of sperm should have normal shapes.
     
  • Other tests may be performed that evaluate the sperm's ability to penetrate the egg, as well as male hormone testing.
  • Men may be referred to a urologist for further evaluation.

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