IVF is an assisted reproductive technology that can help many couples who cannot conceive naturally to fulfill their dreams. For couples preparing to undergo IVF in the United States, comprehensive physical examinations are essential to better understand their health status and increase the success rate of IVF.

What tests are required before going to the United States?

1. Tests required for women:

Before undergoing IVF, women need to undergo a series of reproductive system tests, including:

(1) Hormone panel: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P), and testosterone (T).

  • FSH: This hormone test can be used to diagnose conditions such as abnormal menstrual bleeding, infertility, the onset of perimenopause or menopause, ovarian function issues, pituitary tumors, ovarian cysts, and more.
  • LH: LH testing can help assess female ovulation function, fertility, the risk factors for miscarriage, and other pregnancy-related complications.
  • E2: Estradiol plays a role in promoting ovarian development and ovulation, maintaining the growth and shedding cycle of the uterine lining, regulating the menstrual cycle and flow, and impacting female fertility.
  • PRL: Measuring prolactin levels is not only useful for assessing the pituitary’s ability to secrete prolactin but also for diagnosing pituitary diseases. It has significant clinical value in diagnosing and differentiating menstrual abnormalities and infertility.
  • P: Progesterone is a crucial pregnancy hormone that helps maintain the thickness of the uterine lining and the stability of the placenta, contributing to a healthy pregnancy.
  • T: Testosterone testing can serve as a diagnostic tool for certain conditions or causes, including acne, unexplained weight gain, polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian cancer, infertility, sexual dysfunction, and more.

(2) AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone): AMH is primarily used to evaluate ovarian reserve function and serves as a marker of ovarian aging. AMH has different expression levels at different stages of growth and development. In adulthood, it helps regulate male testicular interstitial cell function and inhibits the recruitment of primitive follicles and sinusoidal follicle development in women. Testing AMH levels is currently used to assess the fertility potential of adult women. It can reflect changes in ovarian reserve function earlier, is not affected by menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptives, or pregnancy, and is a very reliable method for evaluating ovarian reserve. The normal range for this hormone is 2-6.8 ng/ml, with higher values indicating a greater egg reserve and lower values indicating more pronounced ovarian function decline.

(3) Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS): Transvaginal ultrasound examination is primarily used to examine the uterus, bilateral ovaries, and pelvic masses in women, aiding in the diagnosis of conditions such as uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, ovarian tumors, pelvic fluid, intrauterine device placement, uterine lining thickness, and more.

2. Tests required for men:

Men need to undergo a semen analysis, which aims to assess sperm quantity, motility, and morphology, among other parameters. A routine semen analysis includes examining semen volume, color, pH, sperm motility, sperm vitality, microscopic examination, liquefaction time, and more. This test can reflect a man’s fertility potential.