The effort to identify the cause of a couple's infertility should be thorough and should be done quickly to identify as precisely as possible the specific basis of infertility. This approach allows for prompt initiation of proper therapy. The basic fundamentals of the contemporary infertility workup include the following:

1. Semen analysis - This basic test is an essential component of the infertility workup and includes evaluation of the count, motility, and morphology (sizes and shapes of sperm cells).

2. Ultrasound Examination - This office procedure allows
an accurate assessment of the reproductive organs, often diagnosing such conditions as endometriosis, congenital malformations of the uterus, ovarian cysts, and abnormalities involving the uterine lining.

3. X-Ray Evaluation of the Fallopian Tubes -
(Hysterosalpingogram) - This simple test, done in the x-ray department of a local hospital involves the injection of a solution through the reproductive system to determine if the fallopian tubes are open or blocked. It also provides important information about the inside of the uterine cavity.

4. Laboratory Testing - Testing blood hormone levels at selected times during the menstrual cycle allows detection of ovulation defects and deficiencies. Also, screening is done to rule out thyroid, pituitary, ovarian, and adrenal abnormalities.