Post Coital Testing

This test is a quick, painless procedure that can tell us how the cervical mucous and sperm interact. This test may be very informative when we are helping you try to conceive.

When is it done?
The test must be done within one to two days before or after ovulation. Basal body temperature charts or ovulation prediction kits are very helpful in determining when you ovulate. The post-coital test can be arranged the morning of ovulation, if it occurs Monday through Friday. If you ovulate on Saturday or Sunday, the test can be done on Monday. Simply call our office between 8:30-9:00 AM the day you ovulate, and we will schedule an appointment for you.

What should you do to prepare for the test?
You should abstain from intercourse for 2 days before ovulation. You should then have intercourse 2-8 hours prior to the time of your office visit for the post-coital test. DO NOT use any lubricants with intercourse (including KY Jelly, Vaseline, saliva, mineral oil, etc.) and do not douche after intercourse. Please bring your basal body temperature chart or ovulation kit with you.

Where will the test be done?
The test will be done in our office during regular business hours.

What should you expect?
A speculum is placed in the vagina, as it would be for a pap smear. A syringe without a needle is then used to remove some mucous from the cervical opening. The speculum is then removed and your cervical mucous is examined in the following ways:

• Stretching the mucous-when a woman ovulates, her mucous becomes "stretchy" and may look like egg whites.
• Microscopic examination-if the smear of mucous looks like it is "ferning" under the microscope when dry, it may indicate that you are near ovulation. We may be able to detect signs of inflammation, and we can observe the number, shape and movement of the sperm.

Please let us know if you have further questions about your fertility. There are a number of ways we can help you try to conceive.