ABSTRACT
Once the decision has been taken to investigate a couple, it should be possible to perform the basic screening tests within 3-4 months and provide them with a management plan that may involve reassurance, more detailed investigations or treatment. A pragmatic approach should be taken. Infertility is rarely absolute, and treatment options may be discussed to enhance a couple’s fertility even in the absence of a clear diagnosis. To quote from The ESHRE Capri Workshop Group, ‘Both old and new diagnostic tests must be considered, but to what degree is diagnostic certainty necessary? The science of infertility is uncertain and it is not a life-threatening condition. Testing until uncertainty vanishes may delay treatment (and if the delay is long enough, the female patient will become menopausal)’ [1].
