Trying to Conceive and Early Pregnancy
Whether you are trying to conceive, exploring possible fertility concerns or looking for reassurance in early pregnancy, West Wales Women’s Wellbeing offers consultant-led care to help you understand your options.
We recognise that trying to conceive and navigating early pregnancy can bring a mixture of emotions, questions and uncertainty. Our aim is to provide clear information, personalised assessment and supportive care tailored to your individual circumstances.
From initial fertility investigations and follicle tracking to early pregnancy reassurance scans, our Consultant Gynaecologist and Consultant Obstetrician can help you access appropriate investigations and understand the next steps.
Trying to conceive
Understanding your fertility
Trying to conceive can be an exciting time, but it can also feel frustrating or overwhelming when pregnancy does not happen as expected. If you have concerns about your fertility, irregular periods or a known gynaecological condition, an assessment may help identify factors that could be affecting your chances of conceiving.
At West Wales Women’s Wellbeing, we offer a range of investigations to help assess your reproductive health and guide decisions about further care.
Initial fertility investigations
A fertility assessment will depend on your medical history, menstrual cycle, previous pregnancies and how long you have been trying to conceive.
Investigations may include:
- Pelvic ultrasound – a transvaginal ultrasound scan (TVS) can assess the womb and ovaries, looking for findings such as fibroids, ovarian cysts, features associated with polycystic ovaries and other abnormalities that may be relevant to fertility.
- Fertility blood tests – selected tests may assess reproductive hormones, ovarian reserve or whether ovulation is likely to have occurred. The tests recommended will depend on your individual circumstances.
- Ovulation assessment – if your periods are irregular or there is uncertainty about whether you are ovulating, further assessment may be recommended.
- HyFoSy tubal patency testing – Hysterosalpingo-Foam Sonography uses ultrasound and a specialised foam contrast agent to assess whether the fallopian tubes appear open.
- Further fertility investigations – depending on your history and initial findings, additional investigations or referral may be appropriate.
Fertility involves several factors, including ovulation, the womb, the fallopian tubes and sperm health. Your assessment may therefore include investigations beyond those available at the clinic, such as semen analysis.
A scan or blood test cannot assess every aspect of fertility, but the findings can help inform your next steps.
Follicle tracking involves a series of ultrasound scans during the menstrual cycle to monitor the development of ovarian follicles. Follicles are small fluid-filled structures within the ovaries, each of which may contain an egg.
Monitoring follicle development can help assess how the ovaries are responding during a cycle and provide information about the timing of ovulation.
Follicle tracking may be helpful if you:
- Have irregular menstrual cycles.
- Need monitoring of follicle development.
- Are undergoing selected fertility treatments or ovulation induction.
- Have been advised to monitor ovulation as part of your fertility assessment.
The number and timing of scans will depend on your menstrual cycle and the reason for monitoring. Follicle tracking can provide useful information, but it cannot guarantee that ovulation will result in pregnancy.
When should I seek fertility advice?
You may wish to seek advice if you have been trying to conceive without success, have irregular or absent periods, have a known gynaecological condition or have concerns about your reproductive health.
You do not always need to wait a year before seeking advice. Earlier assessment may be appropriate if you have irregular periods, a history of conditions such as endometriosis, previous pelvic surgery or other known fertility concerns.
Your consultant can review your history, discuss your priorities and recommend investigations that may be appropriate for you.
Early pregnancy
Early pregnancy reassurance scans
Finding out that you are pregnant can bring excitement, but it is understandable to have questions or concerns, particularly in the early weeks.
An early pregnancy reassurance scan can provide information about the pregnancy at the time of the examination. At West Wales Women’s Wellbeing, early pregnancy reassurance scans are performed by our Consultant Obstetrician.
Depending on the stage of pregnancy and what can be seen, an ultrasound scan may help assess:
- The location of the pregnancy – whether the pregnancy can be seen within the womb.
- Early pregnancy development – assessing the appearance of the pregnancy in relation to the gestational age.
- Pregnancy dating – measurements may help estimate gestational age when appropriate.
- Heartbeat – whether cardiac activity can be seen, depending on how early the scan is performed.
- The number of pregnancies – whether one or more pregnancies are visible.
When can I have an early pregnancy scan?
What can be seen on an ultrasound depends on how many weeks pregnant you are, the type of scan used and individual differences in early development.
If a scan is performed very early, it may not yet be possible to confirm all the expected findings. A repeat scan may be recommended if the results are inconclusive or the pregnancy is earlier than expected.
An early reassurance scan cannot guarantee that a pregnancy will continue normally, and it does not replace routine antenatal care.
If you have vaginal bleeding, significant abdominal pain or other concerning symptoms in early pregnancy, you should seek appropriate medical assessment rather than relying on a reassurance scan alone. Severe pain, shoulder-tip pain, fainting or heavy bleeding require urgent assessment.
NIPT – Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing
NIPT is a specialist blood test that screens for the chance of certain chromosomal conditions during pregnancy, including Down’s syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards’ syndrome (trisomy 18) and Patau’s syndrome (trisomy 13), depending on the package selected.
The test analyses cell-free DNA in the pregnant person’s blood and is generally available from 10 weeks of pregnancy for standard NIPT options. Different screening packages may be available.
NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. A higher-chance result does not confirm that a baby has a chromosomal condition, and further testing may be recommended.
Find out more about NIPT testing here, including the available packages, when testing can be performed and what your results may mean.
Personalised care for your circumstances
Every fertility journey and pregnancy is different. The most appropriate investigations depend on your history, symptoms, stage of pregnancy and individual needs.
Our team can help you understand the available options and whether a consultation, ultrasound scan, blood tests or a more specialised investigation may be appropriate.
If you are unsure where to start, you do not need to know which tests you need before contacting us. A consultation can help establish what may be helpful and identify any need for further assessment or referral.
Book an appointment
Whether you are trying to conceive, exploring fertility investigations, considering follicle tracking or seeking an early pregnancy reassurance scan, West Wales Women’s Wellbeing offers personalised care to help you understand your options.