Test Overview
A postcoital test checks a woman's
cervical mucus after sex to see whether sperm are
present and moving normally. This test may be used if a woman is not able to
become pregnant (infertility) and other tests have not
found a cause.
The test is done 1 to 2 days before
ovulation when the cervical mucus is thin and stretchy
and sperm can easily move through it into the
uterus. Within 2 to 8 hours after you have sex, your
doctor collects and looks at a cervical mucus sample.
Many doctors
question the value of the postcoital test to check for infertility. It is not
done very often.
Why It Is Done
The postcoital test may be done if you
are not able to become pregnant and:
- You are ovulating, your
fallopian tubes are not blocked, and your partner's
sperm are normal. A problem with your cervical mucus may be causing
infertility.
- Immune system problems, such as sperm
antibodies, may be a cause of
infertility.
- Your male partner does not want to be tested.
How To Prepare
The postcoital test must be done within
1 to 2 days of ovulation. Follow your doctor's instructions for checking your
basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and the level
of
luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. When you check
your LH level, do the urine test in the mid- to late morning, and do not drink
any fluids that morning until you have done the test. If your test shows that
you are ovulating, call for a doctor's visit for the next day.
Have sex about 2 to 8 hours before your visit. Do not use lubricants
during sex. Do not douche or take a bath after sex, but you may take a shower.
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the
need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will
mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the
medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).
How It Is Done
A postcoital test is done in your
doctor's office.
You will take off your clothes below the waist.
You will have a gown to drape around your waist. You will then lie on your back
on an examination table with your feet raised and supported by stirrups. This
is similar to having a pelvic examination or Pap test.
Your doctor
will insert a lubricated tool called a speculum into your vagina. The
speculum gently spreads apart the vaginal walls, allowing your doctor to see
the inside of the vagina and the cervix. See a picture of the
vaginal speculum examination.
How It Feels
You may feel some discomfort when the
speculum is put in.
Risks
A pelvic examination to collect a cervical mucus
sample does not cause problems.
Results
A postcoital test checks a woman's
cervical mucus after sex to see whether sperm are
present and moving normally. Results of the postcoital test may be shared with
you right after the test.
Postcoital test results1| Normal: | - Normal amounts of sperm are seen in the
sample.
- Sperm are moving forward through the cervical
mucus.
- Mucus stretches a normal amount.
- Mucus dries in a fernlike pattern.
|
|---|
| Abnormal: | - Mucus does not stretch.
- Mucus
does not dry in a fernlike pattern.
- No sperm or a large number of
dead sperm are seen in the sample.
- Sperm are clumped together and
not moving normally.
|
|---|
What Affects the Test
A postcoital test may not be
normal if you do not know the exact day of
ovulation. If the test is done at another time in your
cycle, the sperm cannot move through your cervical mucus.
What To Think About
- Clumped or dead sperm may mean that the
cervical mucus has problems that affect the sperm or that you or your partner
has developed
antibodies against the sperm (immunologic
infertility). For more information, see the topic
Antisperm Antibody Test.
- If a postcoital
test is abnormal, a sperm penetration test may be done. For more information,
see the topic
Sperm Penetration Tests.
- Many couples find
it hard to have sex "on demand," especially when an examination must be done
soon after having sex.
- For more information on infertility testing,
see the topic
Infertility Testing.
- This test is not done very often because experts feel the
results do not always correctly indicate infertility.
References
Citations
- Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
Other Works Consulted
- Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (2008). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 5th ed. St. Louis:
Saunders.
- Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Femi Olatunbosun, MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
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| Last Revised | October 22, 2012 |
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