Antega South Africa · Learning Videos
Dr Tasneem Mohamed, obstetrician and gynaecologist at BioART Fertility Centre, sets out how infertility is investigated and what the first round of tests looks for.
A fertility investigation is a sequence, not a single test. It usually starts with a history from both partners where applicable, then looks at three questions: is an egg being released, is sperm reaching it in adequate number and quality, and is the path between them open. In practice that means hormone and ovarian reserve blood tests, confirming ovulation, a semen analysis, and an imaging test of the tubes and uterus. Antega's point in surfacing this talk is that both partners should normally be assessed together from the start — a male factor contributes in a large share of couples and is missed when only the female partner is tested. Test names, sequence and timing vary between South African clinics and between the public and private sectors, so treat the specific tests mentioned as an example of a workup rather than a fixed list, and check what your own clinic proposes and why.
Recorded at Fertility Show Africa in 2023. Which tests are done first, and in what order, differs between clinics and between the public and private sectors in South Africa. Our guides set out each test in turn.
Use these guides for general background, and check the South Africa organisations named on this page for local detail.
Genetic counsellor Kelly Loggenberg explains what preimplantation genetic testing is, the different types and who might be offered it.
Professor Zozo Nene, reproductive medicine specialist at Steve Biko Academic Hospital and the University of Pretoria, explains how endometriosis and PCOS each affect fertility.
Dr Victor Hulme explains low and premature ovarian reserve — what the tests measure, what they do not tell you, and what the options are.
This video was produced by Fertility Show Africa Expert Talks (programme curated with IFAASA and SASREG) and is shared for education only. It is not medical advice and does not replace guidance from your own doctor or fertility clinic. Naming an organisation does not imply a partnership with Antega.
