The post-coital test (PCT) is one of the least painful diagnostic tests but can also be uncomfortable from an emotional standpoint. Fertilitycommunity.com describes the PCT as follows:

An examination which may reveal existing problems between the interaction of sperm with cervical mucus . . . Cervical mucus is collected via pelvic exam a few hours after sexual intercourse has occurred around the time of ovulation. Cervical mucus is then observed via microscope to assess the condition of any sperm present. - Post-Coital Test (PCT)

Your doctor will tell you to schedule an appointment during your fertile time of the month. My doctor just told me to come in on Day 14 of my cycle, but the better practice is to take an ovulation predictor kit first to make sure you are ovulating. If you have a longer cycle, as I did, then Day 14 might not be the right time to take this test.

You will have intercourse at home and then come into the office to have a sample taken of your cervical fluids. My doctor told me to have intercourse that morning and come right into the office without "cleaning up" afterward. This is why I say this test can be "emotionally uncomfortable." I was very self-conscious about sitting in a waiting room for this test to be performed. However, according to Fertilititycommunity.com, sexual intercourse should occur between 8 and 12 hours before the test is performed, which would have been much easier for me emotionally. Be sure to ask your doctor about the timing.

When you go in for the test, the doctor will insert a tube into your cervix and take a sample of your cervical fluids, which ideally will be filled with swimming sperm. The doctor will also examine the appearance of your cervix and look for any abnormalities. Here are some of the results that can be found through a PCT:

• Bacterial infection
• Antibodies in mucus that reject sperm
• Mucus that is too thick for sperm passage
• Too little mucus for sperm passage
• Abnormal semen resulting from male sperm antibodies
• Ejaculation disorders
• Poor coital technique, resulting in improper of sperm placement

- Post-Coital Test (PCT)

The results should be in pretty quickly, so at least you will not have to wait long. I knew my results before I left the doctor's office. In my case, the doctor noted that my cervix was tipped and closed, and he found no sperm at all in my cervical fluid, which was obviously a problem. He recommended that I try intrauterine insemination (IUI) based upon the results of this test.

Related Topics:

• Post-coital Test (PCT) (blog)
• Post-Coital Test (PCT) (article)