The Benefits of an In-Clinic Women’s Fertility Check Vs. an At-Home Test

When life gets busy, at-home health checks – from assessing your dietary health to your fertility status – can seem quite appealing. At-home fertility checks typically require you to give a small blood sample for each of the recommended tests. You then send these back to a lab for analysis. These blood tests examine various hormones related to fertility, including FSH and AMH (to determine your egg reserve). While convenient, they may offer your false reassurance, or on the contrary, cause you unnecessary anxiety, especially if you don’t fully understand the context of the results.

In this article, we'll explore why an in-clinic fertility consultation can provide a more personalised and comprehensive understanding of your fertility health. We’ll also uncover the benefits of visiting our clinic for an initial assessment, which are available to couples and individuals who are seeking a deeper understanding of their fertility status.

Why Might You Want a Fertility Check?

Whether you're thinking about starting a family soon or you're contemplating your reproductive choices for the future, a fertility check can provide valuable insights into your reproductive health and help to create a personalised plan for starting a family. During an appointment with one of our fertility experts you’ll have the time to discuss your overall health, ask questions, interpret test results, and explore any further areas of your health that could increase your chances of having a child. You may also be thinking about options for egg freezing and a fertility consultant can help guide you and counsel you on options for this.

What are Fertility Hormone Tests?

While at-home tests will typically include standard hormone evaluations[SB1] , you might not be able to access more detailed information about your reproductive health. That’s because when you receive your results at home, it can be quite hard to interpret them fully yourself, especially in relation to your personal medical history of health. Also, different companies might use different testing methods, and some these might not be validated, meaning the results could be inaccurate.

As such, we would always recommend having your fertility hormone levels measured with a blood test in a clinic setting. Not only can you discuss any aspect of your reproductive health with us during your appointment, but you will also have the chance to ask any further questions relating to your test results in a follow up appointment, which can give you ultimate peace of mind when thinking about what to do next.

Here are the blood tests we’ll carry out during a fertility check:

• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Test (FSH): This test measures FSH levels in your blood to determine the number of eggs you have.
• Luteinizing Hormone Test: Conducted on day 2-5 of the menstrual cycle, this test measures luteinizing hormone levels to assess how your reproductive system is functioning.
• Estradiol Test (E2): This test measures estradiol levels (a vital hormone for fertility and ovulation) to evaluate if your ovaries are producing the right amount of oestrogen.
• Anti-Mullerian Hormone Test (AMH): AMH levels help assess your egg reserve and can help to determine whether you are likely to conceive naturally, or whether the help of IVF or IUI might give you a higher chance of getting pregnant.
• Day 21 Progesterone Test: Typically done on day 21 of your menstrual cycle, this test checks progesterone levels to confirm if you have ovulated.
• Thyroid Function Test: This test can see if your thyroid levels are within the range which is deemed ‘normal’. Identifying and treating either an overactive or underactive thyroid is important if you’re trying to get pregnant, as either can cause fertility issues, or problems in pregnancy.

Why Are Ultrasound Scans Vital For Assessing Fertility?

While you might think of an ultrasound scan as being more important in pregnancy, rather than a way of assessing fertility, they can be the most important step in helping you to understand your reproductive health. During a fertility ultrasound scan – which can be perfomed by a sonographer or consultant gynaecologist during a consultation – we will assess the uterus and ovaries, and look for any common problems such as fibroids, polyps, or cysts. In essence, an ultrasound scan will provide a clear view of your pelvic area, and the health and position of your reproductive organs, as well as giving an idea of ovarian reserve – a marker for fertility.

A pelvic ultrasound with the consultant can also pick up endometriosis or scar tissue which could affect fertility.

In some cases we may recommend a further, specialised ultrasound called a HyCoSy, which can give more detailed information on the fallopian tubes and their function.

Are Male Fertility Tests Important?

If your plans for having a baby involve a male partner, it is very important to consider getting their reproductive health assessed. At our clinic, we can carry out male fertility tests which focus on the quality and quantity of sperm, including:

• Number of sperm
• Shape of sperm
• Movement/motility of sperm

If the results highlight any potential concerns, we will be able to discuss what can be done to increase sperm count, quality and motility. We may also suggest further sperm testing that can identify DNA fragmentation, or we might explore possible treatment options such as IUI, IVF or in some cases sperm donation.

Fertility Tests for Same Sex Couples

For same-sex female couples, we advise that you both have the appropriate tests. This can help to bring clarity to your fertility health, and better inform your choices on starting a family.

When is the Right Time to Have a Fertility Check?

Knowledge is power, and we would advise you to have a fertility check if you’re thinking about starting a family either now, or in the future.

As we’ve explored above, in-clinic fertility consultations offer you a thorough assessment of your reproductive health. This comprehensive approach to understanding your fertility status means that you’ll have the expertise and guidance you need to help you make the choices that feel right for you. At-home tests, while convenient, may not offer you the same depth of exploration, expertise and reassurance.

Make an Appointment at Our Clinic

To find out more about consultant-led fertility checks at our London-based clinic, please call 020 7244 4200 or you can make an appointment online.