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Your Fertility Journey

Your Fertility Journey

Helping you through yours

Blood Tests for Fertility

11th May 2022 · In: Blog, Fertility Coach, Fertility Facts

If you’re trying to get pregnant and nothing is happening your thoughts may be turning to why and what you can do next. I always advise that the earlier you can take action, the better. Taking action can mean making positive lifestyle changes, feeling empowered with your body and taking the right supplements for you. However, I also recommend running some simple tests to check on your hormonal and fertility health. One of my most asked questions is ‘Which fertility blood tests should I have done to check if everything is ok?”

Well, the simple answer is – there is no simple answer! It really all depends on your general health, whether you have any conditions such as PCOS and how long you have been trying to conceive. However, below is a list of the general tests we may recommend if you have a consultation with us.

blood tests for fertility

Baseline Blood Tests for Fertility

These are the first set of blood tests you should ask for. If you have recently started trying to conceive then this is a good place to start. Or if you have been trying for a while, it’s useful to get these updated.

Oestradiol, FSH and LH

These are your female sex hormones that are crucial for reproduction. Getting these checked gives you a useful baseline to ensure that your hormones are balanced correctly.

Progesterone

This hormone is vital to support an implanting pregnancy. This test should be taken on day 21 of a 28-day cycle, or 7 days post ovulation in a cycle less or more than 28 days. Doing the test on any other day will not give you a reliable result.

Thyroid

Having an underactive thyroid is a common reason for infertility and in particular pregnancy loss. As is hyperthyroidism, which can lead to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Get your TSH, T3 and T4 levels checked.

Prolactin

High levels of prolactin inhibit your production of FSH and therefore may suppress ovulation. Levels of prolactin are naturally high in women who are breastfeeding as this is the breastfeeding hormone. A high level of prolactin can be caused by a benign (non-cancerous) tumour that grows on your pituitary gland. Your GP will arrange further investigations if they are concerned about your prolactin levels.

Vitamin D

The NHS recommend that all adults in the UK take a daily vitamin D supplement. Just because we don’t get enough sun which is the best way to absorb and improve our vitamin D levels. This is especially important for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals. Checking your vitamin D levels when trying to conceive is a useful marker to see if you require supplementation and in particular, a higher prescribed Vitamin D dose from your GP.

Testosterone

Testosterone is the male sex hormone but women naturally have low levels of testosterone in their bloodstream. If you are concerned that you have PCOS then this would be a good test for you as people with PCOS often have high levels of testosterone and this can assist in diagnosing PCOS.

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)

Used in conjunction with testosterone testing to discover the cause of infertility and to confirm PCOS.

Rubella

Check that you are immune to rubella. Rubella (German Measles), if contracted in the first 3 months of pregnancy, can harm your unborn baby.

Folate

The UK Department of Health currently recommends that women trying to conceive should supplement 400mcg of folic acid daily as well as have a folate-rich diet.

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)

The test gives an assessment of the remaining egg supply or ovarian reserve and is a useful marker for women over the age of 35. The test is most accurate if done in conjunction with an Antral Follicle Scan.


If you would like to find out more about your fertility health, why not book a Planning for Pregnancy Blood Test and Fertility Consultation or if you’re curious about your ovarian reserve, the Ovarian Reserve (Fertility MOT) Blood Test and Fertility Consultation with us.

By: Kate · In: Blog, Fertility Coach, Fertility Facts · Tagged: blood tests, Fertility, fertility blood tests, struggling to conceive, trying to get pregnant

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Amy King
13:43 16 May 22
Kate is like a wonderfully kind Aunt and a fountain of all knowledge. She is the perfect balance of information and warmth that is needed to help you muddle through. I would highly recommend booking in with Kate at whatever point of your fertility journey you are in. Thank you Kate for your time!
Rachael Wilding
11:41 05 May 22
I had 5 sessions of coaching with Kate Davies prior to, during and in the 2 week wait following my 3rd round of IVF.I’d had a tough time over my 2nd cycle and was losing the hope following a loss earlier in the year and a bunch of very negative test results. I really needed something to help me to get back on track. Sessions with Kate were the perfect tonic. Over Christmas I took a break from treatment and gained techniques from Kate to help build up resilience and self care basket ready for starting a 3rd cycle in February.I started treatment in early February and it went very smoothly. We had a fresh day 5 embryo transfer on 19th February. This was also the due date for the baby we lost last year and the feelings surrounding this date were big and mixed but Kate helped me through it.We had several sessions during the 2 week wait and learnt techniques to try and keep as rational and calm as possible and this was so so so beneficial. On our final session I was able to share the lovely news that it had been successful and we talked about the emotions that came with pregnancy after loss.Being a nurse myself I really appreciated her clinical advice on top of her support and practical techniques she gave to help me through this cycle. The support from my clinic was amazing but they were busy. To be able to sit with a knowledgeable, kind and compassionate healthcare professional for an hour at a time during treatment really helped to keep my stress levels low and to be in the best shape for getting through one of the most challenging few weeks I have ever been through with hope and sanity still intact. My favourite bit of advice was to make a plan for test day to have the time with my husband to talk and reflect on the outcome. We went out for a meal together and just talked and took in the news.I’m now 2nd trimester pregnant with a healthy little baby boy on the way and I still have to pinch myself at times to believe that it worked. It was a dark period of hopelessness following my 2nd cycle and honestly feel that with each session everything got lighter and lighter. I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to and have a baby and having the extra support certainly helped me to throw everything at it too.
Loretta Collins
19:58 26 Apr 22
Kate was fantastic, supportive, understanding and extremely knowledgeable . After suffering from amenorrhea for 16 months I didn't know what to do and have been feeling quite lost. Kate has been able to assist me in trying to find answers and maximise my fertility.
Warren Delay
09:18 10 Apr 22
I’ve been working with Kate for a good six months now. First she’s helped me understand my options and some of the tests i need to work through - as I have secondary infertility I’m not going to get much help off the nhs so having Kate there for solid guidance has been great. More recently Kate has helped me with some fertility coaching following a miscarriage which has really helped me to put coping mechanisms in place and feel more hopeful! Thanks Kate!Katie delay (not warren)
L Porter
08:11 02 Feb 22
Kate is very approchable, answered all of our questions. Excellent advice for us both. Instagram page & podcasts also very infromative.

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This is fantastic news! The first step in the righ This is fantastic news! The first step in the right direction in supporting women (and men) with reproductive health in the workplace.
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The Government is set to amend the Employment Rights Bill to give parents the legal right to take time off work to grieve their loss, no matter what stage of pregnancy. 

No one who is dealing with the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should be forced to return to work until they are ready. At last, pregnancy loss is being recognised as a significant bereavement.
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The extended right to leave will be for ‘at least’ one week, however the exact length is still being consulted on. Let’s hope it’s for longer if needed…….
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