Fertility test for women
The most common female fertility testing is hormonal blood testing to determine your hormone levels are within range for your age. These tests can help determine your ovarian reserve. Ovarian reserve is an estimation of the amount of fertile time women may have left before age causes a decline. It is important to note that natural female fertility declines with age. The two most common female fertility tests for ovarian reserve are an ovarian ultrasound scan and/or Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) blood test or an Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) blood test on day 2-8 of your cycle.
AMH production declines during the menstrual cycle with the peak being during the first 1-8 days, so it is best to undertake this female fertility test during this time. AMH is known to decline with age and ovarian activity and is thus used to assess fertility outcomes. The normal reference range changes with age and is known to be elevated in women suffering PCOS.
Fertility check up
Current research into AMH has found a strong link between AMH concentrations and eggs collected for an IVF cycle. Younger women generally have a higher AMH and are more likely to respond with higher egg numbers, whilst older women have a lower AMH and are more likely to have failed cycles.
It is for this reason that studies have suggested that an AMH fertility test for women is the most reliable indicator of ovarian reserve. Cycle tracking is an option for those women who are looking to gain more information about their menstrual cycle and can assist in determining hormonal influences on fertility. Cycle tracking is provided through fertility clinics and measures your blood hormone levels at certain times throughout your menstrual cycle to determine if, and when, ovulation is likely. Cycle tracking can be useful for women with irregular periods as it allows your fertility specialist to determine if the hormones are within range or if you may need hormonal stimulation to help induce ovulation. If you need to start cycle tracking, book a fertility check up with Dr Steven Adair at his fertility clinic in Canberra.