The Plan Ahead fertility testing measuremes the ovarian hormones, Inhibin B and AMH, in combination with a FSH test, which measures pituitary hormones. By combining these three fertility tests, the manufacturers have created the most accurate female fertility test available in the world today.
The fertility testing provides you with a written report on your levels of Inhibin B, FSH and AMH and gives you an estimate of the number of eggs in your ovarian reserve. Your egg number is then plotted on a chart against the expected egg number for your age to provides you with the most detailed analysis of your fertility possible.
This information then allows you to make more informed decisions about whether to try for a baby sooner rather than later, or perhaps to wait until your the circumstances are more suitable.
FSH
FSH is a pituitary hormone that is excellent for estimating how close a woman is to menopause. However FSH concentrations can fluctuate from month to month and concentrations tend to only rise when menopause is close. This is why fertility testing is a good choice on your part.
Inhibin B
Inhibin B is a hormone produced by the growing egg follicles themselves. The levels of inhibin B measured in the early part of the menstrual cycle reflect the number of follicles that are starting to develop. This gives a more direct estimate of the ovarian reserve than FSH and importantly because the levels of Inhibin B fall relatively early as ovarian reserve decline, it is an significant marker of ovarian reserve for women in their 30’s.
AMH (Anti-Mullein Hormone)
AMH is another hormone released by small egg follicles as they begin to develop in the ovary. Recent research has shown that levels of AMH reflect the state of the ovarian reserve. Again levels of this hormone fall relatively early in the process of loss of ovarian reserve and provide a third, independent, estimate of the number of eggs in your ovaries.
The Fertility Test
The Plan Ahead Fertility Test requires a small sample of your blood to be taken intravenously on day two or three of your period. The sample is sent in a pre-addressed, pre paid envelope to our laboratory for analysis. The price of the test does not include the cost of obtaining a blood sample which can be carried out by your local GP. Once we have received your sample you will receive your result by post within 14-21 days.
Plan Ahead fertility testing estimates your ovarian reserve – the number of eggs you have left in your ovaries – and compares this to your age. It tells your ovarian reserve index which falls as you get older. This allows you to make more informed decisions about whether to try for a baby sooner rather than later, or perhaps to wait until your circumstances are more suitable.
The Test is accurate for up to two years ahead, so we recommend that a woman has a test every two years from the age of 30 onwards so she can continue to accurately measure her ovarian reserve.
Other Information You Should Know
- The test can only be taken if you have been off the pill for a t least a month
- Women with irregular periods (outside a cycle of 27-35 days) will be unable to take the test.
- Women using the Mirena coil, contraceptive implants and contraceptive injections will be unable to take the test.
A Guide To Female Fertility Testing
Why Does Age Affect a Woman's Fertility?
There are many factors affecting a woman’s fertility including illness or disease, drug treatments, accidents, smoking and pollution. All can make it more difficult to conceive or carry children but a woman's fertility also reduces naturally with age: not only does the number of her eggs decline, but so does their quality, making it less likely that any remaining eggs will become fertilised.
Declining Egg Numbers
Most women are born with about 2 million eggs in their ovaries. By the time they reach puberty, almost 90% of these eggs have died and by the time she reaches twenty, only about 50,000 of the original 2 million remain. This decline increase steadily until the age of 35, at high point the rate of loss speeds up dramatically. This means that there are increasingly fewer eggs available for fertilization as the average woman ages beyond 35.
Declining Egg Quality
During a woman’s normal cycle, the body selects the best eggs to ripen for fertilization. So each month at least one healthy egg is passed during menstruation (the monthly period). So gradually, unless a woman conceives, the best eggs are discarded by the body. Those that remain have grown older and are possibly lower quality, making them less likely to become fertilized and develop into a healthy baby. Again another reason for our accurate fertility testing kits.
Although an older egg can sometimes become fertilized, there is greater risk of miscarriage or birth abnormalities due to chromosomal defects. It may be that the reduced fertility seen with aging is therefore part of the body’s natural safety mechanism.
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CUSTOMER NOTICE
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