Advanced Female Fertility Blood Test
    Advanced Female Fertility Blood Test
    Advanced Female Fertility Blood Test
    Advanced Female Fertility Blood Test

Advanced Female Fertility Blood Test

£159

Gain deeper insights into your reproductive health with our most comprehensive at-home fertility test, including a full hormone panel and an indication of your egg count.

  • Results estimated in 2 working days
  • Convenient testing options
  • Bespoke doctor’s report
  • Free delivery

How do you want to take your sample?

  • Collect your own finger-prick blood sample at home  
    Free

    We’ll send you everything you need to collect your blood sample from your finger at home.
  • Book a venous draw at a clinic   Venous
    +£35

  • Book a venous draw at home with a nurse Venous
    +£59

  • Self-arrange a professional sample collection Venous
    Free

Find your nearest clinic
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Is it for you?

Are you looking to start a family and want a more complete understanding of your reproductive health? Perhaps you’re having difficulty conceiving and want to start exploring any underlying causes.    

Featuring 12 key fertility biomarkers, our advanced fertility test can help you plan, prepare, and better understand your body. 

Biomarker table

Adrenal hormones

DHEA sulphate

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DHEAS is the sulphated form of DHEA, a hormone which is produced by the adrenal glands and is responsible for male characteristics in both men and women. DHEAS gradually declines from the age of 30 onwards.

Hormones

AMH

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FSH

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Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is produced in the pituitary gland and is important for women in the production of eggs by the ovaries and for men in the production of sperm. In the first half of the menstrual cycle in women, FSH stimulates the enlargement of follicles within the ovaries. Each of these follicles will help to increase oestradiol levels. One follicle will become dominant and will be released by the ovary (ovulation), after which follicle stimulating hormone levels drop during the second half of the menstrual cycle. In men, FSH acts on the seminiferous tubules of the testicles where they stimulate immature sperm cells to develop into mature sperm.

LH

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Luteinising Hormone (LH) is produced by the pituitary gland and is important for male and female fertility. In women it governs the menstrual cycle, peaking before ovulation. In men it stimulates the production of testosterone.

Oestradiol

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Oestradiol is the strongest of the three oestrogens. It's labelled a female hormone but it's made in both the ovaries and testes. It's responsible for the growth of breast tissue, the female reproductive system, and male sexual function.

In pre-menopausal women, oestradiol levels vary throughout the monthly cycle, peaking just before ovulation. Levels are lowest after menopause when the ovaries stop producing eggs. Low oestradiol levels in women can cause many symptoms associated with the menopause, including hot flushes, night sweats, and changes in mood. It can also increase the risk of osteoporosis (a condition where the bones become less dense).

In men, oestradiol levels tend to increase slightly with age as testosterone levels decline. Too much oestradiol in men can contribute to fertility problems, gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue), and erectile dysfunction.

Testosterone

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Testosterone is a hormone that causes male characteristics. For men, it helps to regulate sex drive and has a role in controlling bone mass, fat distribution, muscle mass, strength and the production of red blood cells and sperm. Testosterone is produced in the testicles of men and, in much smaller amounts, in the ovaries of women. Testosterone levels in men naturally decline after the age of 30, although lower than normal levels can occur at any age and can cause low libido, erectile dysfunction, difficulty in gaining and maintaining muscle mass and lack of energy. Although women have much lower amounts of testosterone than men, it is important for much the same reasons, playing a role in libido, the distribution of muscle and fat and the formation of red blood cells. All laboratories will slightly differ in the reference ranges they apply because they are based on the population they are testing. The normal range is set so that 95% of men will fall into it. For greater consistency, we use the guidance from the British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) which advises that low testosterone can be diagnosed when testosterone is consistently below the reference range, and that levels below 12 nmol/L could also be considered low, especially in men who also report symptoms of low testosterone or who have low levels of free testosterone.

Free androgen index

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The free androgen index (FAI) is a calculation used to determine the amount of testosterone which is free (unbound) in the bloodstream. Most testosterone is bound to proteins sex hormone binding globulin and albumin and is not available to interact with the body's cells. The FAI is a calculation based on the ratio of testosterone and SHBG and is a measure of the amount of testosterone that is available to act on the body's tissues. The free androgen index is used in women to assess the likelihood of polycystic ovarian syndrome. In men, free testosterone gives a better indication of testosterone status.

Prolactin

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Prolactin is a hormone which is produced in the pituitary gland and plays a role in reproductive health. Its primary purpose is to stimulate milk production after childbirth, and in pregnant and breastfeeding women prolactin levels can soar.

Proteins

SHBG

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SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) is a protein which transports the sex hormones (testosterone, oestrogen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)) in the blood.Hormones which are bound to SHBG are inactive which means that they are unavailable to your cells. Measuring the level of SHBG in your blood gives important information about your levels of free or unbound hormones which are biologically active and available for use.

Thyroid hormones

TSH

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Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is produced in the pituitary gland in order to regulate the production of thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) by the thyroid gland. If thyroid hormones in the blood are low, then more TSH is produced to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce more of them. If thyroid hormone levels are high, then the pituitary produces less TSH to slow the production of thyroid hormones. If TSH is too high or too low, it normally signifies that there is a problem with the thyroid gland which is causing it to under or over produce thyroid hormones. Sometimes a disorder of the pituitary gland can also cause abnormal TSH levels.

Free T3

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Triiodothyronine (T3) is the more active of the two thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland. Most T3 is bound to protein in the blood. Free T3 measures the level of T3 that is free, or unbound to protein, and is available to regulate metabolism.

Free thyroxine

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Thyroxine (T4) is one of two hormones produced by the thyroid gland. It works to speed up the rate of your metabolism. Most T4 is bound to carrier proteins in the blood - it is only the free, or unbound, T4 that is active in the body, which is measured in this test. Free T4 is the less active of the two main thyroid hormones. To have an impact on your cells it needs to convert to the more active T3 when your body needs it.
If you have periods

Tests with LH, FSH, or oestradiol

If you're taking your test to learn more about your fertility, take your test between days 2 and 5 of your menstrual cycle, or ideally day 3. Otherwise, for a general health check or if you're postmenopausal, you can take your test at any time.

In either case, it's important to log the date of your last period, and any other information regarding your periods or menopause status, in your MyMedichecks account right after taking your sample.

If you don't let us know the date of your last period, we'll interpret your result as though you took your test on day 3.

Special instructions

How to prepare for your test

Prepare for your Advanced Female Fertility Blood Test by following these instructions. Take your sample between 6am and 10am. Avoid vigorous exercise or sexual activity for 48 hours beforehand – both can raise your prolactin level. Avoid nipple stimulation or heavy meals before taking the test, as these can increase prolactin levels. Take this test two to five days after the start of your period, ideally on day three. It can be taken any time if you do not have periods. Avoid taking a finger-prick sample from a finger used to apply hormone gels/pessaries/patches in the past 4 weeks. Use gloves to apply these. Take your sample at least 24 hours after any vitamin or mineral supplements. Do not take biotin supplements for two days before this test, discuss this with your doctor if it is prescribed. Hormonal contraception can affect the results of this test. Taking a break from this and waiting for your periods to restart before your blood test will give more accurate results. If you take thyroxine, you can take your medication as usual, either before or after your blood test. However, if you take desiccated thyroid extract (DTE) or liothyronine, it's best to take it after you've collected your sample. Please let us know in your supporting information if you take amiodarone or lithium as these can affect your thyroid function results.

Blood testing made easy

How it works

Your personalised, actionable health results are only a few clicks away. Order your test, take and post your sample, then view your results online with our doctors' comments.

Your results, simplified

Track, improve, and monitor your health over time

MyMedichecks is your personal online dashboard where you can view your results, access clear and simple explanations about individual health markers, monitor changes in your health, and securely store information about your medical history, lifestyle, and vital statistics.

FAQs

Which test is best for female fertility?

There isn’t a single best test to assess fertility – each one provides unique insights into different aspects of your reproductive health.

For example, AMH and FSH can give insights into your remaining egg count, whereas LH and oestradiol can help assess your menstrual cycle and ovarian function.

Which day of my cycle should I take my test?

This test can be taken between days two and five of your menstrual cycle, but day three is ideal. . This is when levels of LH, FSH, and oestradiol are at their lowest and most stable.

If your periods are irregular, aim to test on day three of your next period. If this isn’t possible, or you don’t have periods, you can collect your sample on any day of the cycle. Just make sure you let us know in the supporting information so we can interpret your results as accurately as possible.

It’s best to take your test in the morning as some hormones fluctuate throughout the day.

How do I know if I’m fertile?

Positive signs of fertility include having regular menstrual cycles, healthy hormone levels, and monthly changes in cervical mucus, indicating ovulation. However, these aren’t requirements for fertility, nor can they prove you are fertile. The only way to be certain you are fertile is by becoming pregnant.

Blood tests and other investigations, like scans, can help identify issues that may affect your fertility, but in some cases, the cause of infertility isn’t found.

Can I check my fertility if I’m taking hormonal contraception?

Yes, you can still take a test while you’re taking hormonal contraception, but some biomarker results might be affected, i.e. LH, FSH, oestradiol, and AMH. For more accurate results, you may wish to switch to barrier methods of contraception (condoms) and wait for your periods to return to normal before testing.

If you’re unable to stop taking your hormonal contraception, please let our doctors know in the supporting information so they can account for this when interpreting your result.

The remaining biomarkers in this test aren’t significantly affected by hormonal contraception.

Can I take the test if I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

Yes, you can still take our fertility test if you have PCOS. However, your AMH result is likely to be falsely raised due to the higher number of follicles in the ovaries. This means your egg count may appear higher than it actually is.

What are the most important hormones for fertility?

Several hormones play an important role in fertility by regulating the menstrual cycle and ovulation. These include FSH, LH, oestradiol, testosterone, progesterone, prolactin, DHEA-S, and AMH. Healthy thyroid hormone levels are also important for cycle regularity and ovulation.

What should my hormone levels be for fertility?

The ideal hormone levels for fertility can vary and each laboratory provides a different reference range. The table below is given as a guide only.

Hormone

Ideal range for fertility

FSH (day 3)

1.4–12.4 IU/L

LH (day 3)

2.4–12.6 IU/L

Oestradiol (day 3)

114–332 pmol/L

Testosterone

0.29–1.67 nmol/L

AMH

Age-dependent

Prolactin

5–23 μg/L

TSH

0.27–4.2 mIU/L

(or ≤ 2.5 mIU/L if taking thyroxine)

DHEA-S

Age-dependent

Limitations of the test

Read before you order:

While this test provides valuable insights about your hormone health, it can’t diagnose specific conditions or directly assess whether you are fertile. Fertility is complex and depends on many factors, including sperm health, egg quality, and lifestyle factors. 

LH, FSH, and oestradiol levels will be interpreted assuming your sample was taken between days two and five of your menstrual cycle, unless you let us know otherwise. You can tell us which stage of your cycle you were in by adding your LMP (date of last menstrual period) into the supporting information in your MyMedichecks account. Here, you can also add extra information about your periods, including whether they are irregular or absent.

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