Fertility Blood Tests

If you are pursuing a fertility test, you may have heard of a fertility blood test or pre-fertility blood test. This article aims to tell you what these tests are and why they are performed, and thereby hopefully put your mind at ease as the sounds of ‘blood tests’ can sound a bit daunting.

What is a pre-fertility blood test?

Some fertility centres, be they private or NHS facilities, may need some tests done prior to a fertility test. What tests are needed will vary from centre to centre, and the facility testing you will provide you with a list of what they need you to test for.

Pre-fertility blood tests can screen for anything from infections like Toxoplasmosis and Rubella to levels of important compounds (like proteins and sugars) which, when abnormal, can indicate an underlying health problem that may be affecting your fertility. Some of these tests will be available from your GP, while for others you may need either a referral or a private service offering these tests.

What is a fertility blood test?

There are a number of different approaches towards fertility testing that your doctor can take. His or her choice of what route to go for will largely depend on your symptoms, age, and medical history. Two of the most common routes for fertility testing are ultrasound scanning and blood testing. These can be done independently or as complementary tests to give your doctor a complete picture of what exactly is going on in your body. These tests are applicable to both men and women, although naturally what the doctor is looking for is different.

These blood tests will often be looking for varying levels of different hormones which are involved in fertility. For example, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone, and luteinising hormone (LH) are all responsible for the part of the female menstrual cycle where eggs are released and women are at their most fertile (ovulation). This is of course for women, but a blood test can provide an insight into male fertility issues as well. More often than not however, after an ultrasound exam the next step for men is an analysis of their sperm.

Where can I get a fertility blood test?

Fertility testing is performed at specialist fertility units in either private or NHS hospitals. Fertility treatment and testing is an important part of modern medicine, and many trusts now have a specialist department which provides a full complement of the various fertility services you might need. Similarly many private healthcare providers can now offer such services, with the benefit of shorter waiting times.

Further Female Fertility Testing

The first port of call when it comes to fertility, the first round of tests usually involve blood tests and ultrasound scans. These are simple non-invasive techniques which can give your doctor an idea of what’s going on in your body. However in some cases more investigations are needed to establish the cause of any fertility issues. These are more specific tests, each geared towards either man or woman. This article lists some examples of these tests, how they work, and why they would be used.

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