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Blood tests are typically the first approach to unravelling what could be the cause behind fertility struggles. Bloods are super important and they can offer us a really good insight into what is going on in your body and potentially uncover some key reasons as to why conception is proving more difficult than you thought it may be.
So, here I outline the blood tests that I encourage that you have but also what day of the cycle they should be carried out. Remember, day 1 of your cycle is the first day of your period.
As I mentioned in the video, interpretation of the results is as important as the result itself and if you notice that your results are at the lower end of the range or you would like your results reviewed by a functional fertility specialist then I recommend booking yourself in for a call with me and we can talk through all your testing and create a plan for optomisation.
Female Bloods:
Bloods to carry out at ANY TIME in the cycle:
- Lipid Profile: Total Cholestrol, LDH Cholestrol and HDL Cholestrol
- Vitamin D levels
- Zinc levels
- B12 & Folate
- Iron Panel: Iron, Transferrin saturation and Ferritin
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH): Note this is a marker of Egg QUANTITY and not QUALITY!
To be taken at ANY TIME in the cycle BUT in the MORNING, before you eat:
- Thyroid function testing: Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, Thyroid antibody testing (Thyroid peroxidase Antibody and Thyroglobulin Antibody)
- Prolactin
Day 2-3 of your cycle:
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Lutenizing Hormone (LH), Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Testosterone, Free Androgen Index (FAI) and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG).
Female Swabs:
-Vaginal swab-high vaginal swab to rule out your common sexually transmitted infections. This is done by your GP or they provide you with a test kit to take home.
Additional Testing that I will discuss tomorrow:
-Vaginal Microbiome Testing
-Sperm analysis: the importance of striving for optimal ranges rather than standard references.
-DNA fragmentation testing of sperm
All the best,
Dr Lizzie at Mi