10 Key lab tests for fertility
1. Progesterone – Measuring progesterone will tell us two things –First off, it will tell us if you have ovulated, and second, if you are making enough progesterone to keep the pregnancy going. We measure progesterone 1 week before the first day of your period starts.
2. FSH – FSH is the hormone released by the brain to tell the ovaries to make follicles that will grow into eggs. Measuring FSH will help us see how your ovaries are responding to the brain’s commands. If FSH is too high, then it tells us that the ovaries are not responding well, and that you may have low ovarian reserve. We typically measure FSH on day 3 of the cycle.
3. LH – LH is another hormone released by the brain in order to communicate with the ovaries. It helps us get a full hormonal picture.
4. Estradiol – We estradiol and FSH together to see how your ovaries are responding to stimulus, and if a good level of estrogen is still being made by the ovary.
5. TSH – TSH measures your thyroid function. If the thyroid is not functioning well, it can increase the risk of miscarriage, so it’s important that we test and correct it if needed.
6. AMH – AMH shows us what your ovarian reserve looks like and can predict how well the ovaries will respond to fertility treatments.
7. Vitamin D – Low vitamin D levels are associated with miscarriage. It’s important to check vitamin D levels and make sure it is optimal.
8. Insulin + glucose fasting – Having too much insulin in your bloodstream can be toxic for the baby. If your overweight, you have PCOS, or have had a previous miscarriage, it’s important for us to check to see if you’re insulin resistant.
9. Homocysteine - Homocysteine is an amino acid that when not recycled in the body properly, can elevate and disrupt the development of the placenta. The higher the homocysteine, the more risk for miscarriage.
10. Cortisol – Cortisol is the hormone we release when under stress. If cortisol is too high, it can disrupt our menstrual cycle and increase the risk for miscarriage.
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