Buy a fertility test and check your ovarian reserve

Around family planning, or simply out of curiosity, it helps to have something tangible in hand. This fertility test combines four hormones that together can give an impression of your ovarian reserve, that is, your egg supply, and of your hormonal balance.

AMH is produced by the small growing follicles in your ovaries and can say something about the number of eggs you have left. FSH, LH and estradiol together paint a picture of how your cycle is being steered. On their own they say little, but combined they form pieces of the puzzle you can build on.

This test can be useful if you are thinking about your fertility, now or later. Think of women who are hoping to conceive, women exploring their options, or simply those curious about their ovarian reserve.

It can also be reassuring to have some values in hand before you consider a pathway at a fertility clinic. If you want to have your fertility tested, that can be done without a referral from your GP.

This fertility test for women measures four hormones in your blood:

• AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone): produced by the small growing follicles in your ovaries and seen as an indication of your ovarian reserve.
• FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): stimulates the growth of follicles and is often assessed early in your cycle.
• LH (Luteinizing Hormone): plays a role in ovulation and is usually looked at together with FSH.
• Estradiol (E2): the main form of estrogen, which moves along with your cycle.

Together these values give an impression, not a definitive verdict. They say the most in combination with your age and your wider situation.

The results can give you an impression of your egg supply and of how your hormones relate to one another. A higher AMH value may point to a larger reserve, while a lower value can fit with a reduced ovarian reserve.

Good to know: these hormones say something about the quantity of eggs, not about their quality. On their own, they also cannot predict a natural pregnancy. It remains a snapshot that means the most alongside your wider story.

This test requires a small blood draw at a certified sample point. In the Netherlands you can choose from more than 750 locations, so there is a good chance one is near you.

After ordering, you pick a location yourself and schedule a moment that suits you. The draw itself usually takes only a few minutes, and you do not need a referral from your GP.

Testing your fertility can feel valuable at different moments, for example:

• when you are planning to try for a baby, or want to know where you stand
• when you are curious about your ovarian reserve
• when you are exploring your options, for instance around freezing eggs
• when you have irregular cycles and are looking for more insight

FSH, LH and estradiol are often assessed early in your cycle, while AMH stays relatively stable and can be measured on any day.

Your result shows your value for each hormone, together with a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as usual varies by laboratory and depends, among other things, on your age and the day of your cycle.

A value above or below the range can mean different things. A lower AMH value sometimes fits with a reduced egg supply, while unusual FSH or LH values can say something about your cycle. The doctor helps you place the values in the right context.

For the hormones FSH, LH and estradiol it is usually convenient to have blood drawn early in your cycle, often around day 3. AMH is more stable and can be measured on any day. Fasting is not needed.

If you have an irregular cycle or no menstruation, you can in principle have blood drawn at any moment; the doctor takes that into account when assessing the values.

Your result is usually available online within a few working days. Each value is shown clearly with a reference range and an explanation, so you understand what you see.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.