Essential blood tests every woman needs before pregnancy
Blood tests can offer great insight into your fertility and what may need to be addressed before conception. They can help to guide the treatment and supplement regime recommended. Working with a practitioner like myself you can ensure the quality of supplements but also the correct dosages required for your specific needs. Not all of these tests are required in every case but here are some tests I recommend:
Hormone tests:
• FSH, LH
• Estradiol (test on day 2/3 of cycle)
• Progesterone (7 days post ovulation)
• Prolactin
• DHEA
• SHBG
Thyroid Testing:
• TSH
• Free T3
• Free T4
• Thyroid antibodies
• Spot urinary iodine test
A complete thyroid panel rather than just TSH alone is crucial to understanding the full thyroid picture. Thyroid health is important for conceiving, maintaining pregnancy and post-natal health as well.
Nutritional status testing:
• Iron Studies
• Plasma zinc & serum copper
• Vitamin D
• B12 and folate
Other investigations:
• Full Blood Count
• Liver function tests
• CRP & ESR
• Insulin
• Infection screening – STIs, Strep B, Varicella, Rubella, CMV, Hepatitis
If you have a history of miscarriage or other fertility struggles it may be worth investigating:
• Methylation issues -MTHFR gene testing, homocysteine, red cell folate, holotranscobalamin, B6/active B6, karyotyping
• Pelvic ultrasound or further anatomical investigations for endometriosis or fibroids
• Vaginal microbiome testing to check for Strep, Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma, levels of beneficial bacteria or other overgrowths that could be impacting fertility
It is important that your tests are interpreted by a qualified practitioner to ensure that you are correctly identifying any hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies or other factors that may affect your fertility.
