Plan Ahead Fertility Test - NEW
The Plan Ahead fertility test uses new measurements of the ovarian hormones, inhibin B and AMH, in combination with the FSH test. By combining these three tests, Plan Ahead can help predict whether your ovarian reserve is OK or not.
Analysis of these hormones provides an estimate of the number of eggs in the ovaries (your ovarian reserve) and enables us to plot your actual egg number against the expected egg number for your age. We test for FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) a pituitary hormone that is excellent for estimating whether a womans fertility has actually started to decline and how close a woman is to menopause. However, FSH concentrations tend to only rise when your fertility has started to decline. - we recommend Plan Ahead for women who have used the BioCheck fertility test kit and come up with OK test results - in which case the Plan Ahead test will give useful extra fertility information... However, if you have used the BioCheck test and it has shown reduced fertility there is no need to use the Plan Ahead test - if in doubt please contact us.
The FSH test alone cannot give an accurate estimate of the number of eggs in the ovaries. Inhibin B Inhibin B is a hormone produced by the growing egg follicles themselves. The levels of inhibin B measured in the early part of the menstrual cycle reflect the number of follicles that are starting to develop. This gives a more direct estimate of ovarian reserve than FSH and importantly, because the levels of inhibin B fall relatively early as ovarian reserve declines, it is an important marker of ovarian reserve for women in their 30's. AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) AMH is another hormone released by small egg follicles as they begin to develop in the ovary.
The Plan Ahead Test requires a small sample of your blood to be taken intravenously on day 2 or 3 of your period. The sample is sent in a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope to a laboratory for analysis. The price does not include the cost of obtaining a blood sample, which you can obtain from your local GP's surgery (which may or may not charge) or from a private clinic.
The test result will normally arrive by post within 14 to 21 days of receiving your sample.
Stop taking the contraceptive pill for at least one month
Book an appointment to have your blood sample taken on the second or third day of your period
Register your details and fill in your online questionnaire
On day two or three of your period have your blood sample taken Send the sample to our laboratory in the pre-paid padded envelope and you will receive your results 14-21 days.
You have a number of options for getting your blood sample taken which include:
Click Here to Buy the Kit - It costs £179 inc sales tax