Trying To Get Pregnant? New Fertility Test Detects Eggs available For Conception

August 5, 9:13 PMSeattle Parenting ExaminerKristy Stevens-Young

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                 Is Your Biological Clock Ticking?  

 A new high-tech fertility test, Plan Ahead (manufactured by the Repromedix Corp.) is the first test of its kind which is said to measure a woman's ovarian reserve - in other words, how many existing "good eggs" a woman has left for conception.

According to the Repromedix Corp. the Plan Ahead fertility test "provides an assessment of a woman's egg supply by combining multiple factors including the measurement of ovary related hormones AMH, Inhibin B, and FSH with innovative and proprietary technology."

Simply put, the woman takes a blood test which is used for three tests, including estrogen levels. The results are then combined with other factors such as her age. The combined answer shows where the number of the woman's "good eggs" falls compared to the normal expected range for her age. These results can then be use by the woman as a sort of high-tech biological clock reader.

A First Step:
The Plan Ahead fertility test could be a valuable tool for women who have already had trouble conceiving. Many women have fertility problems and consider other alternatives. This test would be one way to evaluate if they would be a suitable candidate for in vitro fertilization.

Peace of Mind:
Many women are putting off having children until later. I myself had my last child at 35 and have friends that have them at 40. By taking the Plan Ahead fertility test a woman (or couple) may be able to relax a bit about an immediate need to conceive.

The Cost:
Taking a $350 blood test for piece of mind isn't such a bad deal. It can also be used to help a woman make her mind or to get moving on to other alternatives such as freezing her eggs or start other therapies. It should be noted that a woman would need to take the test annually so the cost will add up fast.

Quantity vs. Quality:
While the Plan Ahead fertility test will give a woman a glimpse at her egg number it does not give her information on the quality of those eggs. The test cannot rate the deterioration speed of a woman's viable eggs.

Other Fertility Reasons:
There are many factors that go into fertility problems and having a high number of eggs alone, does not mean a woman will be able to easily conceive. While it can be a starting point, it is by no means an answer.

The thing to remember is that the Plan Ahead fertility test cannot predict if a woman is capable of getting pregnant. The test cannot tell a woman if she is fertile. It can only tell a woman the range in which her "good eggs" fall. It can be an aid for women worrying about their biological clock as well as those considering in vitro fertilization. Knowing what the test can and cannot do will help every woman decide if the test is for them.