How fertile are you?

How fertile are you?

With the average age of Irish women having their first child now firmly over 30 years old, couples across the country are having difficulties trying to conceive. One of the problems is that from a young age, we are repeatedly told about conception and why we need to protect ourselves against sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. The problem is nobody is talking about CONCEPTION.

For those who wish to be informed of their current fertility status without necessarily wanting to get pregnant, Higgins Pharmacy offer a service called “Lets get checked-Ovarian Reserve”.  This is a simple finger prick blood test that provides a convenient and confidential, personal health testing solution.

What is Ovarian Reserve?

Ovarian Reserve is the term used to describe how well a woman’s ovaries are still working with regard to egg production and egg quality. A woman’s ovarian reserve decreases with age and can drop by 50% between your 20s and 30s.

The role of Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH)

AMH is a hormone secreted by granulosa cells in ovarian follicles in a woman’s body. The level of AMH in a woman’s blood is generally a good indicator of her ovarian reserve.

The ovarian reserve test measures the levels of AMH in a woman’s blood thereby providing a good indicator of fertility. If a woman’s AMH levels are below what is normal, then she is considered to have a “low AMH”, indicating that her pregnancy chances with or without IVF would be lower than what is expected.

Who should get tested?

Any woman planning for the future, trying to conceive, considering IVF or just curious. AMH test can be carried out on any day of the cycle. Levels do not fluctuate from one cycle to another, making AMH a more reliable measure of ovarian reserve.

Please call Ann on 071 9142276 or email ann@higginspharmacy.ie for more information.