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Hormone and fertility
testing in London
Blood tests timed to your cycle where that matters, and a GP who will explain what the numbers can and cannot tell you.
Blood tests are one part of a fertility picture, not the whole of it
It is worth being straight about this at the outset. Hormone tests can tell you useful things: whether you are ovulating, whether your thyroid is interfering, whether there are signs of PCOS. What they cannot do is tell you whether you will conceive.
Timing matters more here than with almost any other blood test. Several hormones swing widely across the menstrual cycle, so a sample taken on the wrong day produces a number that means nothing. We will tell you which day to come in when you book.
If you are trying to conceive, testing both partners early is sensible rather than pessimistic. Roughly half of fertility problems involve a male factor, and it is a great deal easier to investigate than the alternative. Where fertility investigation beyond blood tests is needed, we will refer you rather than pretend to be a fertility clinic.
What happens
Getting the timing right
The £89 consultation covers the appointment. The female profile is £156, the male profile £191, and AMH £125, charged in addition.
Before the test
A conversation first is usually better.
After the result
Explained in context.
Who this is for
Reasons people come in
Trying to conceive
Particularly after several months without success, and especially worth doing early over the age of 35.
Irregular or absent periods
One of the clearest reasons to test, and often the first sign of something correctable.
Suspected PCOS
Common, under-diagnosed, and worth investigating properly rather than self-diagnosing online.
Ovarian reserve
AMH at £125, measuring how many eggs are left rather than their quality. Usually done before fertility treatment or egg freezing.
Male partner testing
The male profile covers FSH, LH, testosterone, free androgen index, prolactin and SHBG. Semen analysis is referred.
Symptoms that do not fit
Acne, excess hair growth, unexplained weight change. Hormonal causes are worth excluding.
An AMH result describes quantity, not quality, and it is a poor predictor of whether any individual will conceive naturally. It is useful information handled carefully and genuinely distressing handled badly, which is why we go through it in person rather than emailing it.
Questions
Things people ask us
Which day of my cycle should I come in?
It depends on which hormones are being tested. Several are measured in the first few days of the cycle, while a test to confirm ovulation is taken about a week before your period is due. We will tell you the right day when you book, and if your cycle is irregular we will work out the timing with you.
Can my partner be tested at the same time?
Yes, and it is usually the sensible approach. Around half of fertility problems involve a male factor. The male hormone profile is £191 and covers FSH, LH, testosterone, free androgen index, prolactin and SHBG. Where semen analysis is the right next test we arrange a referral for it.
Will this tell me if I can have children?
No, and anyone who tells you otherwise is overselling. AMH at £125 measures ovarian reserve, which describes how many eggs remain rather than their quality, and on its own it is a poor predictor of whether any individual will conceive naturally. What these tests do well is flag specific problems worth investigating and tell you whether something needs looking at sooner rather than later.
Do I need a referral for scans?
If imaging is needed, we arrange it. Blood tests and the consultation happen here, and scans are referred to the right service. For plenty of people the blood tests identify something straightforward, such as a thyroid problem, and no imaging is needed at all.
Start with a conversation, not a test
We will work out what is worth testing, and when to come in for it.