Egg freezing has become an empowering option for many, offering flexibility in family planning. But before starting the process, you’ll need to complete a few tests to make sure that you have a good idea of what your outcome will be, what the plan is for your specific treatment, and will help your doctor counsel you on future family-planning.
Fertility nurse practitionr Brandis Montez’ recent Dandi TV series included this overview of what tests are done before egg freezing and some valuable, optional screenings to consider as well. Here’s a breakdown of what she had to say:
1. Hormone Blood Tests: What’s Included?
The first step involves a simple blood test. Some clinics prefer testing on the third day of your menstrual cycle, but this isn’t always required; you can often do this test at any point in your cycle.
Key hormones checked before egg freezing include:
- AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone): This hormone reflects your “ovarian reserve”—an estimate of how many eggs remain in your ovaries.
- Estrogen (E2), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and Luteinizing Hormone (LH): These hormones play vital roles in your reproductive system and help assess overall ovarian health and function.
- Progesterone: This hormone is responsible for thickening your uterine lining in the second phase of your menstrual cycle to prepare your body for possible pregnancy; baseline levels give your provider a clearer picture of your reproductive health.
- Thyroid Function and General Health Markers: Besides hormones, your thyroid levels are checked and typically you're tested for infectious diseases as well. These tests provide an overall health snapshot.
2. Antral Follicle Count via Ultrasound
An ultrasound called an antral follicle count may also be recommended. It is typically done transvaginally and allows your physician to get an image of your ovaries. This imaging scan allows your fertility team to see the ovaries and count follicles, where eggs develop and mature. This test helps confirm your egg reserve and provides a more detailed view of your fertility health.
They can even count the number of small follies, known as antral follicles, on each of your ovaries to estimate how many eggs you might expect to get from an egg freezing cycle.
3. Expanded Genetic Carrier Screening: An Optional Insight
Another optional but insightful test is expanded genetic carrier screening. This blood test screens for around 500 genetic conditions, helping identify if you carry any genes that could impact any future children you may have.
Why consider it? Knowing your carrier status now allows you to make informed choices in the future. For example, if a future partner or sperm donor carries the same genetic condition as you, there’s a chance the child could inherit and be affected by it.
Armed with this information, you and your reproductive endocrinologist can consider additional genetic testing when it’s time to create embryos, so that you can identify whether any of your embryos are affected by the genetic condition prior to transferring them to try to get pregnant. Then you can select an embryo to transfer that is unaffected by this genetic condition.
These pre-treatment steps make sure you’re set for a successful egg-freezing journey and empower you with essential information to make informed family planning decisions. Whether you choose every test or just the basics, understanding your options can give you peace of mind as you move forward with your egg freezing plan!
