Fertility MOT: Assessing Reproductive Health

Hormonal tests measure key fertility hormones in both men and women. For women, these tests check hormones like FSH, LH, estradiol, and AMH, which indicate ovarian reserve and menstrual cycle health. For men, testosterone levels are evaluated, which are crucial for sperm production. Abnormal hormone levels may signal fertility issues.

The Antral Follicle Count (AFC) is determined through a vaginal ultrasound where we count all small follicles between 5 and 10 mm diameter. A higher count suggests better fertility potential, while a lower count may prompt her to act soon before it deteriorates further.
There is no medicine proven to improve a low AFC

The Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test measures ovarian reserve by indicating the quantity of eggs in her ovaries. Higher AMH levels suggest a good number of eggs, while lower levels indicate a decline in fertility. It’s especially useful for women planning to conceive later in life or considering fertility preservation. Women with PCOS will have high scores, but that does not translate into a good fertility reserve for various reasons.
There is no medicine proven to improve a low AMH score

The chance of this test coming abnormal in a man is 3-10%, so not that uncommon. It’s far more if he’s tried to have a baby with a female partner for over a year.
This test evaluates male fertility by analyzing sperm count, movement (motility), and shape (morphology). It helps identify potential problems such as low sperm count or poor sperm quality, which could impact the ability to conceive.

A transvaginal ultrasound is performed on women to examine the ovaries, uterus, and count the antral follicles, which are indicative of ovarian reserve. It also checks for abnormalities like fibroids or polyps.
For men, a scrotal ultrasound can assess the testes and detect issues that could affect fertility, but that will be done only if the semen analysis is suboptimal.

HSG is an X-ray test used to check if the fallopian tubes are open and the uterine cavity is normal. A contrast dye is injected into the uterus, and X-rays track its flow through the fallopian tubes. This helps detect blockages that could prevent pregnancy.
This test is generally not done as often as in the past for various reasons including exposure to radiation (it’s not a lot but worth avoiding) and replaced by HyCoSy test which uses sonography to check the passage of a sono-opaque dye.

Ovulation tests confirm if you’re ovulating regularly, which is essential for natural conception. These tests can include blood tests for progesterone (done on Day 21 of the cycle) or home ovulation kits that detect the LH surge before ovulation.

Genetic testing may be recommended to check for hereditary conditions that could affect fertility. This is important for individuals with a family history of genetic disorders or recurrent pregnancy loss.
So effectively it’s not so much about having an MOT as a proper fertility related investigation.