Tag: hormone levels

We’re all sold the ideal of flawless skin and perfect hair, but sometimes the cause of persistent breakouts or unexplained thinning is more than skin deep. Your complexion and scalp are often the first, most visible external indicators of your internal hormone balance. When hormones that regulate your sebaceous glands and hair follicles shift out of their optimal range, the results – from cystic acne to a widening hair parting – can be frustratingly visible. Quick Facts: 💡 Find out what your hormones are telling you Don’t guess what’s causing your skin and hair changes. Take our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test to uncover the root causes and get a personalised care plan. What are Hormonal Skin and Hair Changes? These symptoms are related to the pilosebaceous unit – the complex structure comprising the hair follicle and the sebaceous (oil) gland. The Hormonal Culprits Behind Your Skin and Hair Your sebaceous glands and hair follicles have receptors for several key hormones. Imbalances in these messengers directly influence how much oil is produced and how the hair growth cycle progresses. 1. Androgens: The Oil and Hair Drivers Androgens, such as testosterone and DHEAS, are the most significant modulators of your skin and hair health. A key marker for assessing true androgen activity is sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG is a protein that binds to and deactivates sex hormones. If your SHBG levels are low, more testosterone is left “free” and biologically active in your system, intensifying its impact on your skin and hair, even if your total testosterone level is within range. 2. Thyroid Hormones: The Metabolic Regulators The thyroid gland acts as the body’s metabolic regulator, and its hormones (thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine) are essential for the natural cycle of the hair follicle (Schmidt et al., 1991). Hair and skin changes can be some of the first signs of underlying thyroid dysfunction and require testing to confirm if the condition is metabolic or hormonal in origin. 3. Oestradiol, LH, FSH, and Prolactin: The Modulators These hormones work together to modulate androgen activity and support tissue health: When to Get Tested If you are treating your skin and hair symptoms with topical creams or cosmetics and seeing minimal, temporary, or no improvement, it’s a strong indication that the issue is systemic and hormonal.  Consider testing your hormones if your symptoms include: What Your Personalised Results Can Tell You Hertility’s panel of personalised hormones provides the essential diagnostic data needed to find the root cause. This panel is tailored to your symptoms and what you are looking to achieve from your test. 💡 Find out what your hormones are telling you Don’t guess what’s causing your skin and hair changes. Take our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test to uncover the root causes and get a personalised care plan. References

Endometriosis is a chronic reproductive health condition that affects an estimated 1 in 10 women in the UK. It’s characterised by painful, heavy periods and a host of other debilitating symptoms that severely impact quality of life. Despite its high prevalence, many people live with endometriosis and diagnosis times are on average over 8 years. This delay is frequently due to a lack of awareness and the dismissal of women’s pain. Understanding the true nature of this condition is the first crucial step towards getting the expert care you deserve. This article outlines everything you need to know about Endometriosis. We’ll also explain how our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test can uncover the root causes of your symptoms and step towards a quicker diagnosis.  What is Endometriosis? Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to those lining the uterus (endometrium) grow in other parts of the body, outside of the uterus (Endometriosis UK, 2024). These endometrial-like lesions are most commonly found in the ovaries and fallopian tubes, but can also grow on the vagina, cervix, bowel, bladder, and other pelvic organs. Rarely, they may appear in other parts of the body. Just like the lining of the uterus, these ectopic cells build up and eventually shed in response to your hormones. But unlike a period, this blood and tissue has nowhere to go. This internal bleeding leads to inflammation, crippling pain, and a build-up of scar tissue and adhesions (tissue that can bind organs together). Endometriosis can affect women of any age. The Main Symptoms of Endometriosis Endometriosis is a systemic, whole-body disease. Not everyone will experience all symptoms, and the severity of pain doesn’t necessarily correlate with the stage of the disease. Pain and Menstruation Intense period and pelvic pain are often reported to be the most debilitating symptoms. This pain is frequently described as ‘a razor blade pain’. Heavy Bleeding Another common symptom is heavy periods (menorrhagia). Heavy periods are clinically defined as: Monthly heavy bleeding can lead to anaemia (iron deficiency), which results in secondary symptoms such as chronic fatigue, hair thinning, and constantly feeling cold. Bowel, Bladder, and Other Symptoms Endometrial lesions can cause symptoms that mimic other common conditions: 💡 Suspect endometriosis is the cause of your pain? Take our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test to investigate the link between your cycle and inflammatory conditions like endometriosis. Endometriosis and Hormones: The Oestrogen Link Endometriosis is fundamentally an oestrogen-dependent condition. This is the main hormonal driver for the initiation, growth, and maintenance of the lesions. Getting to a Diagnosis Diagnosing endometriosis is challenging, as the symptoms overlap with many other conditions (NHS, 2024). A definitive diagnosis typically requires surgery (laparoscopic keyhole surgery). However, hormonal and blood marker testing can be a vital first step on the road to a specialist referral and diagnosis. Testing a full panel of personalised hormones provides essential diagnostic data needed to find the root cause, tailored to your symptoms and concerns. If you are experiencing any of the debilitating symptoms listed,you don’t have to suffer in silence. It’s important to seek expert medical advice to clarify the cause. 💡 Take the first step toward getting answers Our team of specialists, including Private Gynaecologists, can offer you a tailored care plan to manage your endometriosis symptoms and explore treatment options. Take our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test today. References

Premenstrual symptoms are incredibly common, but the line between feeling a bit irritable and experiencing debilitating mental health distress is critical. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and its severe counterpart, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), both occur during the luteal phase of your cycle. They are not psychological flaws; they are the result of a profound biological sensitivity to your cycling hormones. This article outlines the difference between PMS and PMDD. We’ll also explain how our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test can uncover the root causes of your symptoms. If you need urgent help for your mental health, you can contact the Samaritans 24/7 helpline (116 123), or access Mind’s crisis resources. Quick facts: What is PMS and PMDD? Both PMS and PMDD are cyclical conditions linked entirely to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, the time between ovulation and your period. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) PMS is a cluster of physical and mental symptoms experienced in the week or two leading up to your period (NHS, 2024). It is super common, with up to 90% of women and people who menstruate experiencing it at some point. Common PMS symptoms include: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) PMDD is a severe, chronic form of premenstrual distress that has a significant impact on daily function, relationships, and work (NHS, 2024). Symptoms tend to be far more exaggerated, with emotional symptoms dominating the presentation, and they generally resolve entirely once the period begins. PMDD symptoms often include: The Hormonal Cause: A Sensitivity Disorder The exact cause of PMDD is not a hormonal deficiency or excess in the traditional sense, but a genetic and biological vulnerability to the normal hormonal changes that occur after ovulation. This makes it a disorder of sensitivity. Other Contributing Hormones While the oestrogen/progesterone axis is key, other hormones can modulate severity or flag underlying conditions: Possible Contributing Factors: Genetic variations (particularly on the oestrogen receptor alpha gene), trauma, stress, and smoking are also linked to increased sensitivity or worsening PMDD symptoms. Getting to the Root Cause If you suspect you are suffering from severe PMS or PMDD, the first step is always to speak to a professional. However, gaining hormonal clarity can be vital for diagnosis and treatment planning. 💡 Is your cycle secretly impacting your mood? Take our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test to investigate the underlying hormonal patterns contributing to your mood shifts, including free oestradiol and androgen activity. Treatment Pathways The primary goal of treating PMDD is to dampen the body’s adverse reaction to the cyclical hormonal changes. What Your Personalised Results Can Tell You Testing a full panel of personalised hormones provides essential diagnostic data needed to find the root cause, tailored to your symptoms and concerns. 💡 Find clarity on your mental health If your emotional symptoms are severe and regularly affecting your wellbeing, don’t suffer in silence. Take our Advanced At-Home Hormone and Fertility Test to gain clarity and take control of your health. References  Thys-Jacobs, S, McMahon, D, Bilezikian, JP. (2008). Differences in Free Estradiol and Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin in Women with and without Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 93(1):96–102, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2007-1726

Hertility today announces the launch of GYN-AI™, a patent-pending, clinical-grade diagnostic tool set to redefine how fertility and gynaecological conditions are detected and diagnosed. A moment of justice for women’s health For decades, women have faced unacceptable delays in receiving diagnoses for gynaecological and fertility-related conditions, waiting years, sometimes decades, for answers that should take days.  Hertility’s GYN-AI™ changes that. Hertility was founded to deliver personalised, and expert healthcare across every stage of a woman’s hormonal lifespan using a preventative and data-first approach. Now, that mission reaches a breakthrough moment with the launch of GYN-AI™, a first-of-its-kind, patent-pending diagnostic tool that redefines how fertility and gynaecological conditions are detected and diagnosed. Developed by Hertility’s team of leading scientists, clinicians, and data engineers, GYN-AI™ combines years of research, clinical expertise, and advanced machine learning. Trained on Hertility’s uniquely comprehensive dataset,  including over one million Hertility Health Assessments and hundreds of thousands of blood results, the model achieves 98–99% diagnostic precision across 18 fertility-related and gynaecological conditions. When tested against clinicians, GYN-AI™ performs as well as or outperforms them in diagnostic accuracy, reducing diagnosis times for some conditions from nine years to just seven days. Closing the data gap and the gender health gap Until now, healthcare data has been dangerously incomplete. Women were largely excluded from clinical trials until the 1990s, meaning much of modern medicine, and the data used to train most AI systems, reflects a male default. This makes even the most advanced AI models, including tools like ChatGPT, unreliable and potentially unsafe for women’s health. GYN-AI™, by contrast, is built on Hertility’s own curated dataset: one of the largest and most clinically validated in women’s health, spanning over a million assessments and hundreds of thousands of blood test results linked to confirmed clinical outcomes. Built for women and from women’s data, it delivers a level of diagnostic precision and safety that is truly world-changing. End-to-end care, powered by data and compassion GYN-AI™ integrates seamlessly with Hertility’s full-service clinical pathway, offering end-to-end care from screening, diagnostic blood testing, and ultrasound scanning to telemedicine, prescriptions, IVF, and egg freezing. This means women can move from assessment to diagnosis to treatment without delay, closing the loop on women’s healthcare like never before. Dr Helen O’Neill, Founder and CEO of Hertility, said: “I see this as a movement; and perhaps a moment of justice for women’s health. For too long, women have been dismissed, misdiagnosed, and left waiting years for answers about their own bodies. With GYN-AI™, we are changing that forever. Every algorithm has been trained on the lived experiences, symptoms, and data of over a million women: women who deserved faster care, earlier intervention, and to be believed. This tool will help clinicians deliver answers in days, not years, giving women back their time, their control, and in some cases, their chance to create life. This marks the beginning of a new era, one where women’s health is finally powered by data, intelligence, and compassion.” Mr Srdjan Saso, Consultant Gynaecologist at Hertility, added: “As a clinician, I have seen the damage that diagnostic delays cause physically, emotionally, and financially. GYN-AI™ is truly revolutionary in medicine- it allows us to detect potential issues earlier and with greater precision than ever before, guiding women to the right care pathway faster. This technology does not replace doctors; it empowers them. It gives us a clinical tool built on real-world data that helps us treat women sooner, more accurately, and more holistically.” The beginning of a new clinical paradigm GYN-AI™ represents a seismic shift from reactive to proactive care, bridging science, compassion, and intelligence to transform how women are diagnosed and treated. Hertility’s mission is clear: to close the gender health gap by delivering faster, data-driven, and personalised diagnostic care that gives women the answers they deserve. We are not just advancing technology. We are transforming lives and creating them. To begin your own journey toward better understanding your hormones and reproductive health, start your Hertility Health Assessment today at www.hertilityhealth.com.

PCOS is one of the most common reproductive health conditions. Some of the most common symptoms people struggle with are physical symptoms such as issues with weight; skin and hair related issues such as acne or excessive hair growth and irregular periods. These are mainly driven through disrupted hormones. Androgens are a group of hormones, including testosterone,  that are made in the ovaries and are often found at much higher levels in women with PCOS, called “hyperandrogenism”. Insulin is also found to be at much higher levels, due to insulin resistance. Normally, Insulin helps manage blood sugar levels, helping cells absorb glucose. Insulin resistance is when the body no longer responds to normal levels of insulin. This can result in excess amounts of insulin being produced, misregulated blood sugar levels and metabolism issues like weight gain and type 2 diabetes. Women are also 3 times more likely to experience mental health related symptoms like anxiety, depression or body image issues. Unfortunately there is currently no cure for PCOS, however, there are  treatment options  aimed to manage symptoms.  Think you might have PCOS? Check your hormones Benefits of regular exercise Regular exercise can be an extremely effective way to help manage PCOS symptoms. Some experts suggest exercise as a first port of call for PCOS management but can also work alongside medications like metformin for increased effects, particularly for improving cycle related issues (1). Exercise can have positive effects on physical, hormonal and mental health related issues including: How much exercise is recommended? For a healthy lifestyle, preventing weight gain and maintaining health: Adults should do a minimum of 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous activity or a combination of both and include muscle-strengthening activities Young women should do 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous activity per day including those that strengthen muscle at least three times a week Activity can be done in 10-minute bursts or around 1000 steps, aiming to do at least 30 minutes on most days. For those who have a goal to lose weight, prevent weight regain or achieve greater health benefits more exercise is needed: A minimum of 250 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity or 150 minutes a week of vigorous activity or a combination of both Muscle-strengthening activity on 2 non-consecutive days of the week. Overall, aim for around 30 minutes per day. Of this, 90 minutes per week should be more active or aerobic activities (running, biking, fast pace walking etc.) at a moderate to high intensity to optimise clinical outcomes (see table below for suggested activities). Remember physical activity includes walking, activity at work, household chores, sports and planned exercise. Choose an exercise you like and if possible exercise with friends or others to increase your motivation. Mixing up exercise will also help with motivation. Benefits for your body What are the benefits of exercise on PCOS? PCOS can affect the body’s metabolism making it harder to lose weight and also affect where fat is stored. Visceral fat (fat in the abdomen and around your organs) tends to be increased in those with PCOS. Alongside this, there is an increased risk of long-term health issues including obesity, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Regular physical activity can help improve body composition and is extremely beneficial for reducing these risks.  In general aerobic exercise (or cardio), like running, swimming or cycling, is great for reducing blood pressure and improving heart health. Increasing your daily energy expenditure (the amount of energy you burn in a day) can help with losing weight by creating a calorie deficit (burning more calories than you consume). Women with PCOS who had greater vigorous activity levels were found to have less visceral fat (2). A 6 month study introducing an exercise regime of 30 mins aerobic exercise 3 times a week saw a reduction in waist circumference (as a measure of visceral fat), and improvements in menstrual cycle patterns (3).  What type of exercise is best? There is a lack of evidence supporting any one type and intensity of exercise being better than another for metabolic, hormonal, reproductive or psychological outcomes. The International guidelines and majority of studies have focused on aerobic exercise routines, however, resistance training (exercise designed to improve muscle strength or endurance) such as weight lifting, has big benefits too. Resistance training has a positive effect on body composition by increasing muscle mass, which can contribute to increasing your energy expenditure. In studies focusing on resistance training for women with PCOS, a reduction in visceral fat and an increase in lean muscle mass was seen (4). It is also important to know that exercise without weight loss or only moderate weight loss can still lead to a reduction in visceral fat and improve insulin sensitivity. Think of being active as often as you can through the day, for example take stairs instead of lifts, park further away from shops etc. Can exercise improve chances of conceiving? Improvements in reproduction have been seen in women with minimal weight loss – so the scales are not the be all and end all! The NHS states as little as 5% reduction bodyweight can help improve symptoms (5). Other important lifestyle factors to consider, particularly for managing weight, are issues with appetite regulation – if this is something you are struggling with you can speak to one of our Fertility Nutrition Consultation. Benefits for your hormones  Insulin resistance is common among those with PCOS and can contribute to many of the symptoms like dark skin patches, fatigue and weight issues. This goes hand in hand with visceral fat and general inflammation throughout the body.  This is believed to be associated with greater levels of visceral fat and amount of visceral fat Women who had greater levels of physical activity, had better chances of normal insulin responses (6)  and reduced chances of inflammation (7).  Excess insulin can increase the production of androgens in the ovaries, contributing to hyperandrogenism. […]

Whilst it might be tempting to want to predict the age you may experience menopause, calculators and predictions are generally not thought to be medically accurate. But there are a few things you can do to prepare for menopause. Read on to find out.  Quick facts: Can you predict menopause? It’s normal to be curious about the age at which you’ll reach menopause. We get it—you want to feel prepared and plan ahead for big life changes. Despite advances in technology and science, there’s no definitive menopause age calculator or test that can predict the age you’ll reach menopause with any certainty.  While there’s more research being carried out into predicting the age of menopause, there’s simply no one-size-fits-all approach as menopause is so dependent on your individual hormonal make-up. Since multiple factors contribute to the onset of menopause, a menopause age calculator won’t be accurate. There are, however, some factors that can affect when in life you may reach menopause—like your genetics, lifestyle choices and medical history. If you’re experiencing symptoms that may be related to menopause or perimenopause, then book an appointment to speak to one of our Menopause Specialists who can provide advice, and guidance as well as HRT prescriptions. What is menopause? You reach menopause once you have not experienced a period for more than 12 months.  It’s a natural biological process that marks the end of your reproductive years.  Biologically, your hormones are shifting, and most notably, there’s a massive dip in oestrogen —the hormone that plays a key role in regulating your menstrual cycle and supporting your reproductive health. This hormonal change can bring on physical and emotional symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, problems sleeping and irregular periods.  These changes can start happening years before you even reach menopause. This phase is called perimenopause. There are ways you can offset and support your perimenopause symptoms. During perimenopause, your body is adjusting to the hormonal changes and you will gradually stop producing the hormones that control and bring about your periods, causing your periods to eventually stop altogether.Once your hormones rebalance post-menopause, many report feeling like they’ve got a new lease of life. This is why menopause is often nicknamed “the second spring”—a chance for new beginnings, which is often welcome after a time of massive change in the perimenopause. The myth of menopause prediction Just like each one of us is unique, the age we reach menopause is too.  Limited research in this area means that not even the experts can determine the age you’ll reach menopause. It’s easier to want to turn to a definitive answer, but more often than not, this oversimplified prediction isn’t backed up with scientific evidence. There are too many individual variations for them to be reliable. Menopause age calculators also don’t take into consideration any external factors that are difficult to measure, for example, exposure to pollutants and other environmental factors, or exposure to stress. Ultimately, any factors that can impact your hormones can impact the onset of menopause. Average age for menopause The average age for the onset of menopause in the UK is 51, with most people reaching menopause between the ages of 45-55. A small percentage experience early menopause or premature menopause (premature ovarian insufficiency) before the age of 40. Factors that influence menopause timing Three key areas may indicate when you start menopause: your genetics, your medical history, and your lifestyle. Genetic influences Research suggests that you can roughly predict the age you’ll reach menopause according to when other females in your family like your mother or sister reached theirs.  Studies suggest there may be a familial pattern and even certain genetic markers that indicate the age of menopause onset. However, while genetics play a crucial role, other factors, such as your medical history and lifestyle factors come into play too. For example, you may have a different upbringing from other female relations in terms of where you live, whether you have any underlying health conditions and what you’ve consumed in your diet and lifestyle over the years. Lifestyle and medical history  Lifestyle choices, such as whether you are overweight or underweight (or have a low or high BMI) from nutrition and exercise patterns, or whether you smoke or drink alcohol impact the age you reach menopause. This is because poor lifestyle choices can negatively affect your reproductive and overall health. They can impact your ovarian reserve and hormones and bring on menopause sooner. Biological factors can impact your menopausal age including: The wide variation of genetics, lifestyle and medical history amongst individuals makes it difficult to predict the age you’ll reach menopause. Understanding your body’s signals Becoming attuned to your body’s signals can help you predict when you’re approaching menopause. A key factor, often coined “the fifth vital sign”, is your menstrual cycle. Your menstrual cycle is considered regular if your cycle lasts roughly the same amount of days, e.g. between 21 and 35 days each cycle.  Irregular periods are one of the first signs of perimenopause you might notice, along with things like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, lowered sex drive and vaginal dryness. To find out what’s going on inside, you could take a advanced hormone and fertility test. This will give you a report indicating your hormone levels, and you can speak with a Menopause Specialist to make sense of your results and discuss your next steps. If you have questions about the age of your menopause, it’s best to speak with a healthcare professional for the most reliable information. They can advise you on your individual menopause experience with as much support as possible instead of focusing on predicting the age you’ll get there. Preparing for menopause Maintaining health and well-being is crucial for navigating menopause with ease. Adopt a healthy lifestyle with balanced nutrition and regular exercise to improve your mood, maintain a healthy weight and support your vitality. Limit alcohol and smoking, manage stress and make sure you’re getting enough sleep to balance your […]

In this article we will walk you through what happens if your Hertility at-home hormone testing kit comes back with a haemolysed blood sample, what happens during lab tests affected by hemolysis and our top tips for taking and sending off your samples to ensure your hormone blood test results don’t come back haemolysed. Quick facts: What does it mean when a blood sample is haemolysed? A haemolysed blood sample is when the red blood cells in the sample you provided have burst or broken down.  This process is called haemolysis—the red blood cells rupture and spill their contents, mainly haemoglobin (a protein that carries oxygen around your body) into their surrounding serum or plasma.  With any type of blood collection, haemolysed blood samples can happen. They are very common—in fact, they are actually the number one cause of rejected samples by labs, second only to insufficient sample size (1). Haemolysed samples are unable to be tested and labs will reject and request new samples. This is because analytes that are tested for in the sample will potentially have become diluted by haemolysis and an accurate result will not be able to be obtained. We know it can be frustrating to hear that your sample couldn’t be analysed—especially if you’re someone who doesn’t like having blood taken.  What causes a haemolysed blood sample? Haemolysis can happen with any form of blood collection, whether it’s a finger prick sample like the one used in our at-home Hormone & Fertility Test or a traditional venous blood drawn by a nurse or doctor. It can also happen regardless of where the sample was taken.  Samples can become haemolysed for a number of different reasons, but here are some common ones we’ve found with our tests. Haemolysed blood could be caused by: Can my sample be analysed if it’s haemolysed? Unfortunately, no. Because the red blood cells have broken down, the hormones within the sample can’t be analysed.  We know this can be really disappointing and frustrating. So, if your sample has come back haemolysed, we will send you a second test kit, free of charge, for you to retake your sample.  All you need to do is log in to your health hub, navigate to your tests and click on the notification we’ve sent you. We will have already credited your account with a free test, so all you need to do is check out.  Top tips for taking your sample Sometimes haemolysis can happen because of the way your blood sample was collected or packaged. We’ve put together a few tips and tricks to help you get your sample to us safe and sound. Top tips for preventing hemolysis when taking your blood sample: 1. Slow it right down Take your time when taking your sample, don’t rush through or squeeze your finger really hard. Use gentle downward strokes to encourage blood flow. 2. Make sure your hands are warm Warm hands = more blood circulation. This means it will be easier to draw your sample. Submerge your hand in warm water for a couple of minutes before collecting your sample to get that blood pumping all the way to your fingers. 3. Use your ring finger This one usually works the best, giving the biggest drops. Make sure you prick the fleshy part. 4. Always wipe away the first droplet Use a tissue or sterilised wet wipe to wipe the first drop clean, before aiming the rest of your drops into your collection tube. 5. Pierce a second finger if the blood stops flowing on the first Don’t overdo it on the first finger, if the blood flow stops, start fresh on a new finger. 6. Use the cartwheel method Take your arm that is not being used for the sample (we don’t want an American psycho situation up the walls) and swing in a cartwheel motion for about a minute. Don’t ask why, but it works. 7. Get your blood pumping with some star jumps Bring back some P.E class nostalgia star jump it out for a minute or so before you take your sample. This will get your blood flowing and your fingers warm.  8. Make sure you’re hydrated Everyone is more dehydrated than usual when first waking up which can make circulation slower and collecting your sample more difficult. Stay hydrated the day before you’re due to collect your sample and drink a couple of glasses of water roughly half an hour beforehand.  Top tips for preventing hemolysis when packing your blood sample 1. Do not shake your tube after collecting your sample Place your tube carefully back into your kit box, into the space indicated. This will keep it wedged safely in place during transit. 2. Post your sample on the same day it was collected Ideally you’ll do your test first thing in the morning. Then, keep it at room temperature and post it to your nearest postbox as close to the collection time as you can. This will reduce the time it’s outside for, potentially getting hot in the sun or too cold. 3. Use a priority postbox if you can These are collected everyday, you can find your nearest one on the Royal Mail website.  4. Check our social channels for lab closures and postal service delays We regularly post or email reminders about upcoming lab closures, postal strikes and delays due to public holidays on our stories, make sure you’re following us and check our socials before doing your test. FAQs How will I know if my sample arrives haemolysed? Rest assured, we will always contact you directly if your sample arrives haemolysed. One of our customer service team will be in touch.  Will I get another test free of charge if my sample is haemolysed? Our labs will inform us, we will contact you to let you know and will offer a second kit free of charge to redo your test Do I have to wait until day 3 of my cycle before I can test again? Unless you’re on hormonal contraception, unfortunately yes, you will have to wait until […]

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is a really important hormone for your fertility because of how closely it is linked to your eggs, AMH testing can help you understand your fertility and give you insights into your overall reproductive health. Here’s what testing can and can’t tell you. Quick facts: What is AMH and why is it so important? Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) is a super important hormone for fertility. AMH is made by the small sacs, called follicles, in your ovaries. These follicles house your eggs.  Because of its close relationship to your eggs, testing your AMH levels can help indicate how many eggs you have left at the time of testing.  There are a few myths out there about what exactly AMH testing can tell us. So in this article, we cover the main things an AMH test can and can’t tell you. Let’s get into it… What can AMH testing tell me? Whether your ovarian reserve is a normal for your age AMH testing will give you insights into whether your ovarian reserve is in line with other healthy people in your age group. If you are not using any hormonal contraception, testing other hormones, like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol alongside AMH can also help to build a full picture of egg reserve. Generally, people with low egg reserves are known to have higher levels of FSH and lower levels of oestradiol. Whether you have polycystic ovaries or polycystic ovary syndrome AMH testing can also indicate whether you could have polycystic ovaries (PCO). PCO is a common reproductive health condition affecting around 30% of reproductive-aged people assigned female-at-birth. PCO is benign and does not affect fertility, but it can cause other unwanted symptoms.  People with PCO have a higher-than-expected number of immature follicles in their ovaries. More follicles mean a higher level of AMH in the blood.  Some people with PCO also have the syndrome that can be associated with it—polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which often presents as symptoms like irregular periods and high testosterone levels.  According to updated guidelines, AMH testing can be used as a marker for polycystic ovaries, which is one of the criteria for a  PCOS diagnosis. However, we would always recommend getting a scan of your ovaries) to confirm the diagnosis. Whether IVF or egg freezing could be right for you AMH testing and understanding your ovarian reserve can also help to determine if certain fertility treatments like IVF or egg freezing could be suitable for you. During these fertility treatments, AMH levels are often tested to help determine the doses of medication needed and used to predict the outcomes of the egg collection process. People with lower AMH levels are known to have less successful IVF treatment cycles, whereas someone with high AMH might be at increased risk of developing a rare but potentially life threatening condition called OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome).  Many NHS-funded and private IVF clinics therefore require a minimum AMH level for you to be eligible for a free IVF treatment cycle. The minimum level on the NHS will depend on where in the UK you are currently residing. Whether you may be perimenopausal or menopausal or have POI Menopause refers to the period of your life, usually post 45-50, where you no longer have menstrual cycles and are therefore no longer able to conceive naturally. Menopause is associated with having an extremely low, or completely diminished, ovarian reserve.  It is usually diagnosed retrospectively—when women are over 45 years old and have not had a period in 12 months (and are not using hormonal contraception).  For people who are younger, FSH levels are useful for diagnosing menopause, as FSH levels are known to increase for people with low egg reserves. Although AMH levels are not recommended to help diagnose menopause, it is known that AMH levels reduce to very low levels at the time of menopause. There is also evidence that people with very low AMH levels (who are not going through menopause) will undergo menopause much sooner than those with AMH levels that are within range. When the ovaries stop working before the age of 40, this is known as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), which AMH levels have also been shown to provide a good indicator of. If you have a higher risk of miscarriage or recurrent pregnancy loss It is estimated that approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Miscarriages occur most frequently in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and can be associated with lots of different risk factors. Some of the most common are your and your partner or sperm donors’ age, pre-existing conditions and ethnicity. Recent evidence has shown that people with diminished ovarian reserve, and therefore very low AMH levels, are more likely to have a miscarriage or recurrent miscarriage (two or three consecutive pregnancy losses).  However, more research needs to be done to understand the links between AMH levels and miscarriage, including its risk factors. What can’t AMH testing tell me? Unfortunately, AMH testing and ovarian reserve forms only one part of the fertility picture and there are some things that AMH testing may not be able to tell you. Let’s take a look… It can’t determine your egg quality Although AMH levels can give insight into your egg quantity, it does not provide any insight into the quality of those eggs. Despite poor egg quality being one of the most common causes of female infertility, there is currently no test that can definitely determine egg quality (unless testing embryos in IVF treatment). It can’t determine your exact egg quantity Your AMH result can give an indication of the size of your ovarian reserve.  This is because it is released by the follicles which contain our eggs, meaning that the more follicles we have, the higher the AMH that will be produced. However, it can’t tell you your exact number of eggs because each follicle may produce a different amount of AMH depending on its size.  In order to estimate the number […]

Oestrogen—the matriarch of female sex hormones. But what exactly does it do in the body, what’s its role in the menstrual cycle and what are the symptoms to look for if your oestrogen has become imbalanced? Read on to find out.  Quick facts: What is oestrogen? Oestrogen is an important reproductive hormone in people of all sexes. It’s generally known as the ‘female’ sex hormone, because of its role in the development of the female reproductive system and regulation of the menstrual cycle.  Oestrogen works to enable ovulation and produce female sex characteristics. When we have healthy levels of oestrogen, it can help us to feel feisty, frisky and fabulous. Whilst it’s true that oestrogen plays a bigger role in those assigned-female-at-birth, everybody produces oestrogen, regardless of sex. In those assigned-female-at-birth, oestrogen is produced mainly in ovaries and depends on other reproductive hormones including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone for both its production and regulation. Like all of our hormones, our oestrogen levels can sometimes become off-balanced—with many different lifestyle and genetic factors impacting its production and regulation throughout the body. Types of oestrogen? There are three different types of oestrogen, also sometimes spelt estrogen (the American spelling). What does oestrogen do? Oestrogen wears many hats—it helps to regulate our menstrual cycles, triggers the development of secondary sex characteristics like breasts and pubic hair and helps to maintain things like our skin’s moisture, our mood and even our bone and heart health. Let’s take a look at these in more detail: What is oestrogen’s role in the menstrual cycle? Like all of our menstrual cycle hormones, our oestrogen levels during the menstrual cycle fluctuate.  During the first part of our menstrual cycles, the follicular phase, which lasts from day 1 of our periods until ovulation (when we release a mature egg), our oestrogen levels start off low but steadily increase. In this phase, our eggs are maturing in preparation for ovulation.  Our eggs mature in our ovaries, in little sacs called follicles. These follicles make oestrogen, so whilst your eggs are maturing, your follicles steadily release this oestrogen—and it rises until it reaches a peak, just before we ovulate. Because of oestrogen’s feel-good factors, just before and during ovulation is the time of the month when we’ll be killing it, feeling our most fierce and fabulous. This is the time to book that big presentation at work, go on that first date or really push it in your gym session. This peak in oestrogen causes a surge in LH, which triggers the release of a mature egg from one of our ovaries during ovulation. After ovulation, oestrogen levels gradually drop and despite a small second wind around a week later, they continue to level off throughout the second stage of our menstrual cycles—the luteal phase. At the end of our cycles, if the ovulated egg has not met a sperm and been fertilised, all of our menstrual cycle hormones, including oestrogen, drop off to their baseline levels—triggering our periods. If our oestrogen levels get off balance, it can disrupt the balance of our other menstrual cycle hormones—potentially impacting ovulation. No ovulation = no pregnancy. So if you’re trying to get pregnant, testing your hormone levels is really important for understanding your ovulation and general menstrual cycle health. What affects oestrogen levels? As well as fluctuating naturally month to month, lots of other lifestyle, genetic and medical conditions can affect our oestrogen levels, including: Does oestrogen decline with age? Thanks to our wonderful ‘biological clocks’, as we age, our oestrogen levels gradually decline. This is because our number of egg cells decreases as we age and as a result, our follicles stop growing and producing as much oestradiol (E2). After menopause (when our periods stop completely), our E2 levels completely drop off, which is what causes the common low oestrogen menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, dry skin and mood swings. During perimenopause (the lead up to menopause), E2 levels fluctuate up and down which can also cause menopausal symptoms. Declining oestrogen levels has whole-body knock-on effects, but luckily these days hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be a great option to relieve symptoms for many people during perimenopause and postmenopause. How do I know if my oestrogen levels are normal? Because our oestrogen levels fluctuate during our cycles, as we age, and are dependent on whether we’re taking hormonal birth control or not, our ‘normal’ level is constantly changing.  Like all of our hormones, our oestrogen is super sensitive and can easily get off balance. Oestrogen imbalances can cause a whole host of symptoms and can be caused by both lifestyle and genetic factors. Symptoms of high oestrogen levels Oestrogen dominance is a phrase that has been used to describe a phenomenon when oestrogen levels are too high in relation to the other sex hormones in your body.  Although it’s not a clinically recognised term, being more sensitive or having excess oestrogen is known to cause symptoms like irregular periods, abnormal vaginal bleeding, bloating, swollen or tender breasts and weight gain. Some causes of high oestrogen levels include underlying health conditions, genetic factors, dietary and lifestyle factors and environmental pollutants. Symptoms of low oestrogen levels On the flip side, when oestrogen levels are too low we can experience irregular periods, fertility difficulties, reduced bone density, vaginal dryness, hot flashes and dry skin—to name a few. Having very low oestrogen levels can be caused by your ovaries not working properly, which occurs in menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). However, underlying health conditions like pituitary gland disorders, as well as having very low levels of body fat, a high caffeine intake, smoking and excessive exercise can also result in lower oestrogen levels. Luckily, testing our E2 levels with a hormone test can help us to decipher if our oestrogen levels are within the normal range for us. Oestrogen FAQs Where can I get an oestrogen blood test? You’ve landed in the right place. With a Hertility Advanced Hormone and Fertility […]

Prolactin has several important functions in the body. But what exactly does prolactin do and how do we know if our levels have become imbalanced? In this article, we’ll dive into exactly what prolactin is, what its functions are in the body, discuss imbalances in its levels and the importance of testing prolactin levels for reproductive and overall health. Quick facts: What is prolactin? Prolactin is a hormone that encourages breast growth and milk production during and after pregnancy, as well as maintaining our metabolism, regulating our stress response, maintaining a functioning immune system and in the development of our reproductive organs.  Similarly to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) it is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain. From there, it’s released into the bloodstream where it travels around the body to carry out its functions.  Prolactin interacts with FSH and LH, and other cycle hormones, in a complex negative feedback loop. After ovulation prolactin production increases to prepare the body for a potential pregnancy. Prolactin’s role in breastfeeding In pregnant women, prolactin stimulates milk production in the mammary glands of the breasts—allowing for the secretion of breast milk. After birth, there is a postnatal rise in prolactin, which gets things started—but this isn’t enough to maintain breast milk development. When a baby suckles, prolactin levels in the blood increase in response, which stimulates the production of more milk. Prolactin levels spike around 30 minutes after the start of the feed, so this positive feedback effect is important for ensuring there is enough milk for the next feed.  This can also be stimulated by breast pumping, if you choose not to, or are unable to breastfeed. Prolactin levels Just like all of our hormones, from time to time, our prolactin levels can get off balance. This can cause a whole range of different symptoms and effects throughout the body, including affecting our thyroid hormones, stress hormones, menstrual cycles and ovulation. What are normal prolactin levels? Reference ranges for what is a normal prolactin level will be specific to the lab that is testing your sample.  Higher prolactin levels are usually present in those assigned-female-at-birth than those assigned-male-at-birth. In general, prolactin levels are expected to be less than 25 μg/L in those assigned-female-at-birth, who are not pregnant or breastfeeding. High prolactin levels Too much prolactin can stop our brains from producing FSH and LH—two key hormones involved in regulating our menstrual cycles and bringing about ovulation.  If FSH and LH are affected, ovulation can stop leading to the loss of periods, which is called amenorrhoea. No ovulation means no chance of a pregnancy, and therefore big issues for our fertility. Disruption to our menstrual cycle can also cause knock-on effects on our oestrogen levels, causing oestrogen deficiency. Some of the most common symptoms of high prolactin levels to look out for are milky white discharge from the nipples when not breastfeeding (galactorrhea), disturbances to the menstrual cycle, visual disturbances, headaches and symptoms of oestrogen deficiency. High prolactin levels can be caused by a variety of reasons, including imbalances in our thyroid and stress hormones. Additionally, a growth or tumour present in our pituitary glands, called a prolactinoma, can also cause persistent or increasing prolactin levels. Symptoms of high prolactin levels can include: Note: If you are experiencing any form of nipple discharge when not breastfeeding, get this checked by a physician or GP as it can be a symptom of breast cancer. Symptoms of high prolactin levels after menopause Although high prolactin levels are not common in those postmenopausal, it can occur. Excess prolactin after menopause often causes hyperthyroidism, when the body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. Symptoms can include: How to lower prolactin levels If you’re wondering how to reduce prolactin levels, this is very much dependent on the cause of your excess prolactin levels.  Your doctor may prescribe you medications like bromocriptine or cabergoline to lower your prolactin secretion. Surgery may also be recommended as the best treatment option for you.  Persistently high prolactin that has been caused by chronic stress, over-exercising or poor sleep may be lowered by lifestyle modifications. Low prolactin levels On the flip side, low prolactin levels is called hypoprolactinemia. Sometimes there aren’t any obvious symptoms of low prolactin levels, other than not being able to produce or release much breast milk after giving birth. Breastfeeding can increase our prolactin levels naturally—as the more we stimulate the nipples, more prolactin is produced.  Most people with low prolactin levels don’t have any specific medical issues, although there is preliminary evidence that suggests they might have reduced immune response to some infections and it could indicate that the pituitary gland isn’t functioning properly. Why should we test our prolactin levels? Like all of our reproductive hormones, it’s good to check in with prolactin regularly, especially if we’re trying to conceive or having any problems with our menstrual cycles or experiencing hormonal symptoms.  Testing our prolactin levels with a prolactin blood test can help us to determine if there are any hormonal issues affecting our fertility or menstrual cycle, or investigate any symptoms of prolactinoma. With a Hertility advanced hormone and fertility test, we can test your prolactin levels alongside your Anti müllerian hormone (AMH), thyroid hormones and cycling hormones (FSH, LH and oestrogen) to help you gain a full insight into your hormonal health and fertility. If you’ve already done a test and received an abnormal prolactin result, you can book an appointment with one of our Private Gynaecologists specialising in hormone and fertility concerns to discuss your results and get a personalised care plan. Appointments are available daily, with no GP referral required. Prolactin FAQs Can I get an FSH, LH, Prolactin test all in one? Luckily, you’re in exactly the right place. With our Hormone and Fertility test we will test you for up to 10 reproductive hormones, including your FSH, LH, prolactin and more.  Do prolactin levels change with age? Unlike hormones like Anti Müllerian […]