Guide To Fertility Acronyms And Abbreviations
A list of commonly used fertility acronyms and abbreviations that you may have heard being thrown around, but too shy to ask. Read on to find out more.
twoplus Hormone Test 101: More Than Just a Convenient Health Check-Up
Knowing about your hormones, and how they affect your health and fertility can give you that ‘leg up’ when trying to conceive (TTC). And that’s where hormone tests come into play.
When TTC, it is often easy to fixate on fitness and diet but overlook the finer details such as your hormone levels. Although they are just tiny chemical messengers in the body, they play an important role in regulating bodily functions, and this includes fertility.
If this is the first time you’ve heard about hormone testing for conception, then you’ve come to the right article. Below we explain what hormones are and how hormone testing can play a crucial role in your conception journey.
Your hormones and you
Hormones are natural bodily compounds, aka chemical messengers that are secreted into the bloodstream by a collection of glands; known as the endocrine system [1]. A good balance of hormones are essential because they help your organs and tissues function properly [1].
There are 50 different types of hormones circulating in our body, each one of them are produced for a specific task [2]. Having too much or too little of any hormone can throw your body off balance and cause serious health issues. E.g. Melatonin, which is essential for a restful sleep, is produced in your brain’s pineal gland [2]. Having too little melatonin produced in your body can lead to insomnia, restlessness, brain fog, concentration problems and more [3].
Purpose of hormone testing
A wise person once said ‘knowledge is power’, and that rings true especially if you are TTC.
While fitness and diet are important, knowing what is going on inside of your body is equally important as it can provide a direction for next steps (e.g. a change in diet is needed, try conception aids, consider conception methods like IVF, etc.) [4].
Hormone tests for conception, like twoplus’, are designed specially for women. It tests for fertility hormones such as Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free Thyroxine (FT4), and Prolactin (PRL) [5].
But why only test for these hormones out of the 50? Well, each of them play a crucial role in the female reproductive system, and therefore conception:
- AMH: The best predictor of your egg count [2].
- FSH: Responsible for initiating ovulation [2].
- TSH: Regulates thyroid health, which can have an influence on fertility levels [2].
- FT4: Can indicate if you have any thyroid issues that might impact your menstrual cycle [2].
- PRL: Responsible for breast milk production and can indicate causes of infertility or irregular periods [5].
The twoplus Hormone Test [5]
Most hormone tests are done at the clinic or hospital and would require you to wait in line for hours on end, but not ours. The twoplus Hormone Test is a safe and convenient test, which can be ordered on our website and performed in the comfort of your home.
Once you’ve ordered the hormone test, you’ll have to book an appointment for a phlebotomist (professional medical technician who specialises in drawing blood) to meet you at a preferred location — it can be at home, work or even at Sentosa! Do note that the best times for blood withdrawal are between day 2 and day 5 of your period, so some planning is required.
During your phlebotomist appointment, they will draw a small blood sample from your arm and transport it to the nearest lab facility to be analysed. The entire process is hassle-free and would take no longer than 15 minutes!
And for those who reside in the US, no clinic visit or phlebotomist appointment is necessary. Instead, follow the hormone test kit’s instructions and mail us a small blood sample — just 8 drops are needed!*
From here, all you have to do is sit back and wait. After 1 to 2 weeks, you’ll receive a personalised report containing test results and an analysis from our fertility physician in your email. Simple, easy and affordable.
*This service is only available in the US, except New York. Mailed blood samples are processed in reputable CAP- and CLIA-accredited facilities that work with the top fertility clinics in the U.S.
Why should you take the twoplus Hormone Test over others?
The twoplus hormone test is an affordable option for those seeking accurate fertility hormone test results. Having a similar test performed at an actual clinic or hospital will be more expensive and not to mention time consuming as most require at least 2 visits. Depending on where you visit, it could set you back between S$450 to S$1,500 [6].
Granted that some of them may be more comprehensive as they include testing for other hormones and come with pelvic scans, but if convenience and price are your deciding factors, then the answer is clear.
You may have also heard of other similar at-home hormone test kits on the market that are just as affordable. The main difference would be that they require you to do all the work yourself, this means pricking your own finger for a blood sample and sending it via regular mail to a laboratory [4]. Convenient as they might be, you run the risk of human-error associated testing and your sample being contaminated by the time it reaches the laboratory.
Conclusion
Hormone tests provide useful insights to how well your body is functioning, which helps you decide on the best plan of action to take if you would like to start a family now or in the near future. To add, it can also tell you whether your current dietary intake is sufficient or if you might have any underlying health issues that you are unaware of.
Interested in getting your hormones tested for conception? Then hit the button below.
