Fertility Tests
by Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc(Hons), ND
To properly understand what is happening in your body that is affecting your fertility, thorough fertility tests are necessary. I can guarantee you, 100% for sure, that not all of this fertility testing has been done, not even by your fertility clinic. Most essential testing can be done through your medical doctor and would therefore be covered under OHIP. There are also a number of more sophisticated and/or naturopathic medicine-related fertility tests that may be helpful to unearth all the factors that impact your fertility and get to the root cause of the problem.
I can also guarantee you that these can directly impact fertility and are vitally important in challenging infertility cases. Below each test are references for its importance, as recognized in conventional medical journals. You may not need ALL of these, but I can help you determine which fertility tests are most appropriate for you.
The best fertility testing may include:
Food Allergy/Intolerance Blood Tests
Almost everyone has mild food allergies or food intolerances. These provoke abnormal antibody production that can lead to immune-related fertility disorders. Our blood test checks for IgG antibodies to either 101 different foods ($360) or 211 different foods ($435). There is also a panel that can check for IgA antibodies, such as those found in Celiac disease.
Reference for Food Allergies and Fertility:
Physicians should investigate women with unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriage, or IUGR for undiagnosed Celiac disease: Tersigni C, Castellani R, de Waure C, Fattorossi A, De Spirito M, Gasbarrini A, Scambia G, Di Simone N. Celiac disease and reproductive disorders: a meta-analysis of epidemiologic associations and potential pathogenic mechanisms. Hum Reprod Update. 2014 Jul-Aug;20(4):582-93. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmu007. Epub 2014 Mar 11.
Adrenal Stress Profile
Adrenal Tests: The adrenal glands support ovarian function. They supply building blocks to the ovaries to produce estrogen. Poor adrenal gland function is common and leads to low estrogen levels, poor egg development, premature ovarian failure, and early menopause. Relevant blood tests: Cortisol (7-9 a.m.), DHEAs, testosterone (free and total), androstenedione. Urine test: 24-hour urine catecholamines. Saliva test: 4-point salivary cortisol levels
Reference for Adrenal Gland Testing and Fertility Tests:
In women, the ovary and adrenal glands produce androgens. Androgens are essential drivers of the primordial to antral follicle development, prior to serving as substrate for estrogen production in the later stages of folliculogenesis: Lebbe M, Woodruff TK. Involvement of androgens in ovarian health and disease. Mol Hum Reprod. 2013 Dec;19(12):828-37. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gat065. Epub 2013 Sep 10.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and nickel have been associated with infertility in men and women. Testing may include a first-morning urine heavy metal test.
Reference for Heavy Metal Testing and Fertility Tests:
A significant difference in endometrial cadmium concentration was found between women with unexplained infertility and fertile women: Tanrıkut E1, Karaer A2, Celik O1, Celik E1, Otlu B1, Yilmaz E1, Ozgul O1. Role of endometrial concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic) in the etiology of unexplained infertility. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2014 Aug;179:187-90. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.05.039. Epub 2014 Jun 5.
Comprehensive Thyroid Testing
Thyroid: TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, anti-TPO, and anti-thyroglobulin. Not only should all of these tests be done to ensure healthy thyroid function, but the results should fall within optimal ranges. For optimal thyroid function, TSH should fall between 0.35 and 2.50. If it’s greater than 2.50, your thyroid is sub-optimal for fertility and requires treatment. Your doctor may tell you that your thyroid is fine until it is greater than 5.00, but this is not acceptable for infertility. Even with normal TSH, free T3, and free T4 may not be optimal, and thyroid antibodies can be present. Anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies should be tested to see if Hashimoto’s disease is contributing to infertility.
Reference for Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Infertility Tests:
Subclinical hypothyroidism has been associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss and neurocognitive deficits in children, especially when diagnosed before or during early pregnancy: Chan S, Boelaert K. Optimal management of hypothyroidism, hypothyroxinaemia and euthyroid TPO antibody positivity preconception and in pregnancy. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2015 Mar;82(3):313-26. doi: 10.1111/cen.12605. Epub 2014 Oct 28.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D: Vitamin D affects the function of the ovaries and has been found to be low in women with PCOS and endometriosis. Blood test: 25-hydroxyvitamin D
Reference for Vitamin D Testing and Infertility Tests:
In human granulosa cells, Vitamin D alters AMH signalling, FSH sensitivity, and progesterone production and release, indicating a possible physiologic role for vitamin D in ovarian follicular development and luteinization: Irani M, Merhi Z. Fertil Steril. Role of vitamin D in ovarian physiology and its implication in reproduction: a systematic review. 2014 Aug;102(2):460-468.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.04.046. Epub 2014 Jun 3.
Reference for Vitamin D and PCOS:
In women with PCOS, vitamin D3 might exert a protective effect against the inflammatory effects of AGEs by increasing circulating sRAGE levels. The normalization in serum AMH induced by vitamin D3 replacement suggests an improvement in folliculogenesis: Irani M, Minkoff H, Seifer DB, Merhi Z.Vitamin D increases serum levels of the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products in women with PCOS. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 May;99(5):E886-90. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-4374. Epub 2014 Feb 27.
Reference for Vitamin D, PCOS and endometriosis:
Accumulating evidence suggests that the metabolic pathways of this vitamin may play a key role in the development of gynecological/obstetric diseases. Vitamin D receptor-mediated signaling pathways and vitamin D levels seem to (deeply) affect the risk of several gynecological diseases, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and ovarian and even breast cancer: Colonese F, Laganà AS, Colonese E, Sofo V, Salmeri FM, Granese R, Triolo O.The Pleiotropic Effects of Vitamin D in Gynaecological and Obstetric Diseases: An Overview on a Hot Topic. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:986281. Epub 2015 Apr 27.
Gluten Allergy/Celiac Disease
Gluten intolerance and Celiac disease have been linked to infertility and recurrent miscarriage. Blood tests: IgG, IgA antibodies to gluten and gliadin, tissue transglutaminase, and endomysial antibodies.
Reference for Celiac Disease and Fertility Tests
The incidence rate of gluten-sensitive celiac disease (GSCD) in women with reproductive dysfunction (RD) is 4.1%. Gluten-free diet in GSCD women with RD contributes to reproductive function recovery and normal outcome of pregnancy: Prevalence of gluten-sensitive celiac disease in women with reproductive dysfunction. Ter Arkh. 2012;84(2):31-6.
Conventional Medical and Hormone Blood Tests
FSH (day 3), LH (day 3), estradiol (day 3), progesterone (7 days after ovulating), testosterone – free and total, DHEAs, Androstenedione, Prolactin, DHT, TSH, free T3, reverse T3, free T4, thyroid antibodies (anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin), fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, HbA1c, 2-hour glucose tolerance test with glucose and insulin measurements done fasting, 1 hour and 2 hours after the glucose drink, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, cortisol a.m., MTHFR, CBC, electrolytes, hsCRP, ESR.
Any or all of these tests might be appropriate. Most of them will be covered by OHIP if ordered by a conventional medical doctor. I can run these tests for you as well; however, OHIP will not cover the cost if they are done through me. Although we only charge what the lab charges us for the tests, the cost can be substantial (~$400-500).
Anti-phospholipid Antibodies
Anti-phospholipid antibodies may be increased in women who have an immune reaction to their partner’s sperm. Research is inconclusive as to what impact these antibodies may have on female infertility. This test is currently only available through your MD.
Reference: Chighizola CB, de Jesus GR.Antiphospholipid antibodies and infertility. Lupus. 2014 Oct;23(12):1232-8. doi: 10.1177/0961203314529171.
Natural Killer (NK) Cell Activity Assay
Further research is needed before NK cell assessment can be recommended as a diagnostic tool in the context of female infertility or recurrent miscarriage. This test is currently only available through your MD.
Reference: Seshadri S, Sunkara SK.Natural killer cells in female infertility and recurrent miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2014 May-Jun;20(3):429-38. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmt056. Epub 2013 Nov 27.
Th1/Th2 Cytokine Ratio
Overstimulation of T helper 1 (Th1) or Th2 cytokines in systemic and local environments, alterations of the prevalence of IL17 and regulatory T cell (Treg) cytokines have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of implantation failure. This test is currently only available through your MD.
Reference: Decreased suppressor activity of the immune system may play a role in implantation failure: Ozkan ZS, Deveci D, Kumbak B, Simsek M, Ilhan F, Sekercioglu S, Sapmaz E. What is the impact of Th1/Th2 ratio, SOCS3, IL17, and IL35 levels in unexplained infertility? J Reprod Immunol. 2014 Jun;103:53-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2013.11.002. Epub 2013 Dec 8.
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pamela Frank, ND