I am not ready for a baby but want to understand my fertility health.
Fertility Health Checks and Testing
You do not need to be actively trying for a baby to learn more about your fertility. A fertility health check is the first step towards understanding your reproductive health and can identify possible infertility issues in both females and males. As your general health can influence your ability to conceive, the choices you make now can help support your reproductive health in the future.
While the effects of age on fertility are more pronounced in women, men also experience an age-related decline in fertility. If you are looking to fall pregnant in the future, it is important to understand how age impacts fertility at different stages of your life.
What is a Fertility Health Check?
A fertility health check is an assessment of your fertility and reproductive health.
Female fertility tests include blood tests to check your AMH and measure hormone levels, a pelvic ultrasound, a cervical screening test and infection screenings. In addition to testing, a complete fertility health check will involve understanding your medical history, menstrual cycle and reviewing any additional symptoms you may be experiencing for pre-existing conditions that can affect fertility.
Male fertility screening, will include a semen analysis and infection screenings. The results will provide an understanding of male fertility health, help identify any issues and inform your treating specialist.
Testing is a starting point for understanding your fertility health and exploring your options. Combined with other factors, a fertility health check can provide you with a guide as to your chances of conceiving. A fertility health check can be ordered through a GP, with most tests bulk-billed if you are Medicare-eligible.
When to Consider Fertility Testing
Fertility testing should be considered if you have any pre-existing conditions that could affect fertility, you are worried about your fertility or if you are trying to conceive without success. If trying for a baby, you should consider fertility testing if you are aged under 35 and have been trying to conceive for 12 months or more without success, or if you are aged over 35 and have been trying to conceive for 6 months or more without success. If you are planning a future pregnancy and want to understand your options, a female fertility test and male fertility screening are recommended. There are a couple of other considerations which may help you decide if you need fertility testing.
Females should consider fertility testing if:
- Your periods are irregular, absent or very painful
- You have a pre-existing condition that can affect fertility such as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) or endometriosis
- You have had previous sexually transmitted infections
- You have had cancer treatment, chemotherapy or pelvic surgery
- You have experienced recurrent miscarriage
Males should consider fertility testing if:
- You have concerns about erections, ejaculation or testicular health
- You have had previous sexually transmitted infections
- You have had cancer treatment or chemotherapy
Fertility testing can provide helpful insights into your reproductive health and support more informed decisions about family planning and fertility care.
Female Fertility Timeline
| Age 18-24 | "Best age" to conceive from a physical standpoint |
| Age 25-30 | Chance of getting pregnant without intervention remains steady |
| Age 31-35 | Chances of conceiving are still high but odds will start to decline |
| Age 36-40 | Greatest reduction in fertility, risks of chromosomal issues with eggs are higher |
| Age 41-45+ | Chances of conceiving are low, body is preparing for menopause |
Common female fertility tests include:
- AMH blood tests to help estimate ovarian reserve, which means the approximate number of eggs remaining in the ovaries
- Hormone blood tests to review hormones involved in ovulation and reproduction
- Ovulation and cycle history assessments to understand whether ovulation is occurring regularly
- Pelvic ultrasounds to assess the ovaries, uterus and your antral follicle count
- Tubal or uterine testing where clinically indicated, particularly if there is a history of pelvic infection, surgery, endometriosis or difficulty conceiving
AMH testing can be helpful for understanding ovarian reserve and planning fertility treatment, but it does not measure egg quality and cannot confirm whether you will conceive naturally. If you'd like to understand your fertility health better, you can learn more about AMH and ovarian reserve.
Male Fertility Timeline
| Puberty | Sperm production starts in the testes at puberty |
| Late teens to early 30s | This is the peak fertility period with high quality sperm |
| Late 30s | Sperm quality starts to decline gradually due to hormonal changes |
| Age 40-49 | Fertility issues become more common and the risk of genetic abnormalities increases. |
| Age 50+ | There is a noticeable drop in sperm quality and an increased risk of pregnancy complications and genetic abnormalities in offspring |
Male fertility screening provides an understanding of any male factors present that might be contributing to infertility. Male factors are involved in many cases of infertility, and most sperm issues do not cause obvious symptoms.
A semen analysis provides the most comprehensive assessment of male fertility. This test will assess:
- Sperm count or concentration
- Motility, or how well sperm move
- Morphology, or the size and shape of sperm
- Semen volume
- Other factors that may affect sperm health
A semen analysis can provide helpful information about sperm health, although one result does not always provide the full picture. Results can be affected by illness, medication and temporary lifestyle changes, so a repeat test or further assessment may be recommended. If you'd like to explore male fertility in more detail, you can read more about semen analysis and low sperm count.
Understanding Common Fertility Tests
Test | Who it's for | What it can help assess |
|---|---|---|
| Hormone blood tests | Female | Reproductive hormone levels, including hormones involved in ovulation and the menstrual cycle |
| Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) | Female | Ovarian reserve, or the estimated number of eggs remaining in the ovaries |
| Pelvic ultrasound with antral follicle count | Female | The number and size of the follicles in your ovaries to estimate your ovarian reserve |
| Progesterone blood test | Female | Whether ovulation has occurred |
| Full blood count and iron studies | Female | General blood health and iron levels |
| Rubella and varicella serology | Female | Immunity to rubella and chickenpox before pregnancy |
| Infectious disease screening | Female and male | Infections including HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis |
| Chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing | Female and male | Sexually transmitted infections that may affect reproductive health |
| Fasting glucose and insulin | Female | Blood glucose and insulin levels |
| Haemoglobin electrophoresis | Female | Certain inherited blood conditions |
| Blood group and antibodies | Female | Blood type and the presence of red blood cell antibodies |
| Vitamin D | Female | Vitamin D |
| Semen analysis | Male | Sperm count, motility and morphology, as well as semen volume |
| Cervical screening test | Female | Changes to cervical cells that may require further investigation |
| Genetic carrier screening | Female* | Whether you may be at risk of having a child with an inherited genetic disorder |
*For genetic carrier screening, the female partner is generally screened first. If she is found to be a carrier, screening of the male partner or sperm donor may then be recommended.
Understanding Your Fertility Health
Signs of Good Fertility Health in Women
- Regular periods (every 21 to 35 days)
- Mild to moderate premenstrual symptoms
- Clear signs of ovulation (e.g. changes in cervical mucus, mild cramping)
Signs of Good Fertility Health in Men
- Normal libido and erectile function
- Healthy semen analysis (volume, motility, count)
What to Watch
There are some factors which may indicate issues with fertility.
For women, this can include irregular or absent periods, severe menstrual pain, recurrent miscarriage, PMOS, endometriosis or a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
For men, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation concerns, previous testicular injury, low libido or a history of STIs may indicate an issue with fertility.
Even if you are in good health, this does not rule out fertility issues. Many male fertility concerns have no obvious symptoms and may only be identified through semen analysis or further fertility testing.
Planning Your Next Step in Fertility Care
A GP appointment is usually the best place to start. A GP can arrange your fertility testing and a referral to a specialist if needed. Some expenses are Medicare-eligible depending on the tests, provider and your individual circumstances.
Adora Fertility is focused on making fertility care more accessible and affordable. We bulk-bill the majority of Medicare-eligible expenses to keep our costs more affordable. Our fertility advisors are available to help you understand your options and plan next steps. You can learn more about the costs or book a free chat to speak with one of our team.
What Do Fertility Test Results Tell Us?
After fertility testing, your results will be reviewed by your GP or Specialist. Your fertility test results will help you plan next steps, in consideration of your age, medical history and family planning goals. That next step may involve guidance around preconception health and family planning. Depending on the results, some people may also be advised to undergo further testing or think about fertility treatment options. These options may include ovulation induction and ovulation tracking, intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), donor treatment or other additional services.
Testing will help you better understand your fertility health so your GP or specialist can guide you towards the support or care that is right for your situation and family planning goals.
Fertility Testing for Different Goals
Fertility testing is helpful for people in many different situations. This may include single people planning for a future pregnancy, heterosexual couples, same-sex couples, people using donor sperm, eggs or embryos and those considering fertility preservation.
Testing can help provide a clearer understanding of your fertility options and next steps. This may include conversations about timing, ovulation, donor pathways or which treatment options may be appropriate based on your fertility health and family planning goals.
For some people, the next step may simply involve trying naturally with a better understanding of their cycle and timing. Others may need treatments such as IUI, IVF, ICSI, donor treatment or egg freezing, depending on their individual circumstances.
The aim is to understand your situation clearly, then make decisions based on your medical history, fertility timeline and family planning goals.
