Why women are choosing to have fertility MOTs
Over the last few years, you may have noticed a slight shift in how women approach their reproductive health. An increasing number of women are choosing to get fertility MOTs before they are even ready to start a family. Not after they have made the decision to actually try and conceive, and most certainly not after months of stress and uncertainty of trying.
The fertility MOT has become something of a rite of passage for women in their 20s and 30s, particularly in cities, and among anyone who simply does not wish to be blindsided by the uncertainties of the future. Fertility MOTs are for the planner, the curious, the cautious and the unsure among us. Which is to say, most of us. Let’s take a dive deep into these fertility assessments to figure out what they involve and why this trend is set to continue to grow with time.
What is a fertility MOT?
Think of a fertility MOT as a check-up, but focused entirely on your reproductive system. The suite of tests you go through usually includes an AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) test, a transvaginal ultrasound, a saline hysterography (aqua scan), along with hormone blood tests and pelvic scans to check for potential physiological issues like PCOS or fibroids.
To put in layman terms, these tests are conducted to give you a snapshot of your current fertility potential. This includes how many eggs you might have left, how your menstrual cycle is functioning, and if anything about your reproductive system seems like it could lead to issues with conception.
Why are more women having fertility MOTs?
Before anything else, it’s important to note fertility tests shouldn’t be considered a crystal ball that guarantees you’ll be able to conceive. It does not guarantee or rule out anything. What it does provide, however, is data. This data, for a lot of us, can give the power to plan our pregnancy in a way that the other aspects of life, from career, overall health, to finances, don’t get severely affected by it.
Keeping that in mind, it’s easy to spot a few big reasons behind contributing to the decision to go for a fertility MOT. First, the age factor. It’s a scientific fact that our fertility declines with age, but the pace of that decline varies wildly from person to person. Some women’s AMH levels stay high well into their mid 30s. Others, however, may see a significant drop upon entering their 30s.
Secondly, how we live our lives has changed dramatically over the years. Education. Jobs. Mental health. Dating. Marriage. Finances. Travel. Family commitments. Socialising. Somewhere in the middle of all that lie the questions: When do I have kids? Do I even want them? Can I afford to wait? When surrounded by all these uncertainties, fertility MOTs can help clear a lot of the fog and help ground our choices in something more tangible than any external factor like societal pressure.
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, access to these tests. Fertility tests are more available, more affordable, and more openly talked about than ever before. These tests have gone from a niche medical procedure that women underwent only during difficult situations to a more mainstream check-up that every woman within their 20s and 30s is encouraged to go for.
It’s not always comfortable, though
Keeping all the reasons we discussed aside, it’s important to address a certain tension that may be borne upon undergoing a fertility MOT. After all, while some women feel assured and empowered by the results of their test, others, understandably, feel panicked and surprised. Learning that your egg count is lower than expected or spotting irregularities you previously didn’t know about can shake anyone.
Not only that, but as mentioned before, the results of a fertility MOT does not make a conclusive statement on your fertility. You can have great test results and still struggle to conceive later. Or, conversely, get poor numbers and go on to have children without issues. Hence, why it’s important to reiterate the way fertility MOTs should be perceived. Not as verdicts or some life-dictating factor, but as data that simply informs –- something doctors stress in studies.
Who should consider one?
Coming to a more open-ended part of this conversation, you don’t need to be trying for a baby to have a fertility MOT. You don’t need a partner, and you don’t need to feel “ready” either. Some go for a test simply to get a baseline, while others do it to consider whether to freeze their eggs or not. It’s also just a neat way to figure out what’s going on within our bodies and satiate that curiosity.
The most common barrier to consider, of course, is cost. Although prices have dropped in recent years, fertility MOTs can range anywhere from £100 to £1,000 depending on the clinic and test scope. Some private health insurers now offer coverage or discounts, and more transparency in pricing has made it easier to shop around.
How fertility MOTs are changing the way we talk about fertility
What we’re getting from fertility MOTs is a net positive, at the end of the day. Instead of reactive conversations around the matter, there’s a shift towards proactive and preventive thinking. It’s great to see fertility being treated as more like a long-term health metric and not something you begin to look after when things are already problematic. So, if you’re curious — or just tired of guessing — do consider looking into a fertility test for women.
What these tests also provide is an open space for more honest dialogue around the matter, with women swapping stories, sharing the end results, and of course, figuring out their lives with more clarity as a result. A fertility MOT won’t give you a full answer. But it gives you a bit of certainty. A pattern to follow. A red light to stop and consider. Most importantly, a green light to do whatever you find the best for yourself.
