At-home hormone (and fertility) testing – as good as the GP?

Words by Jessie Day

Hormones. And fertility. Two interwoven aspects of female health, whether you’re planning to have a baby, or not. And two things a time-poor GP can be reluctant to test and look into. After all, hormones (and fertility) are complex. Definitely too complex for the average 9.2 minute time slot we get right now, for our NHS first point of care. 

There’s an at-home answer for just about everything. But can a hormone and fertility test, done in the comfort of your own home/office space/hotel room (wherever you happen to be) really be as accurate – or as informative – as one done and sent off by your GP? 

We just need clarity

Founded by women, backed by science, and designed for everybody. For the team behind game-changing hormone and fertility test Hertility, at-home testing isn’t just as good as a GP or private clinic option. It’s far more. 

Your Hertility journey starts with a free online health assessment. From there, the team puts together a personalised hormone blood test, analysing up to 10 hormones – they’ll get it to you within three days. The finger-prick blood test comes with everything you need to collect your sample, along with a free returns envelope when you’re ready to send it back to the lab. 

Hertility’s accredited lab will then get busy analysing your hormone blood test. And within 10 days, you’ll see your results on your online dashboard. You’ll also get a comprehensive report from Hertility’s private gynaecology team. 

We’re fed up with multiple appointments

It can easily take four or five appointments, from that first GP visit, before you start to get answers about your hormonal health or fertility. And that’s without factoring in analysis, or follow-up with results. 

At-home tests are designed to be quick, with zero compromise on quality or accuracy. With Hertility, your test experience covers 3 appointments in 1 – health assessment (online), hormone blood test (at home) and report (online). From there, you can seamlessly book a 1-1 with an expert private gynaecologist. They’re ready to chat online or in-person, in London. 

We’re tired of fighting for a diagnosis

Sadly, many of us have an at-best frustrating story, when it comes to waiting (and in some cases, fighting) for a diagnosis. From infertility to debilitating hormonal issues, it just seems to take so much run-around, self advocating and hustling, to get that confirmation, clarity and next steps support. Hertility’s at-home test can currently flag nine of the most common gynae pathologies, which may lead to reduced fertility and specific gynae cancers.

We’re stuck on 10+ week waiting lists

At-home tests, by definition, are going to instantly cut the travel headaches. But they’re also wait list-free. 

Right now, the maximum waiting time for non-urgent diagnosis on the NHS is 18 weeks, from the day your appointment is booked, or when your referral letter makes it through the post.  consultant-led treatments. And, you can bet a fertility or hormone-related diagnosis will, in general, be in the ‘non-urgent’ box. 

That’s just too long. And let’s not mention your referral letter, crawling from out-tray to central processing. Hertility send your at-home test within 72 hours and results within 10 days.

We’d appreciate a follow-up

Once you’ve got that diagnosis (and how lucky you are), welcome to a world of fragmented aftercare. It can feel like absolutely nothing is joined up, when navigating a fertility or hormone-related diagnosis. From our experience, we’ve had to then proactively take our diagnosis to our GP, and start a familiar process all over again, for follow-up care. 

Hertility are on a mission to change this. Once your results are uploaded to your personalised online dashboard, you’ll get easy access to treatment and follow-up. It’s all under one roof – no need to start from scratch with a doctor (who may or may not have even seen your results).

What can an at-home hormone/fertility test show me? 

We spoke to Dr Sugha Murugesu, one of Hertility’s expert private gynaecologists, about a few of the (many) things a Hertility at-home hormone and fertility test can spot, and likely next steps from there.

Q: Can an at-home test help identify diminished ovarian reserve? 

A: Yes, through testing for various hormones, including low levels of AMH. Your follicles release a hormone called anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), and this can give an indication of your ovarian reserve, and your fertility. Low levels of AMH can suggest a small ovarian reserve.

Q: I struggle with irregular periods. Can Hertility help me work out why?

A: Irregular periods can happen for lots of reasons. You might have a hormonal imbalance, your lifestyle or diet could contribute, or you may have an underlying condition.

At Hertility, many of the hormones we test for can give you an insight into your hormonal health, and could help explain what’s causing the issue. Once you have your results, we’re on hand for a follow-up session to take you through next steps, like tackling those irregular cycles. 

Q: Can an at-home test pick up a thyroid issue?

A: Once we’ve got your finger-prick blood test, we can test T3, T4 and TSH in our lab. All of these are key players in both general health and ovulation. And from there, one of our gynaecology team can run through your results, highlighting anything that raises a red flag for thyroid concerns. 

Q: What about PCOS? 

A: Yes, we can definitely help with an indicated PCOS condition, based on your individual test results. 

Q: I have a family history of endometriosis – can an at-home test give me a head-start on diagnosis?

A: Based on your results (and that initial health assessment), your report will recommend further assessment for endometriosis. Again, we’re here for your next steps – once you have your results, you can book a private consultation with my amazing team. 

Ready to test? Head to Hertility and start their online assessment – it takes just 5 minutes. It shouldn’t be amazing, but isn’t it just?