At-home FSH testing
There have been at-home tests for FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) for some time, but there is a new test being put out by First Response (a name that is probably familiar to all of you). I believe this is the first time a major company has put out such a test. For most women trying to conceive, it seems that this test could be wildly misused and/or misinterpreted, as discussed in this article that discusses a recent New York Times article about the test.
For women who have already undergone fertility testing and possibly treatment, however, an at-home test for FSH could be indispensable. The key distinction is being able to understand the meaning of FSH and its relationship to other fertility factors. While some RE’s follow the theory that you’re only as fertile as your highest FSH indicates (and thus any subsequent FSH reading after a high reading is pointless), other RE’s feel that fertility (specifically, response to stim medications) is tied to the FSH level in an individual cycle. So, rather than trying to get to the doctor’s office on a specific cycle day, patients could do the at-home test, share the results with their RE and then plan that month’s protocol accordingly. Depending on the result, additional testing may also be required, of course, such as an ultrasound and other blood tests. But being able to do the initial FSH test at home could be extremely beneficial. It will be interesting to see how the test is used and whether RE’s feel that the results are reliable compared to their own laboratories.
