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Wednesday, 25 January 2006 11:04

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Fertility predictor unvieled

A new test that allows women to predict the rate at which their fertility is declining is being offered by private health providers.

The Plan Ahead test, which costs £179 and is not available on the NHS, works by measuring the number of eggs in a woman’s ovaries and indicating what that level will be in two years time.

It is hoped the test will allow women to judge how long they can delay trying for a baby.

Professor Bill Ledger, of Sheffield University, who developed the test kit, said he was confident it was an accurate predictor of fertility.

"If having family is the most important thing, you're best trying to have babies when you're in your twenties - there's no question that the longer you delay, the bigger your chance of heartbreak," he said.

"But I think the reality of modern life is that women in the Western world, for all sorts of good reasons, are putting off starting a family until they are in their thirties.

"There is more research going on but this is good enough to do what it says it does - give people a two-year warning that their ovarian reserve is declining."

The test measures the levels of three fertility hormones in the blood and compares the results with the average fertility for the woman’s age.

On the third day of her period, a woman gives a small blood sample, which is sent to a laboratory for testing to measure the level of the hormones. The first two, Inhibin B and AMH, decline as the menopause approaches, while the third, FSH, tends to increase.

A combination of the three indicates the woman’s reserve fertility for the next two years, scientists say.

Female fertility drops sharply from the age of 35, on average, but some women are affected even earlier. One per cent of women experience menopause before the age of 40, but fertility begins to decline a number of years beforehand.

Clare Brown, chief executive of Infertility Network UK, said the test would allow women to make a more informed decision about when to start a family.

But she added: "It is important to realise that whilst Plan Ahead is a valuable test, there are other factors that may cause difficulties in conceiving so it is vital that men and women make sure they are fully informed when making decisions on when to have a family."

Dr Susan Bewley, pregnancy specialist at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, recently warned in a British Medical Journal article that women risked heartbreak if they delayed attempting to conceive.

She said: "The only reliable test of fertility is actually trying to get pregnant. Test kits are likely to lead to people putting off that process and can give false reassurance.

"Couples would be better off spending their money on a candlelit dinner."

Dr Allan Pacey, secretary of the British Fertility Society, said: "This will be a useful test for those women who want to be able to better plan when they want to have their children.

"However, they should remember that female fertility declines with age and that there are dangers of leaving things too late in life.

"IVF doesn't work for everyone and there are dangers in thinking it can."

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