Blood tests for trying to conceive, including IVF
For anyone trying to get pregnant or planning fertility treatment such as IVF, and for partners who produce sperm.
9 tests explainedAI-verified against cited sources. Awaiting expert reviewLast reviewed 2026-10-19
Fertility blood tests answer narrow questions: whether you're ovulating, how the ovaries may respond to IVF medicines, and whether something like a thyroid or prolactin problem could be getting in the way. None of them is a fertility score. Age is still the main guide to the chance of pregnancy, and a semen analysis is a separate test for partners who produce sperm.
The tests that matter most
Most important first. Each one links to its full page, where the note for this group sits near the top.
Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)
AMH helps predict how the ovaries may respond to the medicines used in IVF, and NICE uses it to help counsel about the chance of a live birth with assisted conception. NICE says it should not be used to predict the chance of getting pregnant without treatment. ASRM says it can be drawn on any day of the cycle.
Sources: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026) and American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021)
- Women, 20–24
- 1.2–12 ng/mL
- Women, 25–29
- 0.89–9.9 ng/mL
Progesterone
A mid-luteal progesterone test shows whether you ovulated in that cycle. NICE offers it even when cycles are regular, while ASRM says a regular cycle is usually enough to show ovulation. ASRM suggests timing the test about 1 week before your next period is due, rather than always on day 21.
Sources: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026) and American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021)
- Usual adult range
- up to 1 ng/mL
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
ASRM suggests measuring FSH together with estradiol on days 2 to 4 of the cycle, and NICE offers FSH and LH when cycles are irregular. NICE says FSH should not be used to predict how the ovaries will respond to IVF or how IVF will turn out.
Sources: American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026)
- Usual adult range
- 1.5–12.4 mIU/mL
Estradiol (E2)
Estradiol is read together with early-cycle FSH. When periods have stopped, ASRM says the pair can tell ovarian insufficiency (high FSH with low estradiol) apart from missed periods caused by the brain's signals slowing down (low or normal FSH with low estradiol).
- Usual adult range
- 7.6–42.6 pg/mL
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
NICE offers LH and FSH tests when cycles are irregular. ASRM lists LH among the tests not ordered routinely unless there is a specific reason.
Sources: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026) and American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021)
- Usual adult range
- 1.7–8.6 mIU/mL
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
Guidelines differ here. ASRM lists TSH as a possible routine test, with free T4 and thyroid antibodies if it's outside the range. NICE offers thyroid tests only when there are symptoms of thyroid disease.
Sources: American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026)
- Usual adult range
- 0.45–4.5 mIU/L
Prolactin
Both ASRM and NICE suggest prolactin only when there's a reason, such as irregular or missing periods, an ovulation problem or milky nipple discharge, rather than for everyone.
Sources: American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026)
- Men, 10+
- 2.1–17.7 ng/mL
- Women, 10+
- 2.8–29.2 ng/mL
Rubella IgG
NICE offers a rubella immunity test to anyone trying to conceive who isn't sure they've been vaccinated, so vaccination can come first if needed. It advises avoiding pregnancy for at least 1 month after the vaccine.
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026)
- Usual adult range
- 10 and above IU/mL
Testosterone, Total
For partners who produce sperm, NICE suggests considering testosterone and gonadotropin (FSH and LH) tests after 2 or more abnormal semen analyses, and the AUA and ASRM suggest FSH and testosterone when sperm counts are low. For people with ovaries, ASRM suggests testosterone when there are signs of extra androgens.
Sources: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2020) and American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021)
- Men, 20+
- 264–916 ng/dL
- Men, 18–19
- 150–785 ng/dL
Ranges shown are the usual adult ranges labs print. The range on your own report is the one your result is judged against.
Getting results you can compare
- Timing matters. ASRM says FSH and estradiol are drawn on days 2 to 4 of the cycle, AMH can be drawn on any day, and progesterone about 1 week before the next period is due.
- With long or irregular cycles, NICE says progesterone may need to be drawn later, for example day 28 of a 35-day cycle, and repeated weekly until the next period starts.
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026)
- AMH can read lower during or soon after using the combined pill, the international PCOS guideline notes, so it helps to mention any recent pill use.
Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2023)
Good to know
- A low AMH or high FSH doesn't by itself mean you can't get pregnant. ASRM says poor ovarian reserve results don't necessarily mean an inability to conceive, and calls ovarian reserve a poor predictor of fertility that can still help guide treatment.
- ASRM suggests starting an evaluation after 12 months of trying under age 35, after 6 months at 35 or older, and right away when there's a known reason, such as irregular cycles. It suggests evaluating both partners at the same time.
- Testosterone therapy is linked to lower sperm production and fertility. The Endocrine Society recommends against it for men planning to have children soon, so it's worth mentioning if a partner takes it.
Source: Endocrine Society (2018)
Questions you could ask
- Which day of my cycle should each test be drawn?
- What does my AMH result tell us, and what doesn't it tell us?
- Should my partner have a semen analysis at the same time?
- Given my history, would a thyroid or prolactin test help?
- Do I need a rubella immunity test before trying?
Sources
- Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (NG257), Investigation of fertility problems and management strategies, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2026)
- Fertility evaluation of infertile women: a committee opinion (2021), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Men: AUA/ASRM Guideline Part I (2020), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2020)
- Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline, Endocrine Society (2018)
- Recommendations From the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2023)
AI-verified against cited sources. Awaiting expert review. Last reviewed 2026-10-19. How we build and check these pages.
Educational information, not medical advice. Blood Test Tracker doesn’t diagnose or treat, and it doesn’t replace your clinician. Talk with your clinician before changing medications, supplements or care.