Health Screenings and Preparation: Ensuring You’re Ready for the Fertility Journey
How to Be Your Healthiest Possible Self Before Fertility Treatment
The idea of a “healthiest” self varies from person to person, but October's pink ribbons are a reminder that taking charge of your health isn't just about one month or one type of screening. It's about building a foundation for your future. If you're considering fertility treatment, preparing your body as best you can will help fortify that foundation.
That’s why it’s important to make sure you're starting your journey from the strongest, healthiest place possible. Most of what you’ll need is straightforward, and your healthcare team is there to guide you along the way.
Getting the Full Picture: Your Health Baseline
When fertility specialists talk about a "comprehensive health assessment," they mean getting to know your body inside and out. This isn't about finding problems—it's about understanding your unique health profile so your treatment can be tailored specifically for you.
Your doctor will start with the basics: a thorough medical history and a complete physical exam. Next, you’ll have blood tests. Don't be surprised if your lab order looks extensive. A complete blood count checks for anemia (super common and something that can leave you feeling exhausted during treatment). Basic metabolic panels make sure your kidneys and liver are ready to process all those fertility medications safely.
Hormone testing is also done with blood tests. Your Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level gives doctors an indication of your ovarian reserve (basically, how many eggs you're working with). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) tests, usually done on specific cycle days, reveal how well your ovaries are responding to your body's natural signals. If your cycles are irregular, expect additional hormone checks including prolactin (which can interfere with ovulation when elevated) and androgens like testosterone to screen for conditions like PCOS.
Additionally, if you have ever experienced a pregnancy loss, an additional panel of tests is done to try to ascertain the cause in hopes of preventing it from happening again.
Want to know more about what fertility tests are done, and what they mean? Check out our Sunfish Youtube Channel, where we discuss these in depth with Dr. Jason Yeh, reproductive endocrinologist and Sunfish advisor.
You'll also get tested for vitamin D and B12 levels. Both are crucial for fertility and pregnancy health. Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common and can impact treatment success, while B12 deficiency can affect everything from energy levels to proper cell division. Your blood type and Rhesus (Rh) factor will be determined too. Both are needed in the event of surgical complications or prior to pregnancy in general and your team will need to address Rh mismatches between a carrier and a fetus to avoid potential complications.
Some clinics go deeper, testing inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, or checking for autoimmune conditions, especially if you've experienced pregnancy loss. If you or your family have a history of blood clots, coagulation studies might be added to the mix, since fertility treatments can temporarily increase clotting risk.
A comprehensive pelvic ultrasound is also a routine part of your fertility checkup. This scan is meant to establish a baseline for your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes while checking for conditions like fibroids, polyps, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and cysts.
Breast Health Matters Year-Round
While October's breast cancer awareness campaigns focus our attention on mammograms, breast health considerations during fertility treatment deserve year-round attention. Here's something many women don't realize: the hormonal rollercoaster of fertility medications can temporarily change your breast tissue, making it denser and more sensitive.
If you're over 40, make sure your mammogram is current before starting treatment. For younger women with family histories of breast and/or ovarian cancer, this might be the moment to explore genetic counseling and consider BRCA testing or starting breast cancer screening at an earlier age.
Have a history of benign breast lumps or other breast conditions? Loop in your breast health specialist early. Your fertility team and breast health doctor should be talking to each other, too. They’re all part of your team.
Don't Skip the Pap: Cervical Health Matters
It’s true: Nobody loves Pap smears. But staying current with cervical cancer screening is non-negotiable before fertility treatment. Here's why: if abnormalities pop up, they're much easier to address before you're pregnant. Pregnancy can complicate both diagnosing and treating cervical issues, so keep up with the screening schedule your doctor recommends.
Current guidelines suggest Pap tests every three years for women 21-29, and every three to five years for women 30-65 (depending on HPV co-testing). If your results come back abnormal, you might need additional procedures like colposcopy or treatment for precancerous cells. These procedures need healing time and follow-up testing, which would factor into treatment timelines.
Your Heart Deserves Attention Too
Pregnancy is basically a nine-month cardiovascular workout, and fertility treatments can put extra demands on your heart. A basic cardiovascular check-up includes blood pressure monitoring, lipid and cholesterol levels.
If you already manage conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, now's the time to optimize that control. Sometimes medications need tweaking, and better disease management before conception can actually improve your fertility treatment success rates.
Metabolic Detective Work
Your metabolism affects everything from how you respond to fertility medications to how well a pregnancy might progress. Thyroid function testing is absolutely essential, since thyroid disorders are surprisingly common in women and often go undiagnosed. Both overactive and underactive thyroid conditions can impact fertility and pregnancy.
Diabetes screening through glucose tolerance testing or A1C measurement isn't just about diagnosing diabetes—it's about catching prediabetes too. Elevated blood sugar can affect treatment outcomes, but early detection gives you time to make changes.
Infection Prevention Plan
Standard infectious disease screening covers the usual suspects: hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis, plus checking your immunity to rubella, measles, and varicella. Some clinics also test for toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus antibodies. This isn't about judgment—it's about protecting your health and your future pregnancy.
Sexually transmitted infection screening, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, is also standard. Even infections without symptoms can impact fertility and treatment success, so it's better to know and treat if necessary.
If you are concerned that you may have a vaginal infection, like yeast, or a urinary tract infection, make sure to mention it to your doctor as soon as possible. Untreated infections can increase risk of complications when undergoing fertility treatments or during pregnancy.
Mental Health Matters Most
That was a lot, so let's take a deep breath. Fertility treatment is emotionally intense. Physical demands and preparedness are just one part of the equation. Depression and anxiety are incredibly common among women dealing with fertility challenges, and these conditions can actually impact how well treatments work.
Many fertility clinics now include mental health screening as part of their standard evaluation. Don't be surprised if you're asked to fill out questionnaires about your mood and stress levels. There’s no judgment. The screenings recognize that taking care of your emotional health is just as important as managing your physical health. And if you’re struggling, there’s help.
At Sunfish, our IVF Success Members can choose to see a fertility mental health coach at a special rate, if they’re looking for deeper support.
Putting It All Together: Your Personal Timeline
Working with your healthcare team to map out your screening timeline ensures nothing falls through the cracks. Some tests might need updating if a lot of time passes between your initial evaluation and starting treatment.
As we acknowledge breast health awareness this October, remember that comprehensive preventative care is about so much more than any single screening. Taking charge of your overall health before fertility treatment isn't just about optimizing your chances of success—it's about setting yourself up for a healthy pregnancy and long-term wellness.
Your fertility journey is uniquely yours, but your healthcare team is there to help you navigate, to guide you, to answer questions, and to make sure you're starting from the strongest possible foundation—so your body and mind are ready for the adventure ahead.
At Sunfish, we help guide and support you throughout your journey, providing resources built with our medical advisory team for every step, from getting started through your treatment cycle. To learn more about how we are making family-building accessible to all, please read about our IVF Success Program.
