Product Description
Measure your biological clock with the new Plan Ahead ovarian reserve test:
It's never easy deciding when to try for a child. You maybe in a job you love and can't decide when would be best for you to take a break, or you may have had your first or second child and are thinking it would be nice to have a break before trying for the next.
One thing's for certain, your biological clock is ticking and you can't turn it back.
But you can understand whether your ovarian reserve is above average, average or below average for your age and it's a key element of fertility from the age of 28 onwards.
Plan Ahead is a new triple hormone blood test that gives you a predictive assessment of how many eggs remain in your ovaries helping you to decide whether you should plan to try for a baby now or whether you can wait.
Female Fertility
Delaying pregnancy is a common choice for women today, with at least 20% of women waiting to begin their families until after the age of 35.
For some women, the decision about whether to have a first or subsequent child is taken from them by 'happy accidents', or perhaps because they cannot conceive. For others, the 'right time' is difficult to assess - Have we got enough money? Is the house big enough? Should we wait until the baby is out of nappies before trying for another? Do I want to return to work? Am I too old?
Nowadays, it is common for women to postpone having children until their early 30's. While this will not present problems to some, other women in this age group will find it increasingly difficult to conceive.
Your Biological Clock
The 'biological clock' describes the decline in a woman's fertility as she grows older. It is a useful concept, but does not give the whole picture: the clock does not tick away at a constant rate while fertility gradually declines: it speeds up at about the age of 35, then comes to a halt as a woman passes through the menopause.
High profile celebrities having children in their 40's give the perception that our bodies have changed, that we can all have children later in life, and that science is making it safer. But this is not the case.
Although over the last 20 years our lifestyles have changed dramatically, our biological clocks haven't, and they continue to tick just as before. However every woman's 'clock' is different: in some women, the clock starts to run down much sooner than average, perhaps in their 20's. In others, it might keep going well into their 40's.
The Plan Ahead™ test assesses the quantity of eggs in a woman's ovaries. It does not measure their quality or your ability to conceive, which can be affected by many other factors. Although the Plan Ahead™ test uses the most up-to-date technology available in the market, before making any decisions based on the test results you should seek medical advice from your GP or a specialist clinic. If you have any concerns about your fertility it is also important that you seek medical advice from your GP or a specialist clinic.
The information provided in this website is for educational purposes only and it should not be relied upon for any other purpose. Lifestyle Choices do not accept any liability for any losses or damages suffered by anyone acting in reliance on this information or the results of the Plan Ahead™ test.
So how can you tell how fast your clock has been ticking so that you can plan when to start or grow your family?
What Does the PlanAhead Test Kit Contain?
- 1 x Letter from Lifestyle Choices with a User Name and Password
- 2 x Peelable stickers with a Unique Reference Number (URN)
- 1 x CE approved blood collection tube with blank name label (Vacutainer)
- 1 x CE approved plastic screw top safety mailing container with absorbent liner inside
- 1 x Grip seal plastic bag
- 1 x Padded envelope. Postage pre-paid for UK customers
Once you have sent everything back to LifeStyle Choice lab you will receive your results within around 14 days.
Important Notes
- If you are on the contraceptive or mini-pill you will need to stop taking it for at least 1 month before taking the test
- You should not be using the Mirena coil when taking the test
- You have a regular cycle of between 27 and 35 days.