Preconception Lab Testing to Optimize Health of Pregnancy

If you hope and plan to get pregnant soon, it is a good idea to get preconception bloodwork done. It can take at least 3 months to improve egg and sperm health or any abnormal values in your blood work. The basic testing to request from your practitioner include:

Full thyroid panel-TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and thyroid antibodies such as Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO) and Anti-thyroglobulin to check for the autoimmune disease, hashimotos

CBC- white blood cell count and checks for anemia

CMP- blood sugar and liver panel

HbA1C and fasting insulin- blood sugar status

Iron and ferritin

Homocysteine-an amino acid involved in the risk of placenta-mediated complications, including preeclampsia, placental abruption, fetal growth restriction, and pregnancy loss

Vitamin B12

Vitamin D – critical for immune status

HsCRP- checks for inflammation

Lipid panel- cholesterol is required for hormone production. Shows levels of good and bad cholesterol

Estradiol, FSH, LH, DHEA, and Testosterone-drawn on the 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th day of your cycle. Gives an insight to your fertility status.

 

READ THIS NEXT

MTHFR Implications on Fertility & Pregnancy

Stress & Fertility

Stress & Fetal Brain Development

Ways to Decrease the Stress Response

 

Unique Footprints Authors:

Elizabeth Rohe BSN, RN, IFMCP

Elizabeth is the Unique Footprints Functional Medicine Practitioner and has a passion for fertility, pre, and post-pregnancy health, and finding the root cause for multiple miscarriages. She also focuses on hormone balance, menstrual issues, fatigue, decreasing inflammation, gut and skin health, and overall wellbeing. Elizabeth recognizes that each person is genetically unique and wonderfully made, and your care should be specific to you. She looks at the body as one large interactive ecosystem focusing on whole-body health. Learn more about Elizabeth here.