Short answer: a fertility test for women usually means an AMH blood test and a pelvic ultrasound scan, read together by a fertility doctor. Between them they estimate how many eggs you have left and check your womb and ovaries for anything that could get in the way, such as fibroids, polyps or cysts. A test cannot tell you whether you will get pregnant, and it says nothing about the quality of your eggs. At Veya the female fertility assessment costs £390, and that includes the doctor's review of your results.
Most people who book one are not in crisis. They want to know where they stand before they make a decision, whether that is about when to start trying, whether to freeze their eggs, or whether to stop waiting and ask for help.
The core of a female fertility test is two investigations.
An AMH blood test. AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) is made by the small resting follicles in your ovaries. The more follicles you have, the higher your AMH. That makes it a reasonable guide to your egg reserve and to how your ovaries are likely to respond to fertility medication. You can have the blood test on any day of your cycle. We have written a full guide to the AMH test if you want the detail.
A pelvic ultrasound scan. This is usually an internal (transvaginal) scan, because it gives a much clearer picture of the ovaries and womb than a scan through the tummy. It counts the small follicles visible in each ovary, known as the antral follicle count, which is a second measure of egg reserve alongside AMH. It also looks at the shape and lining of your womb and checks for fibroids, polyps and ovarian cysts. Fibroids are common, and more common in Black women, so this part of the scan matters.
Depending on your history, a doctor may suggest further tests. These can include hormone blood tests early in your cycle, a progesterone test in the second half of your cycle to confirm you are ovulating, thyroid and prolactin levels, or a HyCoSy scan to check whether your fallopian tubes are open. Nobody needs all of these, and you should not pay for any of them without a clear reason.
A fertility test cannot tell you whether you will conceive naturally. Plenty of women with a low AMH get pregnant without help, and a normal result does not guarantee a pregnancy. It does not measure egg quality, which depends mostly on your age. It cannot predict when you will reach the menopause. And it cannot check your partner's fertility, which is a factor for many couples who struggle to conceive. If you are trying as a couple, a male fertility test is a simple semen analysis and is worth doing at the same time.
What a test does give you is real information in place of guesswork. If your egg reserve is lower than expected for your age, you can plan around that now rather than discover it later.
Home kits usually measure AMH, sometimes with one or two other hormones, from a finger-prick blood sample you post to a laboratory. They can be a useful first look. The limits are that there is no scan, so nothing checks your womb, ovaries or follicle count, and the result usually arrives as a number on a report rather than a conversation with a doctor who knows your history.
A clinic test pairs the blood test with a scan, and a fertility doctor reads both results together. That is what lets them say what the numbers mean for you, rather than for an average woman your age.
On the NHS, your GP can arrange initial fertility tests at no cost once you meet the criteria. NHS guidance is to see your GP if you have not conceived after a year of regular unprotected sex, or sooner if you are 36 or over or have another reason for concern. Waiting times vary by area.
Privately, prices vary between clinics and depend on what is included. At Veya Fertility in London:
All of our prices are published in full on our prices page. You do not need a GP referral.
When you compare prices elsewhere, check whether the doctor's review is included. A test result without someone to explain it is half the job.
It is worth considering if any of these apply to you:
You do not need a reason beyond wanting to know. Plenty of women book an assessment in their late twenties or early thirties simply to plan with real numbers.
It starts with a free 15-minute call with one of our fertility specialists. We talk about your history and what you want to find out, and tell you honestly whether an assessment is worth doing now.
If it is, you come to our clinic near Euston and King's Cross for your blood test and scan, which take about an hour. Once the results are back, you have a 30-minute appointment with a fertility doctor who goes through each one in plain English and talks about what, if anything, you might do next. There is no obligation to book anything afterwards.
No. You can book a private fertility assessment directly. If you are eligible for NHS testing, your GP can also arrange initial tests, though waiting times vary.
The blood test is a standard blood draw. The internal scan can be a little uncomfortable but should not be painful, and it takes a few minutes. You can ask for a chaperone, and you can ask us to stop at any point.
The AMH blood test can be done on any day. For the scan, we will tell you when to book based on your cycle. If your periods are irregular, tell us and we will plan around that.
No. It estimates your egg reserve and checks your womb and ovaries, but it cannot predict whether you will conceive. A fertility doctor can tell you what your results mean for your options, which is more useful than any single number.
If you are trying as a couple, yes. Sperm quality is a factor for many couples who have difficulty conceiving, and a semen analysis is quick and simple. Our couple assessment covers you both for £495.
Want to know where you stand? Book a free 15-minute consultation with a fertility specialist. No referral, no pressure, and an honest answer on whether a test is worth doing now. Book a free consultation
