How to Test Your Preconception Health

Sometimes, our own personal body can feel like a mystery. It feels like we know all about our own body, but there are also unanswered questions about "what's really going on" in there. The unknown status of our true physical health is worrisome for new parents-to-be prior to conception. There are medical lab tests that can actually assess the functional, nutritional, and hormonal health status of your body AND, there are ways to address the areas that are shown as 'suboptimal' on lab tests.

Nutritional Testing

Nutritional testing provides a road map as to how to better approach your and your body's nutritional needs. A functional nutritional assessment such as, Spectracell Micronutrient Test, can show both parents-to-be specifically what nutrients they need to enhance prior to conception. A nutritional status test is typically performed 6 months prior to conception, however it can be done at anytime including during pregnancy. If a functional nutritional test is unavailable any health care provider can run basic nutritional testing such as vitamin B12/B6, folate, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium. Enhancing your nutritional information regarding your and your partner's body prior to conception, serves to enhance the health of you and your future baby.

Hormone Testing

Another common concern prior to pregnancy is hormone balance. If you have never been tested for hormonal regularity, your hormonal balance may be an underlying worry. The main hormones for fertility and retention of a healthy pregnancy are FSH, LH, Progesterone, Estradiol, Estrone, Testosterone, and TSH/Free T3/Free T4 for thyroid function. All of these tests can be performed in any regular lab setting. However, there are also functional salivary hormone tests run for fertility assessment by companies such as ZRT laboratory. Comparing traditional with alternative hormone testing gives a complete and thorough hormone balance evaluation. There ARE many simple, natural, nutritional, herbal and even pharmaceutical, if necessary, techniques to create hormone balance IF lab results re sub-optimal. A hormone test that has variations is not a cause for concern, but a place to improve with some time and attention to the areas of imbalance.

The more information you have about your body, the more you know, AND, the better you prepare! Information from lab testing is all about empowering you on your journey for the best you and the healthiest baby.