P–730 “Fertility Check Up”: A proposal for assessment of women’s fertility potential. Analysis and evaluation of the first 200 women
Authors: Abdennebi I , Pasquier M , Vernet T , Levaillant J M , Massin N 
Published: August 2021

Study question

Is there an interest in offering a fertility assessment to all women, with or without proven infertility, whatever their personal situation or parental project ?

Summary answer

Assessing the fertility of all women allows us to inform and advise them, in order to optimize their chances to achieve their parenting project.

What is known already

In a society where the age of childbearing is increasing and where women want to be able to postpone their pregnancies and to plan their parenting plan, there is no medical recommendation to assess fertility of women who are single or who do not have proven infertility.

Study design, size, duration

We implemented a new proposal in our reproductive medicine department, the “Fertility Check Up” (FCU), allowing any woman, whatever her personal situation or parental project, to benefit from an evaluation of her fertility, as well as personalized information and advice, to optimize the realization of her life plan.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The FCU is carried out on female volunteers who do not need to be referred by a doctor. The fertility evaluation is performed by a self-questionnaire and an “all-in-one” ultrasound examination (Fertiliscan) including a complete pelvic ultrasound with a hysterosalpingo-foam-sonography (Hyfosy); this examination allows an anatomical and functional evaluation of the female reproductive system, in one step. Women then benefit from a personalized interview with a fertility specialist.

Main results and the role of chance

In the first year, 200 women aged 24 to 48 years old benefited from this examination, 56% of whom had never attempted to conceive. Anomalies found included: tubal diseases (29%), congenital or acquired uterine anomalies (11,5%), and endometriosis (6,5%). We concluded to a low ovarian reserve for age in 14% of cases. 84% of women say they felt little or no discomfort during the Fertiliscan. A questionnaire was sent to women 6 months after the FCU: among the 85 women with a desire for pregnancy at the time of the FCU, 29.1% obtained a pregnancy, and 36% began ART procedures. Among the women who had no plans for pregnancy, 50% stated that the completion of the FCU had modified their personal or professional plans regarding a possible desire for future pregnancy.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Women are informed that the FCU gives them indications about their theoretical chances of pregnancy, but that there is no way to be sure that a woman will ever bear a child, as 10% of infertilities remain idiopathic.

Wider implications of the findings: The proposal of fertility assessment for women, whether infertile or not, with or without immediate pregnancy plans, allows for information, advice and treatment if necessary. Women are better informed about their own fertility, and can get the best chances to achieve their parental project, with, or ideally without, assisted-reproductive-techniques.

Trial registration number

Not applicable