Off The Charts

Should You Test Your Fertility Before Trying? with Dr. Alana Shaw, ND

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Fertility testing has become mainstream — but most women still don’t fully understand what those results actually mean.

In this episode, Dr. Parmar sits down with Dr. Alana Shaw, ND to unpack what fertility testing actually tells you — and what it doesn’t — in a world flooded with online fertility advice.

They break down AMH, antral follicle count, and pelvic/endovaginal ultrasound as screening tools, then connect it to the real-life questions women are asking:

  • “Should I test before I even start trying?”
  • “Does low AMH mean infertility?”
  • “Why is IVF a numbers game?”

    • They also touch on the bigger clinical context — including painful periods that get normalized, and why better screening and better explanations matter.

    Dr. Shaw also shares about her clinical work at Mint Integrative Health (Vancouver).

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

    • What AMH measures (ovarian reserve) vs what it doesn’t measure (natural fertility prediction)
    • Why low AMH ≠ “you’re infertile”
    • Why IVF outcomes are a “numbers game”
    • What antral follicle count (AFC) is and why it’s often paired with AMH
    • Why age tends to predict egg quality better than AMH does
    • What clinicians can learn from endovaginal ultrasound (cysts, endometriomas, fibroids, adenomyosis screening)
    • Who fertility “pre-screening” may be most helpful for (especially people who want kids but don’t have a pathway yet)

      • TIMESTAMPS

      • 00:00 — Painful periods being normalized
      • 02:00 — “Fertility online” and why people are confused
      • 24:30 — Who should consider prescreening
      • 25:50 — Low AMH: what it means (and what it doesn’t)
      • 26:10 — IVF is a numbers game
      • 35:45 — AFC + endovaginal ultrasound explained
      • 51:50 — IUDs as “good medicine” / non-contraceptive use 

        • ⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication.

        TOP REFERENCES:

        • Ovarian Reserve Testing (AMH, AFC) + Interpretation ASRM Practice Committee Testing and interpreting measures of ovarian reserve (Committee Opinion, 2020) https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/testing-and-interpreting-measures-of-ovarian-reserve-a-committee-opinion-2020/
        • NCBI Bookshelf (Endotext) Ovarian Reserve Testing https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279058/
        • ACOG Practice Bulletin Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Implants and Intrauterine Devices https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2017/11/long-acting-reversible-contraception-implants-and-intrauterine-devices
        • Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Guidance NICE Guideline NG88 (PDF) Heavy menstrual bleeding: assessment and management https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng88/resources/heavy-menstrual-bleeding-assessment-and-management-pdf-1837701412549
        • Endometriosis (Prevalence + Overview) World Health Organization (WHO) Fact Sheet Endometriosis https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis

          • CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH

          • Website → https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/
          • Book a Consult → https://gravityhealth.janeapp.com/
          • Mint Reproductive Health → https://mintreproductivehealth.com/
          • Dr. Alana Shaw → https://alanashawnd.com/

            • FOLLOW US

            • Instagram (Clinic) → https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/
            • Dr. Bobby Parmar → https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/
            • Dr. Paul Maximus → https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/
            • Mint Reproductive Health → https://www.instagram.com/mintreproductivehealth/

              • Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship.

              Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

              For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit:

              • https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use
              • https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer
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                Off The ChartsBy Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND