Vol. 3 | What is Modern Fertility? AMH and Hormone Testing to Understand Before Trying to Conceive [Amina's Lens]
Modern Fertility
Before trying to conceive, consider understanding your own body.
AMH, ovarian age, hormone testing.
These insights might not be meant to make you rush, but rather to help you envision your future on your own terms.
You can access the official Modern Fertility website introduced today here.
Visit the official Modern Fertility website1｜Before feeling pressured by the term "trying to conceive"
Lately, I often come across the phrase "trying to conceive."
Age, egg count, ovarian age, AMH.
If you type it into a search bar, information floods in.
But much of it,
"You should act now"
Sometimes I feel like it carries an anxious tone.
When I was 27, I had just finished my PhD in London and started working at a VC fund.
My mind was completely focused on my career, and pregnancy and childbirth were "someday" topics.
Nevertheless, deep down, I felt it.
That's when I encountered Modern Fertility, an at-home hormone testing kit.
Today, I want to write not about trying to conceive or infertility, but about the option of "understanding yourself before trying to conceive."
2｜What is Modern Fertility?｜At-Home Hormone Testing
Modern Fertility is a femtech company from the US.
You collect a small blood sample from your fingertip at home and mail it in. Then, hormone levels such as AMH can be checked online.
It's not a diagnosis of "whether you can get pregnant," but an at-home hormone test to understand "the current state of your body."
The target audience is not limited to those undergoing infertility treatment.
- Those who haven't decided if they want to get pregnant in the future
- Those considering egg freezing
- Those who have started thinking about the timing of their career and childbirth
I felt that the essence of this service lies in the fact that it's not "just for those who want to get pregnant right away."
3｜What is AMH testing for? — A new perspective on preconception hormone testing
AMH testing itself is not a new technology. It can also be done at clinics in Japan.
However, traditionally,
- As part of infertility treatment
- Bridal checkup
- Confirmation of "whether one's body can get pregnant"
These were the contexts in which it was often discussed.
Modern Fertility posed a completely different question.
Not for a partner, nor for family, but "data for women themselves to make future decisions."
This perspective was shocking to me at the time.
4｜What's new?｜Three shifts
Discussions about pregnancy and infertility are strongly linked to the hospital setting. But Modern Fertility brought testing "into everyday life."
This not only offered convenience but also significantly lowered the psychological barrier.
Results can be viewed online, and comprehensive explanatory content is also available.
It's not just about providing numbers; the "process of understanding" is also designed.
This test does not determine your future.
However, it can transform the "anxiety of imagining without knowing" into "material for consideration."
This philosophy was truly revolutionary.
5｜Dr. Amina's Perspective｜Why I was so drawn to it
At the time, I strongly wanted to invest in this company.
However, most of the investment team were men, and the question "Why is this necessary?" was repeatedly asked.
That question is valid.
But there was a slight disconnect from the perspective of someone with a female body.
I felt this way:
This is about "how I want to live" and making that decision for myself.
There's the option to prioritize your career at 25, to consider egg freezing at 30, or to do nothing at all.
But any of these choices might be a little more liberating than remaining in a state of "not knowing."
This experience became one of the origins of founding fermata.
6｜What about at-home hormone testing in Japan?
Recently, the number of hormone testing kits available in Japan has also increased.
However,
- Specimen management and medical collaboration
- The way information is presented
- Consultation support system for receiving results
These require careful design.
And above all, in Japan, there is still a cultural atmosphere where "talking about pregnancy is a bit taboo" and "thinking too much makes you anxious."
That's why I believe this isn't a matter of "whether it will become popular," but rather "whether society allows for such consideration."
7｜To the Future｜Measuring is not restricting
The terms hormone testing and AMH can sometimes be associated with pressure.
But I interpret it this way:
Measuring is having "material to consider your own future, in your own words."
Modern Fertility does not guarantee pregnancy.
However, I felt the power of knowing that "options exist" at that time.
Before being driven by the term "trying to conceive." Before feeling anxious.
The choice to quietly understand your own body.
Perhaps it's not about rushing the future, but about carefully considering it.
Next time: Non-blood collection hormone measurement
Next time, I'd like to delve a bit deeper into the new trend of "non-blood collection hormone measurement."
There are many options in the world that have not yet fully reached Japan. Fermata will continue to introduce products and services that support understanding one's body, making one's own choices, and connecting to medical care when needed.
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