Public conversations around infertility are finally becoming more open, emotional, and honest. Entrepreneur Namita Thapar recently spoke about her own IVF struggles, and fertility experts say stories like hers are helping shine a light on something many women do not realise early enough: fertility care does not begin with IVF. It begins much earlier, with basic health checks and reproductive assessments that are often delayed or completely missed.
Doctors say many women arrive at fertility clinics after months or even years of trying to conceive without having undergone essential diagnostic evaluations. And that delay can make a major difference.
Why early fertility testing matters more than people realise
According to fertility specialists, infertility is not simply about advanced treatment methods. “It is a diagnostic journey,” explain experts, stressing that several underlying issues can quietly affect fertility long before IVF even becomes necessary. One of the most overlooked steps is reproductive profiling, which includes:
- Ovarian reserve testing
- Hormonal assessments
- Thyroid evaluation
- Metabolic health screening
- Menstrual cycle analysis
- Male fertility assessment
Doctors say many patients only undergo these tests after failed conception attempts or unsuccessful IVF cycles.
Dr Apurva Satish Amarnath, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Kammanahalli. Bengaluru says, "Doctors note that conversations about infertility which Namita Thapar recently showed through her work bring attention to a critical reproductive health issue which people commonly fail to recognize. The medical field has established that infertility extends beyond its advanced treatment options which include IVF because patients often miss essential testing or receive it after their condition has progressed. Recent data from Indian fertility practices and 2025 2026 reports show that 50 60 of women who seek fertility treatment did not complete their initial medical assessment. Ovarian reserve assessment represents a crucial medical test which doctors often overlook because Anti-Müllerian Hormone testing shows how many eggs a woman has and when she will experience menopause. The absence of this information results in imprecise treatment planning.
Doctors say that about two IVF cycle failures which people describe in their stories show deeper medical issues which include poor ovarian reserve and hormonal imbalances and thyroid dysfunction and undiagnosed male factor infertility. The structured evaluation process enables earlier identification of these conditions which helps doctors select better treatment methods while improving patient outcomes."
Dr Apurva adds, "The timing of events stands as another crucial component. The age of 35 marks the beginning point at which people experience decreased fertility and waiting periods for tests and treatments lead to decreased chances of success. The process of early assessment enables healthcare professionals to make informed decisions about treatment which includes choosing when to preserve fertility.
Experts stress that infertility care must shift toward a more proactive and comprehensive approach which requires basic hormonal tests and ultrasound evaluations and partner assessments to be performed at the beginning of the patient process.
The main aspect to understand is that awareness functions as the essential element in this situation. Simple, evidence-based health checks can prevent emotional, physical, and financial strain by ensuring that fertility treatment is timely, targeted, and more effective."
The ovarian reserve test many women never hear about
One of the key evaluations doctors highlight is the Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test, which helps assess ovarian reserve, essentially indicating the number of eggs remaining and providing insight into reproductive ageing. Without this information, treatment planning becomes less accurate.
Specialists say low ovarian reserve, hormonal imbalance, thyroid dysfunction, and undiagnosed male infertility are among the most common hidden factors behind repeated IVF failures.
Dr Nayana D. H., Consultant, IVF, Aster Whitefield Hospital, expands on this and says, "Clinicians highlight that stories like those shared by Namita Thapar reflect a broader pattern seen in fertility practice. Clinicians demonstrate that their advanced treatments should not start until practitioners finish their primary assessment processes. From a medical standpoint, infertility is a diagnostic journey that extends beyond treatment pathways because patients need to complete their initial evaluations before they can achieve definitive results. Early reproductive profiling stands as the most overlooked component of fertility treatment. The process requires assessment of individuals through two main components: assessment of their ovarian reserve and menstrual cycle regularity, and evaluation of their thyroid and metabolic systems. The data from recent fertility trends in India show that most women who need specialist care wait until they experience their first unsuccessful pregnancy attempt or their initial treatment failure."
Dr Nayana adds, "Multiple systems work together to control human fertility. The reproductive capacity of women who seem completely healthy can be affected by hormonal imbalances, mild ovulatory problems and insulin resistance-related metabolic disorders. Most people who have these conditions will show no symptoms until they undergo their scheduled medical examinations.
The evaluation process needs to include both partners because this constitutes an essential missing element. Male factor infertility contributes to nearly half of all cases, yet is frequently assessed later in the process, leading to incomplete or delayed diagnosis. Experts explain that structured screening tests, which commence during early stages of development, do not result in excessive medical treatment because they assist doctors in making better treatment choices. The procedure helps determine who needs basic medical treatment or lifestyle changes before considering assisted reproductive methods. "
The fertility issues that often show no obvious symptoms
Doctors emphasise that many reproductive health issues remain invisible until tested properly. Even women who appear completely healthy may still experience:
- Mild ovulation disorders
- Thyroid imbalance
- Insulin resistance
- Elevated prolactin levels
- Metabolic dysfunction
“These conditions often show no symptoms until routine investigations are done,” fertility experts explain.
Why thyroid and iron levels also matter
According to Dr Madhu Patil, Consultant - Fertility Specialist at Motherhood Fertility and IVF, Sarjapur, Bangalore, fertility is deeply connected to overall metabolic and hormonal health. She points out that iron deficiency, thyroid imbalance, and poor blood sugar control are frequently overlooked despite playing a major role in reproductive health. Even mild thyroid dysfunction can interfere with ovulation and embryo implantation.
Simple health checks, hormonal evaluations, ultrasound scans, and partner assessments done early can prevent emotional, physical, and financial stress later on. Because sometimes, the most important step in fertility treatment happens before IVF even enters the conversation.
