Planning / 25 March, 2025 / My Baba

From Anxiety To Action: Why More Couples Are Opting For Fertility MOTs In 2025

Fertility concerns are on the rise, and more couples than ever are choosing to take control of their reproductive health before trying to conceive. In 2025, the demand for Fertility MOTs—comprehensive assessments that provide insights into fertility potential—is soaring. Driven by factors like delayed family planning, lifestyle changes, and increased awareness, couples are swapping uncertainty for empowerment by proactively understanding their fertility status.

In this article, Medical Director at abc IVF Professor Geeta Nargund explores why fertility check-ups are becoming a must-have for modern couples, what’s involved in a Fertility MOT, and how early intervention can improve future family-planning options.

Fertility anxiety is a growing concern for many young people. Our research has revealed that 56% of Gen Z experience some form of fertility anxiety, with almost a quarter feeling pressure to take proactive steps to mitigate future infertility issues by freezing their sperm or eggs because of social media.

While it is reassuring to see conversations around fertility health become more open, we do have to be cautious. As an increasingly common theme with social media, online content commonly fails to reflect the full picture and can be a potentially harmful source of distorted, incomplete or plainly untrue information.

Nevertheless, this encouraging rise in awareness has led to a clear uptick in fertility testing, with almost half of Gen Z having either considered or already undertaken a fertility MOT by a specialist at a fertility clinic.

Additionally, more couples are understanding that both men and women have an equal part to play in fertility, which has led to a notable rise in couples opting for joint fertility assessments in 2025, a positive trend that is likely to continue.

The benefits of a couple’s fertility MOT

With more and more young people paying attention to their fertility health, it’s perhaps unsurprising that couple’s fertility testing has seen a recent surge in popularity.  For many people, fertility anxiety stems from a fear of the unknown, so the joint fertility MOT is a great option to arm couples with the information they need to fully understand their unique fertility circumstances and relieve some of that anxiety.

The downsides of ‘at home’ testing kits

Some couples have turned to the growing range of ‘at home’ testing kits as a convenient and discreet testing option, but it’s important to recognise that these may not provide the full picture. A fertility MOT run in a fertility clinic provides an in-depth evaluation with medical experts, including blood and semen tests, as well as scans to paint a comprehensive picture of a couple’s fertility health. By identifying and understanding any specific biological issues, couples are empowered to make informed decisions on starting a family – if and when they so choose.

Importance of early detection

Early detection of medical issues can also lead to timely treatments, potentially preventing significant barriers to natural conception further down the line. But for those who are unable to conceive naturally (which could be due to a number of reasons), uncovering this early will allow for more time to come to terms with the information and to put into motion any steps needed to prepare for fertility treatment down the line – should they wish to have it. This could include financial planning and adopting healthy lifestyle changes to help prepare the body for fertility treatments, as general health and fertility are closely linked.

Male fertility matters

Despite increasing awareness, male infertility is still widely misunderstood.   What is often ignored is the fact that men too have a biological clock which plays an important role in fertility and the success of IVF treatment. Indeed, male infertility is a contributing factor in up to 50% of cases and is the sole cause in about 30% of cases. Despite this, fertility is still widely thought of as a ‘woman’s problem’ – a misconception that can prevent men from seeking help and contribute to delayed treatment for many couples.

Paternal age has a real bearing on fertility.

The media certainly has a role to play in bolstering the myth that men do not have a biological clock. Over the last few years, geriatric fathers have been glamorised in the press with celebrities like Al Pacino, Mick Jagger and Robert De Niro re-entering fatherhood in their seventies and eighties. The ‘old dads club’ story makes for great headlines, but we mustn’t forget that these cases are exceptions to the rule and that paternal age has a very real bearing on fertility for men in the majority of cases.

Couples need to consider male fertility alongside female fertility when planning for a family. The rise in fertility MOTs for couples reflects a broader understanding of the need to assess both partners’ reproductive health to improve the chances of conception. While there’s still much work to be done to ensure men are fully educated on their fertility, it is promising to see more couples taking this step.

Taking control of your fertility health

Overall, it is encouraging to see a rise in fertility awareness, with men paying increasing levels of attention to their reproductive health. However, there’s still work to be done to ensure both men and women have access to education to understand their unique fertility profiles. Even for couples who are unsure about their future family planning, a couple’s fertility MOT can be a great first step in understanding their reproductive health so they can make informed decisions about their future.

What Happens Behind The Embryology Laboratory Door? Top Embryologist Reveals All

12 Things You Can Start Doing to Improve Your Fertility