What The Experts Say
One major criticism of at-home tests is that they dont provide a full picture of fertility.
First off, you dont need to measure progesterone to know youre ovulating. More often than not, someone who is having regular, predictable cycles at a standard interval is almost certainly ovulating, Kawwass says. Additionally, progesterone levels can fluctuate depending on the time of day, so measures of adequate progesterone levels are often not helpful.
As for ovarian reserve, the science is mixed on how well it predicts your ability to get pregnant. In a 2017 JAMA study, researchers analyzed levels of AMH and FSH in the urine and blood of 750 women aged 30 to 44. Women who had abnormal levels of these hormones were not significantly less likely to becomepregnant than women with normal hormone levels.Study authors concluded that their findings did not support the use of urinary or blood FSH tests or AMH levels to assess natural fertility for women without a history of infertility who have been trying to conceive for three months or less.
Knowing your AMH might give you a sense of whether the number of eggs you have is high or low for your age. But it tells you nothing about the quality of those eggs, says Dr. Molly Quinn, an ob-gyn and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. And the majority of the time, if a couple is struggling to conceive, its not the ovarian reserve its myriad issues.
Choosing A Fertility Hormone Test
Like we said, there are so many fertility testing options on the market. If youre struggling with where to start, we always recommend starting with at-home testing options, for a few reasons:
But even in the at-home testing category, there are several different options. Its important to note that most at-home fertility tests measure various female fertility hormones. Choosing the right at-home fertility test for you often depends on what information you want to learn.
Here are a few common pieces of information you can learn from an at-home fertility hormone test.
Choosing the right at-home fertility test for you often depends on what information you want to learn.
Best For Ease Of Use: Everlywell
Everlywell
- Free testosterone
These tests can help you figure out your ovulation and overall fertility health. If one or more of these levels are out of range, it might make getting pregnant more challenging.
Everlywell does have a test for ovarian reserves, which can help tell you how many remaining eggs you have. It does this by checking your FSH levels at the beginning of your cycle on day three. Though not as reliable as some other tests, such as anti-mullerian hormone, it can help begin a conversation with your healthcare provider on your future fertility.
You can order a test kit online, and when it arrives in about one business day, youll register it on the website. The kit comes with lancets for pricking your finger, a blood collection card, and included instructions for collecting the sample and mailing it back. Your results are released online within a few days of the lab receiving the sample and are reviewed by a doctor.
The Womens Fertility test costs $149 with free shipping to 49 states. Users can get 15% off with a subscription. Insurance wont usually cover the cost, but you can use an FSA or HSA for payments.
Overall, users report mostly positive experiences with Everlywell. They are satisfied with the company’s responsiveness and customer service, but some say theres some difficulty in getting enough blood for a sample.
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Best For Quickest Results: Mira Fertility Starter Kit
Mira Fertility Starter Kit
Get 10% off the Mira Fertility Starter Kit with code BRIDES.
Key Specs
- Delivery: Ships to all states
- Results: Instant
Why We Chose It
The Mira Fertility Starter Kit stands out for its speedy results, which are definitely ideal when it comes to testing.
Pros
- Results within about 15 minutes
- Can conduct multiple tests at home
- Personalized and accurate ovulation
- Automatic Bluetooth syncing of hormone data to Mira App
Cons
- Pricier compared with other tests
- No online community
Overview
Luteinizing hormone is the main hormone responsible for ovulation, and tracking has never been made easier thanks to the Mira Fertility Starter Kit.
Once you receive your kit, dip the test wand into urine for 10 seconds. Then, you can insert the wand into the Mira Analyzer . It will help you track your luteinizing hormone and estrogen levels in real-time with 99% accuracy.
Within about 15 minutes, you get the exact number for your luteinizing hormone, but depending on the type of wands you buy, you can get more results. If youre buying the Mira fertility wands, you will be able to see your fertility window and hormone concentration for up to four days. And, the Mira fertility plus wands offer results for luteinizing hormone and estrogen for up to six days and family planning. Even better? Mira Fertility is recommended by obstetrics and gynecologists and its even approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration.
Weve Tried The Testing Options Learn The Best Ways To Test Your And Your Partners Fertility At Home As We Explore The Pros And Cons Of Our Top 7 Picks In 2022
It isnt always obvious how common fertility struggles are: up to one-quarter of all women in the United States trying to have a child struggle to get pregnant or carry a fetus to term. Fertility is the core of reproduction, but we can run into problems at every stage in the reproductive process because of anything from an unknown intersex status to being too stressed. If you and your partner are thinking about starting a family, have been trying for a few months with no success, or just want to be informed about any potential roadblocks in your future, checking your fertility may be the next best step. Its never been easier to analyze your sperm or check your ovarian reserve at home.
We thoroughly researched and tested the best at-home fertility tests on the market to give you the best information possible. This guide will explain the best tests pros, cons, and details of the best tests, covering everything from sperm motility to ovulation tracking.
If youre in a hurry, heres a list of our top picks.
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How Mira Fertility Plus Can Help To Track Your E3g Levels
Because women can only conceive a limited number of days per cycle, tracking your fertility hormones helps you identify exactly when your fertile days occur. Detecting a rise in E2, as shown by measuring E3G levels, is done to predict and detect ovulation.
Mira Fertility Plus measures your actual fertility hormone levels and gives a more accurate picture of fertility tracking by providing precise hormone measurements from multiple cycles. Tracking your cycle and fertility hormone levels can take the guesswork out of your fertility journey and support you with real-time data.
With clinically proven accuracy, the Mira Analyzer offers highly personalized fertility advice and is a complete solution for reliable, personalized, and comprehensive data if you are trying to get pregnant or tracking your hormones for other reasons.
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How Do You Use At
While each test will vary, most will require a small blood or urine sample. For the blood sample, at-home testing kits will include a lancing device to collect a small drop of blood from your finger. Urine tests are similar to pregnancy tests where you pee on a stick.
Depending on the style of the kit, you can test easily at home and get your results within minutes, or mail in your samples and wait to hear back after a few days.
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Best Support: Letsgetchecked Female Hormone Test
LetsGetChecked
Use code BRIDES30 for 30% off.
Key Specs
- Delivery: Ships to all states
- Results: 5 days
Why We Chose It
With LetsGetCheckeds dedicated team of nurses, you will have the support you need throughout your fertility journey.
Pros
- Laboratories are CLIA-approved and CAP-accredited
- Data is confidential and private
- Accurate results
- Results in five days
Overview
Never miss knowing your fertile window ever again with LetsGetChecked female hormone test. Whether youre thinking about starting a family now or are planning down the line, this service is perfect for anyone who is curious about their fertility status.
The test requires a blood prick. Return your sample on the same day with the provided shipping label, and within five days, you will get results via a protected online account. The sample must be collected on the third day of your menstrual cycle to ensure the most accurate results. Make sure not to use hormonal contraceptives when taking the test, as it can affect results. The four main hormones tested include follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and estradiol.
Once results are in, you will have support from a team of nurses available to you to answer your burning questions about the results. A one-time test purchase costs $129, but you can save 30% when you subscribe.
How Do I Know If Im Infertile
If you have been trying to have a baby for more than 1 year and youve not been able to get pregnant, there is a chance you may be infertile. For women, it is more difficult to get pregnant naturally as they get older. Commons signs of female infertility include:
- Not having a period for a long time
- Entering menopause early
- Certain health conditions, like PCOS
You might also want to take a fertility test if you:
- are over 35 years old and have been trying to get pregnant for over 6 months
- are 34 or under and have been trying to get pregnant for over 1 year
- have recently had cancer treatment
- have found it difficult to get pregnant in the past
- have irregular periods
- polycystic ovary syndrome test
We can provide these quickly and easily for you.
Other tests available for infertility include:
- getting a swab test to check if you have an infection, such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea
- imaging scans such as an ultrasound or MRI to look for pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, endometriosis, or tumours on your ovaries.
- Your doctor may also check your pelvic area for any signs of swelling , lumps or pain.
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How Do You Interpret The Results Of A Fertility Test
The label of your at-home fertility test will have specific instructions about how to interpret the results. Depending on the test, the label will say what the different pieces of information mean. If you are unsure how to read your results, its best to reach out to a healthcare provider.
Some mobile applications are available for your smartphone or mobile device to help interpret the results of fertility tests. By inputting different information and at-home test results into the app, it can give you information about an individuals or couples fertility. Many of these apps can also help track monthly cycles and symptoms experienced throughout each cycle to help you watch for trends.
My Fertility Test Says That Im Outside Of A Normal Range Does This Mean That I Wont Be Able To Have Biological Children
Not at all! There are simple ways to treat common causes of infertility, like surgical intervention or hormone supplements. Even if you cant conceive through normal means, plenty of scientific methods like IUI and IVF can help you and your partner have biological children. While you cant guarantee that IUI or IVF will work, and they are expensive processes, a lack of ovulation or low sperm count wont automatically stop you from having biological children.
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Who Should Use An At
Dr. Jack Jeng, Chief Medical Officer at Hone Health, points out that at-home hormone tests are a good option for those seeking convenience and flexibility. These kits allow people to test when and where they want. Patients do not have to take time off work, find child care, arrange transportation, or wait at a doctors office or phlebotomy site. At-home testing also has the added benefit of reducing exposure and the spread of disease.
Jeng does warn that some populations, such as children or the elderly, may find it difficult to supply the required sample. In addition, people who have poor circulation may face hurdles when attempting to supply enough blood from a finger prick, which may require multiple tries.
Its important to note that hormone replacement, including an intrauterine device or hormonal birth control, will alter the results of an at-home hormone test, and will not depict the true hormone levels in your body.
Can Infertility Be Cured
Sometimes. If your infertility is due to a varicocele, there are outpatient surgeries that you can have that open the vein and allow for the passage of sperm. Injectable, oral, and topical hormones can adjust imbalances and allow for normal ovulation. Sometimes, a doctor can treat your infertility without knowing the cause based on your symptoms and previous health history.
Not all cases of infertility can be successfully treated, however. If youre struggling to conceive, your doctor might suggest you try IUI or IVF to help you get pregnant.
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Adrenal Testing With Saliva
For a long time testing adrenal function using saliva was the standard as it measures free cortisol levels, and it is easy to do 4 different samples throughout the day to assess the rhythm of cortisol.
But the saliva test does not measure your total cortisol production, or how your body is metabolizing cortisol so just knowing your free cortisol levels can be a bit misleading.
It is possible to be producing a ton of cortisol but the saliva test will only show very low levels of free cortisol, or the opposite can occur. Without knowing all of the information it is impossible to know what is happening with the adrenals so that I can recommend the right treatment plan.
The only time that I can see the saliva cortisol test being valid is if it is also combined with a 24-hour urine test to also assess total cortisol production, but it would be a lot better and easier to do the DUTCH hormone test.
When To See A Doctor
Make an appointment with your OB-GYN or a fertility specialist if you are under 35 and have not become pregnant within 12 months of trying, or if you are over 35 years of age and have not become pregnant within six months of trying, recommends Dr. Montes.
If you take a home fertility test and notice that something may be off, its always a good idea to make an appointment with a doctor. In fact, experts emphasize that patients anxious or concerned about their fertility should seek out help as early as they feel they need it.
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What Should I Do If I Have A Hormonal Imbalance
The testing is complete, the results are in, and it appears as though you may be experiencing some kind of hormone imbalance or age-related hormone change. While this may be frightening, its important to remember that hormone imbalances are often easily resolved.
Depending on the severity and the cause of your hormone issue, you may be able to resolve the issue naturally via careful lifestyle adjustments. In other cases, you may consider replacing the hormones your body is lacking in order to restore balance. This treatment option is calledhormone replacement therapy, and its a very common first line of defense against hormone problems of all kinds.
A good hormone health practitioner will help you understand your treatment options and create a comprehensive plan of therapies and/or lifestyle changes that make sense for you. With their support, you can find the best path toward symptom relief and optimal health.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All content on this website is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases.
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How Much Do At
Prices vary depending on the company and the sophistication of the test.
Often, simple test strips cost the least, while kits that require a person to mail samples to labs cost a bit more.
People concerned about costs can look into whether they can use their HSA or FSA dollars. Those with health insurance can also check whether their plan provider will cover the cost.
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What Should Women Know Before Taking An At
First, know that an at-home hormone test cant fully evaluate you for infertility.
These dont evaluate the many other causes of infertility, such as tubal blockage, uterine problems, or male factor infertility, Kallen says. Ovarian reserve testing is generally not recommended in women who arent infertile or who have untested fertility. The testing doesnt predict reproductive potential or fertility and can cause a false sense of alarm.
Also, its important to follow the instructions included in the at-home fertility test very carefully, Petrini says. This is because some hormones need to be checked on a certain day of your cycle for correct interpretation.