Fertility can be a journey, and learning about your hormone levels will better inform the next step in that process. To help get a handle on your hormones and feel more in control of your fertility journey, here are seven of the best fertility tests you can take without leaving your home. Fertility tests measure your hormone levels to provide metrics like your ovarian reserve (how many eggs you have), your ovulation window (to find your most fertile days), and more. We’ll get to the specifics below, but it’s important to know that not every test checks the same hormones. The Female Hormone Test kit comes with thorough instructions, several lancets, a collection tube, and a prepaid return shipping label. Once you’ve activated your test and taken your blood sample (on day 3 to 7 of your period), Let’sGetChecked asks that you send it back the same day. You’ll then receive your results in two to five days (which you can view using the Let’sGetChecked app); a nurse will call if the results show any cause for concern. You can also call a helpline to speak with a nurse if you have any questions about your results. Let’sGetChecked has over 14,000 reviews on Trustpilot, and most of them are positive. I personally can attest that Let’sGetChecked provides timely shipping and clear instructions. However, I’m squeamish and have very thin blood, so I didn’t have a great experience with the finger prick (and wasn’t able to collect a large enough sample). If you’re in a similar boat, I would recommend going to a lab to have a professional help collect your sample. Community Perk: Use code MBG25 to save 25% on your first order. Both the Ovarian Reserve test and Female Hormone tests are available as a one-time purchase or as a monthly, quarterly, or semiannual subscription, which offers lower prices. However, unless you’ve been recommended to by your doctor, it’s not likely you’ll need to re-test regularly. Everlywell gets great reviews on this test, although there aren’t a lot of them. Most people say the instructions were clear and the test was easily administered. One person said they had a hard time collecting their sample but noted that Everlywell was quick to send them a new test. While this is still a blood sample, the overall volume is less than Modern Fertility or Let’sGetChecked (good news for the squeamish!). Unfortunately, this test isn’t an option if you live in New York due to state regulations. Once you’ve sent in your test, you’ll be able to view your results within 48 hours via your Legacy online dashboard. The results can shed some light on your chances of conception by showing you the quantity and quality of your sperm. One key metric that this kit checks (that most others do not) is motility, which is a measurement of how many of your sperm are moving properly. There’s also an optional DNA fragmentation testing add-on to check your sperm’s genetic integrity (but it doubles the final price). Legacy also offers sexually transmitted infections or STI testing (although this is unavailable if you live in New York due to state regulations) and two options for family planning that include cryostorage options. You can also add a monthly, yearly, or five-year cryostorage membership to any test kit purchase. Of course, these options, and even the signature For Today kit, are expensive. However, you can check on Legacy’s website to see if your insurance covers the For Today kit, which is also FSA-eligible. Reviewers have great things to say about how easy the results are to read, and they appreciate that Mira provides more numerical data than a positive or negative result. Several reviewers with PCOS said this test helped them detect patterns in their ovulation cycle and even helped them get pregnant. One reviewer says, “Having PCOS has made it impossible to detect my surge with regular LH tests. I can’t explain enough how much having my exact levels with Mira has helped me on my fertility journey.” Downsides to Mira are the cost of the test wands, which are considerably more expensive than the Pregmate sticks on this list. Mira also only measures LH and E3G, so if you’re looking for a bigger-picture view of your hormones and egg count, you’ll want to opt for a blood test. Additionally, there’s no doctor review of your results. When you request a test, you’ll fill out your age, current birth control method, and the regularity of your period. A doctor will then review your request to ensure you’re getting the most effective kit. Once you’ve received your kit, you can choose to take your sample at home through a finger prick or bring it to a Quest Diagnostics location for help. Results should appear on your account dashboard 10 days after sending your kit in by mail. Not only does this test have over 2,000 reviews, but I discovered that many of my friends who previously used at-home fertility tests opted for Modern Fertility. On the pro side, all five of them said it was a relatively easy and cost-effective method. However, a couple had a difficult time collecting their sample and had to be mailed replacement tests. One friend warns, “You have to prick yourself while you’re on your period, and I was extremely emotional and frustrated that it wasn’t working. Once I knew what I had to do, the second time around was easier.” Another agreed that the amount of blood required for the sample took her by surprise, but said “All in all, it gave me peace of mind and reassurance for a low cost.” To use, dip a testing strip into a cup of urine and let it sit for five minutes. (Pregmate recommends testing sometime between 10 a.m. and noon.) Be sure to set a timer: The brand warns that a reading after five minutes could be inaccurate. A positive reading indicates an “LH surge,” which happens at the beginning of ovulation. From there, you can use the companion app to track your ovulation cycle and—if pregnancy is the goal—strategize the best time for intercourse. Note that fertility medication and PCOS can tamper with your results, as folks with PCOS may have a constant high level of LH. Users rave these strips are easy to read and great for quick results. If your goal is to monitor your cycle for your most fertile days, these low-priced strips might be enough for you. But if your goal is to learn more about your hormones and plan for the future, there are more comprehensive options available. Only worn as your sleep, the tracker records data up to 25 times per second. The brand then analyzes the measurements to create a comprehensive view of your cycle in the companion app, which includes extrapolating your five most fertile days. Research found the Ava tracker to be 90% accurate in detecting the five most fertile days of a person’s cycle. (However, this research was partially funded by Ava.) If pregnancy is your immediate goal and you’re looking for a non-invasive way to track your ovulation (read: no testing your pee every day), this could be it—especially if you’re planning for multiple pregnancies, as you can use it again. Just keep in mind, it’s not necessarily going to help you learn more about your hormone levels, and it is a more expensive option. Ava does, however, offer a full refund on its more expensive packages if you’re not pregnant within six to 12 months of using the tracker. Plus, it can be used as a pregnancy tracker if you conceive. While an at-home test can tell you a lot about your hormone levels and ovulation schedule, it will not give you a resolute answer. “There is no test for infertility,” explains Sekhon. “Testing egg quantity does not indicate egg quality or the odds of ovulating a healthy egg that turns into a healthy pregnancy. Egg quantity does not relate to fertility or odds of conceiving, as every cycle’s ovulation involves the release of one egg. It’s not a numbers game.” Furthermore, according to Sekhon, the name “at-home fertility tests” is a bit of a misnomer. “They are called ‘at-home fertility tests,’ but in reality they don’t test egg quality or fertility,” she says. “The best test for fertility is trying to conceive. None of the tests on an at-home panel can indicate the odds of conceiving in a given cycle.” Taking your health into your own hands can be an empowering feeling. Just be sure to reach out to your health care provider if you feel like you need more support than an at-home test can provide.
