Key takeaways:
There are many at-home fertility tests available that test for a variety of fertility factors.
These at-home tests can help you learn more about your fertility. Or they can direct you to seek out more information from a healthcare professional.
At-home fertility test accuracy can vary, depending on certain medical conditions or when you’re using them. For more comprehensive information about your fertility, it’s best to visit a healthcare professional.
Infertility is usually defined as the inability to become pregnant after 1 year — or after 6 months if you’re over age 35 — of having sex regularly without using any birth control. Infertility is a common problem that affects as many as 1 in 6 people worldwide.
Traditionally, female at-home fertility tests have been used to help predict the likelihood of ovulation (when the body releases a mature egg). These at-home tests are typically used to determine the best time in a monthly bleeding cycle to have sex and to boost the chances of becoming pregnant.
More recently, additional at-home tests have become available for both partners to analyze many potential fertility factors. But with multiple — sometimes expensive — at-home testing options available, it can be hard to know which ones are worth using.
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In this article, we’ll discuss the available types of at-home fertility tests, how accurate they are, and when it might be time to talk to your healthcare team.
What types of at-home fertility tests are available?
There are five main types of at-home fertility tests available. Some can give instant results, while others have to be sent out to a laboratory to be analyzed. They include:
Ovulation predictor kits: This is a urine test that measures luteinizing hormone (LH) levels to indicate ovulation.
Comprehensive hormone panels: This is a fingerstick blood test measuring hormone levels like estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin, and testosterone to evaluate overall reproductive health.
Ovarian reserve tests: This is a fingerstick blood test measuring anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels to estimate egg supply.
Progesterone metabolite tests: This is a urine test measuring progesterone levels to confirm if ovulation occurred.
Male sperm tests: These are based on a semen sample and can evaluate sperm count and motility.
Some at-home options also include services that virtually connect you with a healthcare professional, who can then order appropriate tests for you and provide counseling on the next steps.
Are at-home fertility tests available for both partners?
Yes, at-home fertility tests exist for both partners. This is helpful to evaluate the source of any fertility concerns.
It’s believed that about 1 in 3 infertility cases are due to female reproductive issues, such as:
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) — formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
And another 1 in 3 cases are due to male reproductive issues, such as low sperm count or past injury to the testicles.
What do at-home fertility tests measure?
At-home fertility tests work differently for each partner and measure different aspects of the fertility process.
For women, most available at-home tests collect a small blood, urine, or saliva sample. Some samples may need to be sent to a lab to be analyzed after collecting them at home. Most of these tests check for different hormone levels that could affect fertility. Knowing that one of these hormones isn’t in the typical range can help you know when to see a healthcare professional.
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For men, tests are available or are being studied for at-home semen analysis. These tests generally check for the amount of sperm present in your semen or how well your sperm are moving. Sometimes, they also check for sperm viability (the amount of live sperm in a sample). The sample you would provide has to be obtained during ejaculation (sexual climax).
Some tests may recommend you go without ejaculating for a few days prior to providing a sample. This helps your sample to be as concentrated as possible for the sperm test. Be sure to follow the test’s provided instructions.
Are at-home fertility tests accurate?
You may be asking yourself if these at-home tests are as accurate as the in-depth tests you would undergo at a healthcare professional’s office. And the short answer is: It depends.
For tests that you send to a lab, consider using FDA-approved tests that use Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA) laboratories and are interpreted by a healthcare professional. These are usually considered safest and the most reliable.
But even if used appropriately and according to the instructions on the test, at-home tests can still vary in reliability. Everyone’s fertility markers are unique, and these slight differences could cause accuracy problems with at-home tests. So, depending on the test, it may be very reliable, but only for certain people. And this accuracy drops even further if you’re not using the test correctly.
Ovulation predictor kits
Let’s use the example of ovulation predictor kits. Ovulation tests typically look for the hormone LH in urine. Shortly before ovulating, the body’s LH levels rise — sometimes called an “LH surge.” A positive test means that you should have sex within the next day or two to boost your chances of getting pregnant.
However, the user of these tests must know a lot about their monthly cycles before trying to use these tests. In the average monthly cycle, ovulation usually occurs between days 11 and 21. But cycles can vary between 21 and 45 days in length, with ovulation happening about 12 to 16 days before your next period. That means it’s possible for some people to ovulate as early as day 5 of their monthly cycle.
With that in mind, a person could be testing for ovulation at the wrong time without realizing it and get incorrect results. It’s also possible to have an LH surge and not ovulate — meaning that you could have a positive test result but no egg available to fertilize. And some medical conditions, such as PMOS, can cause inaccurate at-home LH test results.
If you’re receiving conflicting or confusing at-home test results, it’s best to reach out to a healthcare professional.
How long do you have to wait for fertility results from an at-home test?
The length of time depends on the test you’re using. Some tests may give you results within a few minutes, such as ovulation predictor kits or certain at-home tests for semen analysis. Others can take a week or longer because they have to be sent to a laboratory to be analyzed.
How do you interpret the results of an at-home 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’re unsure how to read your results, it’s best to reach out to a healthcare professional.
Some mobile applications (apps) 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 individual’s or couple’s fertility. Many of these apps can also help track monthly cycles and symptoms experienced throughout each cycle to help you watch for trends.
Do at-home fertility tests identify all potential fertility issues?
No, at-home fertility tests only look at certain fertility markers or hormones. That’s different from a healthcare professional, who can look at how your overall health may be contributing to your fertility. This means at-home tests could easily miss potential issues.
For example, most at-home semen analysis tests only give some information about fertility potential — like the amount of sperm in a sample, but not if that sperm is healthy.
But infertility has many causes, and some tests may only test for a single fertility factor. That’s why at-home tests can’t detect all potential fertility issues.
How are at-home fertility tests different from what you can receive at a healthcare professional’s office?
If you’re receiving care for fertility at a healthcare professional’s office, your work-up (exam and blood tests) will likely be more comprehensive than at-home testing options. This is because a healthcare professional will be looking at your overall health instead of just certain lab tests. It’s also typical for the potential work-ups for each partner to be different.
During a female fertility appointment, you can expect a more in-depth discussion on your medical history. You may also need to answer questions about your lifestyle and work environment. After this discussion, you’ll also undergo a physical exam, laboratory testing — sometimes similar to at-home testing— and other procedures. All of these results can help your healthcare team determine a possible cause of infertility.
During a male fertility appointment, you’ll also have a similar detailed discussion with a healthcare professional about your medical history.
You’ll also have a physical exam completed, as well as a semen analysis. This semen analysis is often more in-depth than the at-home testing. It looks at more fertility factors than just sperm count or movement — such as sperm velocity, shape, and ability to liquefy (essential for allowing sperm to start swimming). All of these factors are important for healthy sperm.
When should you see a healthcare professional about infertility?
If you’ve been having frequent, contraceptive-free sex for a year — or for 6 months if you’re over 35 — and have been unable to become pregnant, you should speak with a healthcare professional about infertility. If your at-home fertility tests show that something may be wrong, this is also the time to get a more comprehensive evaluation.
If you’re unsure about how to interpret the results of your at-home test, speaking to a healthcare professional can help. It’s important to remember that at-home fertility tests should be thought of as a supplement to more in-depth tests from a healthcare professional — and not a replacement.
Frequently asked questions
There’s no single best at-home fertility test. Given the range in the type of tests available, the best at-home fertility kit for you will depend on many factors, like the information you’re looking for and how quickly you want to receive the information.
Some insurance plans cover fertility testing, but it varies by plan, state, and the type of test you’re looking for. Reach out to your insurance provider to find out what fertility benefits are available to you.
Many ovulation tests that test your urine for luteinizing hormone (LH) estimate that you’ll ovulate within 24 to 48 hours. That said, you’re likely most fertile for 72 hours. It’s best to have intercourse the day your ovulation test turns positive and for the next 3 days to follow.
There’s no single best at-home fertility test. Given the range in the type of tests available, the best at-home fertility kit for you will depend on many factors, like the information you’re looking for and how quickly you want to receive the information.
Some insurance plans cover fertility testing, but it varies by plan, state, and the type of test you’re looking for. Reach out to your insurance provider to find out what fertility benefits are available to you.
Many ovulation tests that test your urine for luteinizing hormone (LH) estimate that you’ll ovulate within 24 to 48 hours. That said, you’re likely most fertile for 72 hours. It’s best to have intercourse the day your ovulation test turns positive and for the next 3 days to follow.
The bottom line
Many at-home fertility tests are available for both partners. The availability of these tests can allow patients to feel in charge of their own healthcare. They may also provide a sense of comfort by allowing you to test from the convenience of your own home. At-home fertility tests can provide you with more information about your overall fertility. But they aren’t a replacement for the in-depth assessment a healthcare professional can offer.
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References
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