The Best 7 At-Home Fertility Tests of 2022

The Best 7 At-Home Fertility Tests of 2022

A quick look at the 7 best at-home fertility tests

The best tests for women’s fertility

  • Best overall: Modern Fertility
  • Best customer reviews: LetsGetChecked
  • Best budget buy: Everlywell
  • Best for cycle tracking: Mira Fertility Plus

The best sperm tests for men

  • Best basic sperm test: Ro Sperm Kit
  • Best advanced sperm test: Legacy
  • Best rapid sperm test: Labcorp OnDemand Men’s Rapid Fertility Test

The National Infertility Association (Resolve) says that about 1 in 8 couples in the United States have trouble getting pregnant. That could be why there are more and more at-home tests for fertility.

Both men and women can have trouble getting pregnant.

Based on information from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, about 40% of heterosexual couples who can’t get pregnant have a male partner who is either the only cause or a contributing cause.

On the other hand, there are some fertility problems that only affect the woman, like problems with ovulation. Up to 30% of the time, experts don’t know why a couple can’t have children.

At-home fertility tests are a great choice for people who want to know right away. Read on to find out which home fertility tests we think are the best.

You’ll notice that the language used in this article to talk about statistics and other facts is pretty binary, switching between “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.”

Even though we usually try to avoid this kind of language, it’s important to be specific when writing about research participants and clinical findings.

Unfortunately, the people who were transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, or genderless did not take part in or have their data reported on in the studies and surveys below.

What are at-home fertility tests for women?

At-home hormone tests Most tests for women involve taking a small amount of blood and sending it to a lab for testing. These tests check for several hormones, such as:

  • Ovarian reserve: These include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). Amanda Kallen, MD, an associate professor in the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale Medicine, says that these tests give a general idea of how many eggs are still in the ovary. But it hasn’t been shown that these tests can predict fertility in people who aren’t having problems getting pregnant. You shouldn’t use this test to decide if you want to freeze your eggs.
  • Estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH), which rises right before ovulation: “LH can be detected in the urine, and is what’s detected in home ovulation predictor kits,” Kallen says. Some at-home fertility tests also do LH blood tests.
  • Hormones made by the thyroid, like thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): “A TSH test is ordered,” says Allison Petrini, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Texas Fertility Center in Austin, Texas. “This is because thyroid problems can cause periods that come and go or don’t come at all. This can cause problems with infertility.”

What are at-home fertility tests for men?

Sperm analysis is usually part of fertility tests for men. This can show how healthy and viable a person’s sperm are.

Lab Tests Online UK says that a sperm analysis looks at many things. The three most important ones are:

  • sperm count or volume (how many sperm there are)
  • motility (how the sperm move)
  • morphology (how the sperm are shaped)

“Sperm analysis tests that you can do at home will tell you if there are sperm in the ejaculate. Many will tell you how many sperm there are, but most won’t tell you if the sperm are moving, says Kallen.

In other words, tests ordered by a doctor are usually more detailed than tests done at home. Still, they can give people who are worried about sperm count and quality a place to start.

How we chose the best at-home fertility tests

At Healthline, we thoroughly vet any product we recommend to make sure it has good medical credibility, is run in a good way, and has a positive social impact.

Through our vetting process, we look at each product’s scientific evidence, best practises in the industry, validation by a third party, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and warnings, and other factors.
We read online reviews of at-home fertility tests to find out which ones were the best on the market. We looked at the reviews to see how accurate they were, how easy they were to use, and what the overall user experience was like.

We also asked Kallen and Petrini, who are fertility doctors, what to look for.

“If someone is thinking about using a send-out test, I would look for one that is FDA-approved, done in a CLIA certified lab, and ideally, the results would be interpreted by a doctor,” says Kallen.

Pricing guide

A dollar sign shows price in the following ways:

  • $ = under $100
  • $$ = $100–$150
  • $$$ = over $150

Healthline’s picks for women’s fertility tests

Best overall

Modern Fertility Hormone Test

  • Price: $$$
  • Results in: 7–10 days
  • Collection method: finger prick

Modern Fertility, which is owned by Ro Health and is one of the best-known at-home fertility test companies, has a test that looks at seven different hormones:

  • AMH
  • TSH
  • FSH
  • estradiol
  • free thyroxine
  • prolactin
  • LH

The Modern Fertility test is different from other tests because you can change it to take hormonal birth control and how often you get your period into account.

You won’t be able to test all seven hormones if you’re on birth control, but you can still find out some things about your fertility. This includes information about the hormones AMH and TSH, which are important for getting pregnant.

When you buy the test, you can choose whether you want to take a blood sample by pricking your finger at home or at a Quest Diagnostics lab.

After your sample gets to the lab, it will take about 7 days for you to get the results. So that’s about 10 days after you mail your sample. If you go to the lab in person, you might get your results a little faster.

On their website, Modern Fertility says that all of the hormone tests they use are FDA-approved, and all of the tests are done in a lab that is CLIA- and CAP-accredited. A doctor looks over your test report before you get it. You can also set up a call with a fertility nurse at Modern Fertility to talk about your results if you want to.

You can expect to get some information about your ovarian reserve and some basic information about how well your thyroid is working if your hormones show that there might be a problem with ovulation.

More than 2,000 people have written about the Modern Fertility test. Some reviewers say that their results weren’t as detailed as they had hoped, and others say that their fertility doctors wouldn’t accept the tests, preferring to do the tests again in their own labs.

But most of Modern Fertility’s customers are really happy with the test. They say it’s helpful and informative, and that it helped them decide if they wanted fertility help.

Pros

  • results looked over by a doctor option to talk to a nurse about your results

Cons

  • Fertility doctors don’t always accept test results; your doctor may ask you to do more tests.

Best customer reviews

LetsGetChecked Female Hormone Test

  • Price: $$
  • Results in: 2–5 days
  • Collection method: finger prick

This fertility test, which is one of the cheaper ones on the market, checks for:

  • FSH
  • LH
  • prolactin
  • estradiol

You can use these hormones to figure out if you’re ovulating as expected or if there’s a problem with your hormones.

For accurate results, you should take this test on day 3 of your period, and your sample needs to be collected and sent back on the same day, Monday through Thursday.

LetsGetChecked’s labs are approved by the CLIA, and a doctor looks over the results before they are sent out. The nursing team will only get in touch with you if your results are worrying. You can talk to a nurse about your results by calling the LetsGetChecked helpline.

More than 15,000 people have taken this LetsGetChecked test. Most people who wrote reviews liked how cheap this test was and how quickly they got their results. Other reviewers said that the instructions weren’t clear and that it was annoying that they couldn’t take the test if day 3 of their cycle fell on a day other than Monday through Thursday.

Still, customers are happy with this test as a whole.

Pros

  • option to talk to a nurse about your fast results

Cons

  • Only on day 3 of your period can you take the test.
  • The test must be taken and sent back on the same day, Monday through Thursday.

Best budget buy

Everlywell Ovarian Reserve Test

  • Price: $
  • Results in: 5–7 days
  • Collection method: finger prick

If you get an ovarian reserve test, you can find out how many eggs you still have. This can help you figure out how many years of fertility you have left.

People sometimes use this test to figure out if they should freeze their eggs or not.

Sometimes, the test is used to help figure out if a fertility specialist needs to look into something more. But the test shouldn’t be used this way because there’s no evidence that it can predict fertility in people who don’t have trouble getting pregnant or staying pregnant.

The test from Everlywell looks at your FSH on day 3 of your cycle. A normal FSH level can tell you how many eggs you should have for your age, but it’s not as accurate as some other tests, like a transvaginal ultrasound to count your antral follicles.

The kit comes with lancets, a sterile wipe, a bandage, and a collection card. These are all things you need to take a blood sample from your finger. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Use the lancet to poke a finger on the side, and then squeeze until blood comes out.
  • Let a drop of blood fall into each of the five circles on the collection card.
  • Put the dressing on your finger. Wait 30 minutes or until the card is completely dry.
  • Fill out the card with your information, put it in the biohazard bag, and put it in the box.
  • Send the box back using the label that says “shipping paid for.”

Like the other tests on this list, Everlywell uses a lab that is CLIA-certified and has a doctor look over all the results before they are sent out. You should get the results in 5 to 7 business days. If there are delays or changes, the Everlywell app will let you know.

Some reviewers say they wanted more information about their results and that it was hard to get enough blood drops to finish the test.

Most customers are happy with this test, though. The test has an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 54 reviews, and many reviewers say that customer service is helpful and that they got their results quickly.

Pros

  • relatively inexpensive
  • reliable customer service

Cons

  • This test can only be done on day 3 of your period,
  • and it only tells you about your ovarian reserve.

Best for cycle tracking

Mira Starter Kit

  • Price: $$$
  • Results in: 15 minutes
  • Collection method: self-collection urine

Some hormones that affect fertility can only be measured with a blood test, but LH and oestrogen can be tested with urine. That means that you can test for ovulation at home if you want to find out more about it.

With the Mira Fertility Plus system, it’s almost like having your own mini lab at home. The starter kit comes with test sticks and a monitor that checks the levels of oestrogen and LH in your urine.All you have to do is test your urine first thing in the morning on the days the app tells you to, and you can track when you ovulate over the course of a cycle.

Experts agree that standard ovulation tests work well for most people who want to find out if they are ovulating. Mira, on the other hand, gives you numbers instead of just a yes or no answer.

More than 1,000 people have already reviewed the Mira kit. Reviewers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) said that it helped them figure out when they were ovulating. But it’s important to know that there is no peer-reviewed evidence that Mira is better than other ovulation predictor kits for this purpose.

Some bad reviews say that customer service isn’t as helpful as they’d like and that shipping can take a long time. Still, most customers have good things to say about Mira and would recommend it to others.

Pros

  • has an app that helps with fertility that has charts and guides
  • tracking often to help find a good time

Cons

  • Costly if test results aren’t looked at in a lab or by a doctor
  • Healthline’s picks for men’s fertility tests

Best sperm test with storage

Ro Sperm Kit

  • Price: $$$
  • Results in: 48 hours
  • Collection method: self-collection semen

Ro Sperm Kit is temporarily out of stock as of November 2022. We still think it’s one of the best fertility test kits, though, and this article will be updated as soon as it can be bought again.

There are a lot of different ways to get your sperm tested, but they are not all of the same quality. The Ro Sperm Kit is a great choice if you want to find out the number, size, and movement of your sperm.

This kit used to come from a company called Dadi. But Ro, a company that makes technology for healthcare, just bought Dadi. The name of this kit was changed to the Ro Sperm Kit.

Ro Sperm Kit gives you a unique kit that keeps your sample safe until it gets to the lab by controlling the temperature. How it works is as follows:

  • Use the code given to register the kit.
  • Put a sample of the sperm in the collection cup, close the lid, and let the preservative out.
  • The cup is then put back into the unit, and a safety tie is used to close it.
  • Attach the return label that was given to you and drop it off at the FedEx Ship Center near you on a business day.

The company said that you shouldn’t use lubricants when taking your sample. To get the most out of your sample, you should not ejaculate for 3 days before giving it to the lab.

Ro Sperm Kit analyses sperm in a lab that is CLIA-certified, and your fertility report is sent to you within 48 hours of receiving your sample of sperm from home.

Another benefit of using Ro Sperm Kit is that all tests come with a free year of safe storage for future in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) use. This is a good option for men who are getting medical treatment that could kill their sperm or who need IVF for some other reason but won’t have sperm available.

The base kit can hold 3 vials of sperm for a year. Upgrades let you store either 6 or 9 vials for future fertility treatments.

Overall, people who have used the Ro Sperm Kit tests are happy with them. Some reviewers say that the shipping was slow, which made it hard for them to meet their deadlines.

But most customers are impressed by how easy the instructions were to follow and how well the sperm collection kit is made.

Pros

  • Free sperm storage for a year, with a full report on the number and movement of sperm

Cons

  • After the first year of free storage, you have to pay a lot to keep your sample and get it back if you want to use it.

Best advanced sperm test

Legacy Semen Analysis

  • Price: $$$
  • Results in: 24 hours
  • Collection method: self-collection semen

Legacy is the best choice if you want a full sperm analysis that looks at its shape.

The company also has an add-on for analysing how DNA is broken up. If sperm has a lot of broken up DNA, it may make it harder to conceive. But the current research we have right now doesn’t suggest doing routine DNA fragmentation tests right now.

Legacy tests sperm in a lab that is CLIA-certified, just like the other companies on this list. All of the packages give you access to a fertility expert, and if you need it, you can add sperm storage.

From start to finish, testing can be done in as little as a week, because Legacy will send your kit to you overnight and arrange for it to be picked up the next day, after you send in your sample. Then, it’s just 24 hours until you get your results.

Legacy is a relatively new company, so there aren’t that many reviews yet—just over 100. Reviewers say that they like how fast the shipping is and that they can talk to an expert on fertility. Some reviewers said that the report they got was similar to what they got from a fertility clinic.

Reviewers say that the only bad thing about Legacy is that it is a little more expensive than some other options on the market.

Pros

full sperm analysis
fast results
free overnight shipping

Cons

need to upgrade for DNA analysis
newer company with limited reviews

Best rapid sperm test

Labcorp OnDemand Men’s Rapid Fertility Test

  • Price: $$$
  • Results in: 6 minutes
  • Collection method: self-collection semen

This Labcorp Rapid Fertility Test is a good choice if you can’t send your results to a lab or just don’t want to wait. The self-test, which has been approved by the FDA, comes with everything you need to take a sample and get results, such as a sample analyzer, containers, and droppers.

Labcorp says that the test is quick and easy to use to find out how many and how concentrated your sperm are. Even though you should see a doctor for a more thorough look at your sperm, this can be a good place to start, especially if you want to start a family soon.

Before the test, you should not ejaculate for 2 to 7 days. Also, you shouldn’t use lubricant or condoms to get your sample.

To take the test at home, do the following:

  • Put a sample of your sperm in the cup that is given.
  • Stir the coffee for 15 seconds or more.
  • Wait 30 minutes at room temperature for the sample to turn into a liquid. The sample can still be tested up to 2 hours after it was taken.
  • Put the cup where the liquid is level with your eyes. Find the liquid’s top from the middle and write down how much it is.
  • After writing down the volume, give the cup another 15 seconds of swirling, and then take the lid off.
  • Using the fake test bag, pick up the dropper, squeeze it, and put it in the deepest part of the sample. Let go of the dropper to fill the bottle.
  • Put the top of the dropper through the hole in the middle of the prop.
  • Put the sticker on the prop to seal it, and then attach it to the engine.
  • It will take 6 minutes for the engine to spin. When a green light comes on, the results of the test are ready to be read.

Pros

  • can be done completely at home,
  • with quick results and a full analysis of sperm
  • Devices with FDA
  • approval can order refill tests for $99.

Cons

  • engthy process
  • expensive
  • Comparison of the best at-home fertility tests

Women’s fertility tests

Modern FertilityLetsGetCheckedEverlywellMira Starter Kit
Price$$$$$$$$$
What’s testedAMH, TSH, FSH, estradiol, free thyroxine, prolactin, LHFSH, LG, prolactin, estradiolFSHLH, estrogen
Results7–10 days5 days5–7 days15 minutes

Men’s fertility tests

Ro Sperm KitLegacyLabcorp OnDemand Men’s Rapid Fertility Test
Price$$$$$$$$$
What’s testedsperm count, concentration, motilitysperm volume, count, concentration, motility, morphologysperm volume and concentration
Results48 hours24 hours6 minutes

How to choose

It can be hard to choose which at-home fertility test to use when there are so many to choose from.

The first thing you need to do is decide what you want to know. Modern Fertility could be a good choice if you want to learn more about hormones.

On the other hand, Mira or an ovulation prediction kit might be a better choice if you want to keep track of when you ovulate. Remember that ovarian reserve testing is not recommended for people who aren’t having trouble getting pregnant to figure out if they should freeze their eggs or not.

The Ro Sperm Kit could be a good choice if you want to have your sperm checked out and store it for a possible IVF treatment.

There is no best option because it depends on what you want to be evaluated. If you need help figuring out which option is best for you, talk to your doctor.

Is taking an at-home fertility test better than in-person fertility testing?

Fertility testing can be emotional and even stressful for a lot of people. With at-home kits, you don’t even have to leave your house. Plus, the tests may be cheaper than many of the things you can do in a clinic. But some insurance companies may pay for tests done in a clinic.

But there are some bad things about it. Also, these kits can’t replace the level of care you get from a doctor or nurse.

Even though many tests claim to be accurate to a certain degree, not everyone can count on them. For example, if a person’s hormone levels are not in the normal range, tests that rely on those hormones, like ovulation tests, may not be as accurate.

Also, if you have a health condition that affects your ability to reproduce, like PCOS, you may not ovulate every month, and at-home kits don’t take these things into account. Inaccurate results can also happen ifyou can’t follow the instructions in the test kit.

At-home fertility tests can tell you a lot about your reproductive health. But it’s best to follow up with a doctor for a full fertility evaluation and to find out what else might be causing infertility.

Basically, at-home kits give you estimates instead of exact numbers that are tailored to your situation, and they can’t tell you what’s wrong. Even though at-home tests can be helpful, many people also need to get advice from a fertility expert.

When to talk with a doctor

Research from 2012 recommends that people trying to get pregnant who haven’t gotten pregnant after a year of having sex without a barrier method or donor insemination should get their fertility checked.

Most of the time, it’s best to try to get pregnant for about a year before seeing a fertility doctor for help. But if a woman over 35 hasn’t gotten pregnant after 6 months and a woman over 40 hasn’t gotten pregnant after 12 months, they may want to see a fertility doctor sooner.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your reproductive health.

Frequently asked questions about at-home fertility tests

How accurate is an at-home fertility test?

“I would think of at-home testing as a possible addition to testing and evaluation in a clinic, not as a replacement,” says Kallen.

Petrini agrees, saying that measuring a woman’s hormone levels alone isn’t the best way to tell if she will get pregnant on her own or not.

“Besides hormones, there are many other things that can cause infertility, such as problems with the uterus, endometriosis, the fallopian tubes, or even the man himself,” says Petrini.

Even though these types of at-home tests have made more women talk about and think about their fertility (and given some women who may not have a fertility specialist nearby access to tests), Petrini says that you shouldn’t draw any conclusions from them.

What are the signs of infertility in women?

Women can be infertile if they haven’t gotten pregnant after trying for a year if they are younger than 35 or after 6 months if they are older than 35. Infertility may also show itself by making it hard to stay pregnant.

How is a woman’s fertility tested?

Before doing a fertility test, your doctor will ask you about your medical history, including how often you have periods, if you have ever been pregnant, if you have ever used birth control, if you take any medications, and how you live. When you go to a clinic, a doctor will also do a physical exam, which will include a pelvic exam and Pap smear if you are a woman.

During the first fertility test, your ovulation and ovarian function may be checked. Tell your doctor if you have been using a fertility monitor to keep track of when you ovulate.

There are also a number of hormone tests and an ultrasound of the uterus that can be done to check for fertility.

What should women know before taking an at-home fertility test?

First, know that a hormone test you do at home can’t tell you everything you need to know about infertility.

“These don’t look at the many other things that can cause infertility, like blocked tubes, problems with the uterus, or male factor infertility,” says Kallen. “Generally, women who aren’t infertile or who haven’t been tested for fertility shouldn’t get an ovarian reserve test. The tests can give you a false sense of security and don’t tell you anything about your fertility or ability to have children.

Petrini also says that it’s important to carefully follow the instructions that come with the at-home fertility test. This is because some hormones can only be read correctly on a certain day of your cycle.

What should men know before taking an at-home fertility test?

It’s best to stay away from sperm tests that only look at whether or not sperm is present.

Kallen says that sperm testing in a certified lab by a trained andrologist can tell you a lot more, such as the shape of the sperm, the amount of ejaculate, the pH of the ejaculate, and more.

“These are important ways to figure out if the sperm is good enough to fertilise an egg and if male factor infertility is a problem.”

Is it OK to take an at-home fertility test out of curiosity?

Maybe.
“Couples who have just started trying to get pregnant might feel better after taking a test at home, or they might find out about a problem a little earlier,” says Kallen.

But for couples who need a more thorough infertility workup, like those under 35 who have been trying for more than a year or those over 35 who have been trying for more than 6 months, she says to skip the at-home tests and go to the clinic.

Overall, Petrini says to think of at-home tests as a supplement to the services offered by fertility specialists, not as a replacement for them.

“The idea that testing and evaluation could be easier is exciting, but if you want a clear diagnosis, you need a thorough in-office evaluation.”

Is there anyone who shouldn’t take an at-home fertility test?

Petrini says that if you’re having trouble getting pregnant, you shouldn’t use the test to figure out how fertile you are.

Instead, you should go to a fertility clinic or talk to your doctor about getting a referral for in-person testing.

Takeaway

At-home fertility tests are a great new way for people to learn more about their fertility and feel more in control.

Experts are quick to point out, though, that it’s not a replacement for medical advice and tests with your doctor. The right at-home fertility test for you will depend on why you want to test and what you want to learn.

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