Fertility Tests for Men and Women

Pregnancy Test

Using fertility tests are essential for you to get to know more about your general health when it comes to having babies. Today, we can see that there are also fertility tests that you can use at your home. But how reliable are these kinds of tests? 

In this article, we will discuss the importance of using at home fertility tests and some details about the authenticity of using these products for better conception.

What is the Importance of Using at Home Fertility Tests?

Are you planning to start a family very soon? In order for you to conceive healthy babies, you should be aware about your reproductive health, especially your menstruation, hormones, weight, and many more. Some couples are unaware about using at home fertility tests. Please keep on reading to be knowledgeable about this matter.

FOR WOMEN

Here are some details about ovulation tests and ovarian reserve testing for women in taking at home fertility tests.

Ovulation Tests

Based on the book “The Immunoassay Handbook: Theory and Applications of Ligand Binding”, lateral flow technology is used in ovulation prediction kits. Recent evidence has shown that a healthy couple in their 20s has just a one-in-three chance of conceiving in any one cycle, and for older women, the likelihood of conception is even less.

Knowing about ovulation prediction is beneficial for women who are actively trying to conceive Why? Because data show that women who are aware of their peak fertile days have an increased likelihood of conceiving.

Ovulation tests are necessary to help women pinpoint the two most fertile days in their cycle by measuring daily levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). Studies have shown that when LH levels rise rapidly or when there happens to occur a LH Surge, this is an accurate and reliable marker of impending ovulation. 

To allow the rapid simultaneous detection of two urinary hormones in predicting a woman’s full fertile window, the immunochromatographic system is utilized in pregnancy and ovulation tests. It is generally known that there are only a few days per cycle when a woman is fertile and can conceive. Evidence shows that this time of fertility usually spans 6 days, starting approximately 5 days prior to ovulation and ending on the day of ovulation itself.

Ovarian Reserve Testing

The store of eggs in the ovaries is sometimes called the ‘ovarian reserve’. Even some young women have low reserves. Testing for this is important because ovarian reserve predicts the woman’s response to fertility drugs, and her chances of successful treatment. 

This type of testing is done in the early days of the menstrual cycle, usually on day 3. At this stage, the ovaries are quiet, and the hormones are at steady levels. The number of visible egg sacs or follicles is a guide to the number of eggs stored in reserve. This is called the ‘antral follicle count’. The hormone FSH, and sometimes oestradiol, AMH, or inhibin-B are measured using a blood test. 

FSH drives the ovarian to produce eggs. If they are working well, not much FSH is needed—a low FSH result is good. If the ovaries are struggling to produce eggs, FSH is driving them hard and its level rises—a high result is bad. 

FOR MEN

For your partner, there are also some available screening test options that he can try at home. According to the book “What to Expect Before You’re Expecting”, there are some tests that measure the concentration of motile sperm in the man’s semen by using a device that gives a result in lines similar to a pregnancy test.

One line indicates a low concentration of motile sperm while 2 lines indicate a normal concentration of motile sperm. There are also some smartphone apps that can determine approximate sperm count and motility using a microscope attachment to the phone’s camera and break down results to low, average, or above average. 

But I’m not that familiar about what specific at home fertility tests and fertility apps my husband and I can use?

We managed to research some tests and apps which are popular and proven by medical health professionals. Please continue on reading the information below! 

Lists of at Home Fertility Tests and Fertility Apps

In this section, we like to provide you some lists of at home fertility tests and fertility apps that you can use now or perhaps if you’re planning to conceive in the future.

Tests

  • EverlyWell Women’s Fertility Test – By examining a few drops of blood collected at a specific time during your cycle using a simple test kit, we measure a variety of hormones known to be instrumental in a woman’s health and fertility. These hormones include: Estradiol (measured on Day 19), LH (measured on Day 3), FSH (measured on Day 3), Total Testosterone (measured on Day 19), and TSH (measured on Day 19).
  • Modern Fertility – A fertility hormone test, customized based on your birth control. You can get some physician reviewed reports, in human speak, available in your personalized fertility dashboard.

Apps

  • Glow – this app features 40 different health tags to track your cycle, a community with over ten million members, and resources from leading clinics to take your knowledge of fertility options further.
  • Kindara – in this app, you can log everything from your basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and up to 50 custom fields to keep up with changes in your cycle and body. There’s a free version and a premium version that’s $4.99/month or $49.99/for the year after. It is also available to sync up with Wink, a bluetooth oral thermometer that tracks your basal body temperature for a more detailed look at your fertility.

CONCLUSION

So, these at home fertility tests could give you a heads-up on what you might or might not find if you do eventually go for the full fertility workup. These are definitely cheaper than a full fertility screening but first, you may want to consider things before placing your order. It’s best to talk and seek medical advice to your OB-GYN or professional licensed fertility doctor for more comprehensive information about your reproductive health.

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