What fertility test is the best for you?

There isn’t a quick or easy answer, because fertility testing and treatments come in all shapes and sizes, and range in cost from very affordable to quite expensive. The good news is that you probably don’t need all of them, and there are some great and affordable options that are easily accessible. So settle in, and we’ll give you the inside scoop! 

When does it make sense to purchase fertility tests?

Ultimately, it makes sense to do fertility testing whenever you feel it will give you answers or peace of mind along your journey. If you’re thinking about it, we’d recommend you test sooner rather than later! When it comes to fertility, knowledge is power. In general, though, there are some times you may want to consider it more than others. These include: 

• If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than a few months without success, especially if you’re already tracking ovulation
• If you’re thinking about getting pregnant and have been on birth control for several years, or have irregular cycles
• If you or your partner are curious about your future fertility 

What can fertility tests tell me?

Here’s where things get a little complicated. The term “fertility test” can refer to everything from a simple ovulation predictor kit to a full blood panel done at a doctor’s office. The good news is that it means you have many options depending upon what you want to know! 

Fertility tests fit into a few broad categories: lab blood tests, at-home blood tests, at-home urine tests, and semen analysis. Blood tests done in a clinic or a lab will likely give you the broadest information as they can test reproductive hormones, other important hormones like cortisol and prolactin, and also identify other possible fertility challenges like anemia or irregular immune cell counts. At-home blood tests will provide similar (but usually more limited) information, with the advantage that you don’t have to go anywhere. 

Blood tests have some disadvantages, though. They only test your hormones on one day, and depending on the timing of your testing, they may not provide much information on what those hormones look like during other parts of your menstrual cycle. For instance, luteinizing hormone (LH) is a hormone that rises just before ovulation, so testing your LH at other times in your cycle won’t necessarily tell you much without context. Blood tests can help you get a picture of your overall health, as well as your ovarian reserve. 

At-home urine tests are a little bit different, since you’ll usually test on many different days throughout your cycle. At-home urine testing can tell you when you’re fertile (with estrogen and luteinizing hormone), if you’re ovulating and if that ovulation is successful (with PdG, a urinary progesterone marker), and information about your ovarian reserve (with follicle stimulating hormone). 

And finally, there’s semen analysis–that test, as you might expect, covers the male side of fertility. Both at-home and lab semen analyses will cover motile sperm concentration (how many sperm there are, and how well they move). An in-lab analysis will also include testing for pH, morphology, and any contaminants. 

How much do different fertility tests cost?

Of course, with different kinds of tests come different price tags. You might be pleased to know, though, that cost and the amount of information you get don’t always go hand in hand. There are many affordable and informative testing options out there! 

Lab blood tests

Lab blood tests are going to vary probably the most of any tests on this list, for the simple reason that some may be covered by health insurance and others may not. If you live in a state where infertility care is required to be covered, bloodwork will likely cost the same as any other blood tests you’d have done. If not, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance. 

If they aren’t covered, out of pocket costs will likely be around $200-400 for a typical blood panel, but will depend upon how many tests you have done. 

At-home blood tests

A typical at-home blood test kit from the leading fertility blood test suppliers costs $150-300. These typically provide one cycle worth of analysis and/or testing once for each hormone. These costs are often able to be paid with funds from a Flex Spending Account (FSA) or a Health Savings Account (HSA).

At-home urine tests

At-home urine tests are typically the most affordable on this list, especially those that use your smartphone and don’t require initial purchase of hardware or some sort of monitor. You’ll get the most information with full-cycle kits like Proov Complete, currently priced at $99 for one cycle analysis or $179 for two. This provides information on four key hormones; your entire fertile window and testing for successful ovulation. 

You can also test for more targeted concerns, with ovulation predictor kits/LH tests to find your two most fertile days, typically costing around $15 per cycle. Testing for ovarian reserve with urine tests costs around $50, and confirming successful ovulation with PdG costs $29 for one cycle or $59 for three. 

Semen analysis

Finally, semen analysis will typically not be covered by insurance, and lab tests are typically $50-300. At-home semen testing is also available, with the Proov + YO Sperm test priced at $79.99. This tests motile sperm concentration, the key parameter for healthy sperm, in the comfort of your own home. 

In many cases, you can get discounts or lower costs by bundling various tests either with your fertility clinic or with kits like the Proov Hers & His Advanced Fertility Kit, priced at $169.99 and including two sperm tests as well as tests to find your entire fertile window, check ovarian reserve, confirm successful ovulation, and test for pregnancy. 

So now you know–fertility testing may be intimidating sometimes, but it may not cost an arm and a leg depending on the tests you choose and your insurance coverage. And it can provide the information you need to help you plan or get pregnant!