Written by: Dr. Amy Beckley, PhD, Founder and Inventor of the Proov test — the first and only FDA-cleared test to confirm successful ovulation at home.
At-home fertility tests: an overview of benefits
At-home fertility tests are becoming more and more popular, and with good reason! While the labs that your doctor or a fertility specialist might run are certainly valuable, at-home fertility tests let you test on your own schedule and can provide answers that even some lab tests can’t.
So, what’s holding you back? There are lots of benefits to at-home fertility tests for couples, and we’ll go through the top 7 here. By the end, you’ll know why you might want to test, and even which tests you could choose.
-
At-home fertility tests tend to be more convenient, comfortable & private
Let’s be honest–how many people LIKE having their blood drawn or having to awkwardly pee in a cup at the doctor’s office?
With at-home fertility testing, you get to skip all of that. Many at-home fertility tests, including Proov, require only a daily urine test or a sperm sample. No blood draws and no driving to the clinic across town (because the one closest to you is never open when you need it to be, of course). Urinary hormone testing is also just as accurate as a blood test in many cases.
At-home fertility testing is discreet, too. With tests shipped straight to your door and testing in the privacy of your own bathroom, no one needs to know anything you don’t want them to know! No phone calls from the doctor with the results, either. With the Proov Insight app, all your results are right on your phone.
-
There are multiple at-home fertility tests designed to test a variety of factors
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to fertility, and so there are lots of options to choose from when it comes to testing too. Ultimately, it’s up to you what you want to test for, and this means you don’t need to waste time (or money) on tests that will only tell you what you might already know.
For instance, if you’re not trying to conceive right now, but you want to check up on future fertility, testing ovarian reserve might be a good choice. If you’re trying to conceive but it’s only been a few months, you might want to start small with predicting and confirming ovulation. Finally, if you want to do it all and test both male and female factor infertility, you might try something like the Hers & His Fertility Testing kit!
-
For females, you can check your ovarian reserve & confirm successful ovulation
Your ovarian reserve is an estimate of the number of eggs you have left, and how close you might be to menopause. Did you know you can test that at home? With follicle-stimulating hormone tests in the beginning of your cycle, you can get a handle on your ovarian reserve status, which can impact your conception timeline. Knowing the information can help you make a plan.
If you’re trying to conceive, one of the most important things you can do is confirm successful ovulation. That means that not only did you ovulate (which is necessary for conception, of course) but you ovulated well enough that progesterone rises in the second half of your cycle and stays elevated long enough to support implantation. While it is possible to conceive even without a successful ovulation, a clinical study showed that chances increase significantly when ovulation is successful.
Traditionally, this is tested with “cycle day 21” labs and a blood draw, but with Proov Confirm you can test at home during all four days of the implantation window.
-
You also receive a full-cycle analysis
Because they fluctuate, hormone levels are expected to be different every day of your menstrual cycle. But can you imagine having to go to a clinic every single day to have blood drawn? This would be time consuming, expensive, and painful. The good news is that other options now exist. Proov Complete can give you full-cycle analysis of all menstrual cycle hormones and high-quality hormone testing with a single urine test most mornings. With Proov Complete, you can test ovarian reserve, find the entire fertile window, and confirm ovulation in a single cycle without leaving home.
-
For males, you can measure your motile sperm concentration
There are great fertility tests for males, too! Motile sperm concentration (MSC) is a measure of the two most important aspects of sperm quality: how well they swim, and how many there are. With the Proov Sperm test, you can test MSC at home and get results that help guide you on how to improve sperm quality if necessary. You get a video to share with your doctor, too!
-
Helps you understand potential fertility issues
At-home fertility tests are on your terms, which is great especially if you’re just getting started understanding your fertility or if you’re having a difficult time getting testing done through your doctor. While clinical guidelines say that an infertility evaluation isn’t necessary until you’ve been trying for a year, we understand that sometimes you just want peace of mind or answers earlier than that!
Testing early will help you understand cycle issues that might make conception difficult, or help you confirm that you’re ovulating (or not). They can also help you find when to time intercourse, which is a surprisingly common cause of infertility.
-
At-home fertility tests let you figure out next steps from the comfort of your own home
It can be overwhelming to get test results, and at-home fertility tests for couples mean that you can process the information how and when you need to. Many at-home fertility tests also don’t just give you the results and leave you to figure out what’s next! The Proov Insight Report and the Sperm Test results will both guide you on next steps and how to improve fertility.
Best at-home fertility tests
So, now that you know the benefits to testing, how do you choose which test you need?
Some of our favorites are:
- Reserve: to test ovarian reserve and future fertility
- Predict & Confirm: Find your most fertile days and confirm successful ovulation
- Hers & His Fertility Starter Kit: Test motile sperm concentration and the four main menstrual cycle hormones in one convenient kit
When to see a doctor
While at-home testing is an awesome start, if you’ve gotten test results that are less than optimal and you aren’t sure what to do or you’ve gone 1 year without conceiving (6 months if you’re over 35), it’s time to see your doctor for an evaluation. It’s also great to ask your doctor before beginning a new supplement routine or making any major changes to your health.
If you’re experiencing pain, abnormal bleeding, other intolerable symptoms, or you don’t have a menstrual cycle but you aren’t pregnant, it’s time to call your doctor too.
