T

By Jamey Powell

Wendie Trubow, M.D., MBA

Everlywell’s Female Hormone Test checks levels of LH, FSH, TSH, and total testosterone. If you’re only interested in learning about your FSH, which can provide information about egg quantity, they also offer an Ovarian Reserve test. Like Let’sGetChecked and Modern Fertility, this test uses a blood sample (which must be taken on the third day of your period) to measure your levels and then creates a report with personalized information. Your results are reviewed by a board-certified physician, and, from there, you can watch videos to learn about what your report means and what next steps you should take.

Both the Ovarian Reserve test and Female Hormone tests are available as a one-time purchase or as a monthly, quarterly, or semiannual subscription, which offers lower prices. However, unless you’ve been recommended to by your doctor, it’s not likely you’ll need to re-test regularly.

Everlywell gets great reviews on this test, although there aren’t a lot of them. Most people say the instructions were clear and the test was easily administered. One person said they had a hard time collecting their sample but noted that Everlywell was quick to send them a new test. While this is still a blood sample, the overall volume is less than Modern Fertility or Let’sGetChecked (good news for the squeamish!). Unfortunately, this test isn’t an option if you live in New York due to state regulations.

One of the best at-home options for sperm testing, Legacy offers a range of services. The most basic is its “For Today” kit, which includes a sperm test to take stock of metrics like sperm volume, motility, count, concentration, and morphology. You can schedule your kit to be delivered on a specific day and use it immediately or store it in the fridge for up to 14 days.

Once you’ve sent in your test, you’ll be able to view your results within 48 hours via your Legacy online dashboard. The results can shed some light on your chances of conception by showing you the quantity and quality of your sperm. One key metric that this kit checks (that most others do not) is motility, which is a measurement of how many of your sperm are moving properly. There’s also an optional DNA fragmentation testing add-on to check your sperm’s genetic integrity (but it doubles the final price).

Legacy also offers sexually transmitted infections or STI testing (although this is unavailable if you live in New York due to state regulations) and two options for family planning that include cryostorage options. You can also add a monthly, yearly, or five-year cryostorage membership to any test kit purchase. Of course, these options, and even the signature For Today kit, are expensive. However, you can check on Legacy’s website to see if your insurance covers the For Today kit, which is also FSA-eligible.

For the science fanatics out there, the Mira Fertility Analyzer takes standard at-home ovulation tests to the next level. Through testing the levels of E3G and LH in your urine, Mira uses AI to learn your cycle and provide a full view of your ovulation and fertility window. The test stick goes into the analyzer (which is about the size of an avocado) and, after 16 minutes of analysis, your data syncs with the Mira app. The starter kit comes with the analyzer, a charger, carrying case, 10 test strips, and paper cups—and if you don’t detect an LH surge within three months of using Mira, they’ll give you your money back.

Reviewers have great things to say about how easy the results are to read, and they appreciate that Mira provides more numerical data than a positive or negative result. Several reviewers with PCOS said this test helped them detect patterns in their ovulation cycle and even helped them get pregnant. One reviewer says, “Having PCOS has made it impossible to detect my surge with regular LH tests. I can’t explain enough how much having my exact levels with Mira has helped me on my fertility journey.”

Downsides to Mira are the cost of the test wands, which are considerably more expensive than the Pregmate sticks on this list. Mira also only measures LH and E3G, so if you’re looking for a bigger-picture view of your hormones and egg count, you’ll want to opt for a blood test. Additionally, there’s no doctor review of your results.

Modern Fertility is more than a testing company—the brand also sells birth control, prenatal vitamins, ovulation tests, and sperm tests through its partner, Ro, a telehealth company that connects you virtually with licensed professionals in the U.S. Unlike most at-home tests, these fertility tests take into account whether you are currently using hormonal birth control and only tests for the hormones that are not affected by your contraceptive. For anyone not on a hormonal contraceptive, you’ll test for most of the hormones listed above. If you are on a hormonal contraceptive, you’ll test for AMH and TSH to provide insights into your ovarian reserve and thyroid health, respectively. Of all of the tests on this list that require a blood sample, this is the most comprehensive.

When you request a test, you’ll fill out your age, current birth control method, and the regularity of your period. A doctor will then review your request to ensure you’re getting the most effective kit. Once you’ve received your kit, you can choose to take your sample at home through a finger prick or bring it to a Quest Diagnostics location for help. Results should appear on your account dashboard 10 days after sending your kit in by mail.

Not only does this test have over 2,000 reviews, but I discovered that many of my friends who previously used at-home fertility tests opted for Modern Fertility. On the pro side, all five of them said it was a relatively easy and cost-effective method. However, a couple had a difficult time collecting their sample and had to be mailed replacement tests. One friend warns, “You have to prick yourself while you’re on your period, and I was extremely emotional and frustrated that it wasn’t working. Once I knew what I had to do, the second time around was easier.” Another agreed that the amount of blood required for the sample took her by surprise, but said “All in all, it gave me peace of mind and reassurance for a low cost.”

While Pregmate’s ovulation test strips provide fewer insights into your hormones than blood tests do, it’s a cost-effective and simple way to predict your fertility window. The strips use urine to measure luteinizing hormone, a hormone that plays a crucial role in ovulation.

To use, dip a testing strip into a cup of urine and let it sit for five minutes. (Pregmate recommends testing sometime between 10 a.m. and noon.) Be sure to set a timer: The brand warns that a reading after five minutes could be inaccurate. A positive reading indicates an “LH surge,” which happens at the beginning of ovulation. From there, you can use the companion app to track your ovulation cycle and—if pregnancy is the goal—strategize the best time for intercourse. Note that fertility medication and PCOS can tamper with your results, as folks with PCOS may have a constant high level of LH.

Users rave these strips are easy to read and great for quick results. If your goal is to monitor your cycle for your most fertile days, these low-priced strips might be enough for you. But if your goal is to learn more about your hormones and plan for the future, there are more comprehensive options available.

If you’re actively trying to conceive, this wearable tracker can help monitor your ovulation and help pinpoint your most fertile days—all while you sleep. The bracelet uses sensors to measure your temperature, resting pulse rate, heart rate variability ratio, breathing rate, and perfusion (which is the passage of blood through the circulatory system). These five physiological signals can then be used to understand fluctuations in your reproductive hormones using Ava’s advanced data algorithms.

Only worn as your sleep, the tracker records data up to 25 times per second. The brand then analyzes the measurements to create a comprehensive view of your cycle in the companion app, which includes extrapolating your five most fertile days. Research found the Ava tracker to be 90% accurate in detecting the five most fertile days of a person’s cycle. (However, this research was partially funded by Ava.)

If pregnancy is your immediate goal and you’re looking for a non-invasive way to track your ovulation (read: no testing your pee every day), this could be it—especially if you’re planning for multiple pregnancies, as you can use it again. Just keep in mind, it’s not necessarily going to help you learn more about your hormone levels, and it is a more expensive option.

Ava does, however, offer a full refund on its more expensive packages if you’re not pregnant within six to 12 months of using the tracker. Plus, it can be used as a pregnancy tracker if you conceive.

Let’sGetChecked’s Female Hormone Test uses a finger-prick blood sample to measure four key hormones related to fertility: FSH, LH, Prolactin, and Estradiol. Information about these hormones can give you a better idea of your ovulation cycle and tip you off on any hormone imbalances. Unlike the Modern Fertility test, if you want to test for Anti-Mullerian hormone (which checks your egg reserve), you’ll have to buy a separate kit.

The Female Hormone Test kit comes with thorough instructions, several lancets, a collection tube, and a prepaid return shipping label. Once you’ve activated your test and taken your blood sample (on day 3 to 7 of your period), Let’sGetChecked asks that you send it back the same day. You’ll then receive your results in two to five days (which you can view using the Let’sGetChecked app); a nurse will call if the results show any cause for concern. You can also call a helpline to speak with a nurse if you have any questions about your results.

Let’sGetChecked has over 14,000 reviews on Trustpilot, and most of them are positive. I personally can attest that Let’sGetChecked provides timely shipping and clear instructions. However, I’m squeamish and have very thin blood, so I didn’t have a great experience with the finger prick (and wasn’t able to collect a large enough sample). If you’re in a similar boat, I would recommend going to a lab to have a professional help collect your sample.