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Modern Fertility is our choice for the best overall at-home fertility test because it measures seven important hormones. Learn more and see our other recommendations.
Traditional fertility testing involves an extensive evaluation of key hormones at a doctor’s office. But at-home fertility tests are an option for those wanting information as soon as possible.
We focused on fertility tests that measure hormones such as estradiol, which may provide insight on your fertility.
However, if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than 6 months, you might also consider a fertility tracker or monitor to give you deeper insights.
• TSH
• FSH
• estradiol
• free thyroxine
• prolactin
• LH
• LH
• prolactin
• estradiol
• estrogen
• TSH
• FSH
• estradiol
• testosterone
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We put each product through our vetting process, which considers, among other criteria:
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When researching at-home fertility tests, we interviewed fertility medical experts about what to consider; read online reviews to learn about users’ experience with accuracy, ease of use, and overall feeling about the test; and submitted all of our choices through Healthline’s rigorous vetting process.
If someone is exploring using a send-out test, Dr. Amanda Kallen, an associate professor in the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale Medicine, says she would look for an FDA-approved test performed in a CLIA certified laboratory, ideally with a doctor’s help to interpret results.
You’ll notice that the language used in this article to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.”
Although we typically avoid language like this, specificity matters when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.
The studies and surveys included didn’t report data on — or include — participants who were:
- transgender
- nonbinary
- gender nonconforming
- genderqueer
- agender
- genderless
At-home hormone tests usually involve collecting a small blood sample and then sending it off to a lab for testing. These tests look at a variety of hormones, such as the following:
Ovarian reserve
This includes FSH, estradiol, and AMH levels.
“These tests give a general sense of the number of eggs remaining in the ovary,” explained Kallen.
But these tests have
Note: This test is not advisable when considering egg freezing.
Estrogen and LH
Levels of these hormones increase right before ovulation. LH can be detected in your urine, and this is what home ovulation predictor kits detect, Kallen says.
Thyroid hormones such as TSH
“Thyroid problems can contribute to irregular or absent periods and thus problems with infertility, which is why a TSH test is ordered,” said Dr. Allison Petrini, a reproductive endocrinologist at Texas Fertility Center in Austin, Texas.
You’re not alone
You might receive a diagnosis of infertility if you’re 35 years old or older and haven’t been able to get pregnant after trying for 6 months, or if you’re younger than 35 and haven’t been able to get pregnant after trying for a year. This applies whether you’re trying through therapeutic donor insemination or sex without a condom or other barrier method.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from the years 2015 through 2019, infertility affects
Some fertility challenges, such as concerns about ovulation or anovulation, relate specifically to women, but infertility can affect people of any gender (learn more about male fertility testing).
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, for about 40% of heterosexual couples who cannot get pregnant, the male partner presents with medical challenges that are the main cause or a contributing cause of infertility.
In up to
At-home fertility testing provides a broad overview of your reproductive status. Essentially, these tests offer estimates rather than accurate figures tailored to your situation. They cannot diagnose concerns.
“I would consider at-home testing a potential supplement, rather than a replacement, for testing and evaluation in a clinic,” said Kallen.
For example, an at-home hormone test can’t fully evaluate you for infertility, and Kallen notes it “can cause a false sense of alarm.”
Petrini agrees that measuring hormone levels alone isn’t the best way to evaluate whether someone will conceive without assistance.
“There are many factors that may cause infertility in addition to hormones, including uterine abnormalities, endometriosis, problems with fallopian tubes, or even male factors,” she explained.
Pros of at-home fertility testing
- You can get results without having to leave the comfort of your home.
- If you don’t have insurance, at-home tests may be more affordable than in-clinic options paid out of pocket.
- You may be able to do testing sooner, as many fertility clinics and insurance companies prefer to wait to start testing until you’ve had difficulty conceiving for 6 to 12 months.
Cons of at-home fertility testing
- If you have insurance, at-home tests may be more expensive than in-clinic options covered by insurance.
- The tests aren’t reliable for everyone. For example, if your hormone levels are outside of expected ranges, tests that depend on specific hormones, such as ovulation tests, may be less accurate.
- The tests may not be accurate if you have a health condition that affects reproduction, such as PCOS.
- Results may be inaccurate if you do not follow the specific directions for your test.
- Some tests may include results that aren’t indicators of infertility, such as prolactin if you have typical menstrual cycles or ovarian reserve testing if you’re not experiencing infertility.
- It’s hard to replace working in person with a doctor who is familiar with you, your health history, your specific concerns, and your previous lab results.
Generally, medical experts
But if you have a health condition that affects fertility, such as PCOS or endometriosis, or you have a partner with fertility issues, experts recommend getting a fertility evaluation when you’re starting to try to conceive.
If you’re 35 years old or older and have not conceived after 6 months or if you’re over 40 years old, you may want to meet with a fertility doctor sooner than 1 year after starting to try.
If you have any questions about your reproductive health, don’t hesitate to talk with a doctor.
At-home fertility tests, such as those from LetsGetChecked, Everlywell, and Modern Fertility, can check some of your key hormone levels through an at-home blood test.
While at-home tests are unlikely to provide enough data to make fully informed decisions about your family planning, they can be a helpful place to start.
The medical experts we interviewed agree it’s best to consider at-home fertility tests as a supplement rather than a replacement for in-person medical testing.
“While these types of at-home tests have encouraged more women to talk and think about fertility (and given some women access to tests who may not have a fertility specialist nearby), it’s best not to derive any conclusions from them,” said Dr. Allison Petrini, a reproductive endocrinologist at Texas Fertility Center in Austin, Texas.
At-home fertility testing is an exciting new development that can help people feel empowered to learn more about their fertility. But experts emphasize that it’s not a replacement for medical advice and testing with a healthcare professional.
The at-home fertility test that’s right for you will depend on your reasons for testing and what information you hope to gain.
