At-home pregnancy testing has been around since the late 1970s, and these handy tests expedited and revolutionized the way that couples found out they were expecting. They work by sampling the urine for a hormone that is found during pregnancy. And they’ve worked so well that the technology is now moving to give couples answers before they ever try to conceive.
Today, hormone testing has advanced to the point that results can show whether your reproductive system is functioning properly. This testing was once only available inside a specialist’s office, but today has been made available to patients inside their homes for a fraction of the cost.
If you’ve ever been curious about your fertility, you may be contemplating purchasing one of these at-home fertility test kits, a relatively new option available for both men and women. These kits allow you to collect samples from the privacy of your own home and receive confidential results.
But when looking online, there are a lot of at-home testing choices out there, so how do you pick the one that’s right for you? In this guide, we’ll talk about the different sample collection methods used in at-home fertility test kits and help you make an informed decision.
There’s more than one way to test your fertility. Let’s cover some common collection methods used in at-home fertility testing.
Collecting a urine sample is straightforward. Most women have taken a pregnancy test at some point in their lives, and some have even been into a doctor’s office and been asked to pee in a cup. Your urine can tell you a lot about your body. At-home pregnancy tests use urine to detect hCG, a hormone produced during pregnancy; this becomes detectible about ten days after conception.
hCG won’t help you determine your fertility, though. So which hormones can be measured through a urine sample? Luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen are two reproductive hormones that are detectible in your pee. These two hormones are helpful in identifying normal ovulation or detecting a problem with the process.
Many over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) measure the amount of LH in your urine to provide accurate feedback about your ovulation. They work by detecting an LH surge, an indication that ovulation will occur soon. In order to obtain accurate results, you must repeat the test over a period of five to ten days, which can get expensive quickly and take several months to determine whether your body is ovulating regularly.
As you can see, testing fertility with urine will only tell you so much. Your blood tells a different story. That’s why other methods are sometimes used in at-home fertility test kits, such as a dried blood spot (DBS) filter card. These work by a finger prick done at home and squeezing a small amount of blood onto a collection card and then allowing it to dry. You’ll send the card back into the lab for analysis and results.
This type of test can be used to measure your FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) levels, an indication of a woman’s ovarian reserve. The accuracy of dried blood spot testing varies, so if you have an abnormal result, testing may need to be repeated in order to confirm your result.
A more accurate method of collecting blood samples for at-home fertility testing is called volumetric absorptive micro sampling, or VAMS. This is a very precise sample collection method because it uses a special collection device that measures an exact amount of blood.
Other advantages to the VAMS collection method include no dry-time, cost-effectiveness, and minimally invasive. VAMS technology can be used to test your fertility hormones, including: LH, FSH, and prolactin. High prolactin levels can disrupt ovulation.
The same technology can be used to test male reproductive hormones, including testosterone and PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels. In addition, hemoglobin A1C levels are often an indication of male fertility, as unhealthy blood sugar levels can affect sperm health.
My Virtual Physician has partnered with Orchid to provide at-home fertility testing to our patients. Orchid trusts and depends on VAMS technology to collect blood samples in their at-home fertility test kits. Find more information about their fertility tests below:
Finally, if you want a comprehensive view of your fertility, you’ve got to take a look at both parties involved: male and female. The best way to test for male fertility is through a semen analysis. Now, at-home sperm collection can be done and sent to a lab. Sperm is collected into a cup and mixed with a preservative, put into a temperature control pack, and shipped to the lab. This sample can be tested for sperm count, motility (movement), shape, and more. Here’s a link to Orchid’s sperm collection kit.
If you’re curious about your fertility and are looking for an accurate snapshot of whether your reproductive system is working properly, we recommend comprehensive testing. For women, that means a VAMS-collected blood test for an accurate measure of hormone levels, and for men, a sperm sample.
While urine samples and DBS cards are options for specific hormones, VAMS sample methods are more accurate and more versatile. Whichever method you choose, we recommend having your results reviewed by a physician.
My Virtual Physician has partnered with Orchid to provide patients with fertility support and feedback following an abnormal fertility result. If you’re interested in getting your fertility tested, schedule an appointment today with My Virtual Physician to order your test kit.
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Fertility is fascinating. Many processes–from hormones to sperm production–are involved, requiring perfect functioning and coordination for the whole system to work. And it’s all done without much conscious effort. That’s why it can be so frustrating when something is not functioning as it should–we feel helpless to understand where the problem lies and what can be done to correct it.
Maybe you’ve heard about some of the conditions that can hinder your fertility–such as PCOS–but you’re not really sure if it applies to you. In this blog, we’ll explore polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its relationship to a woman’s fertility.
PCOS is a syndrome, meaning that it is characterized by a group of symptoms. One in ten women who is between the stages of puberty and menopause has been diagnosed with the condition. Women with PCOS may suffer from these symptoms:
Despite the name, not all women with PCOS have cysts. The most common indications of polycystic ovary syndrome include lack of ovulation and high levels of androgens. Androgens are male reproductive hormones, such as testosterone, that are normally found in small amounts in females.
The cause of PCOS is a hormonal imbalance, along with malfunctioning metabolism. Certain risk factors can increase your chances of being diagnosed with PCOS, including obesity or a family history of the disease.
Many women don’t realize they have PCOS until they struggle to become pregnant. After some time of trying, they may start looking for an explanation and solution–leading them into the OBGYN’s office, which provides a diagnosis: PCOS.
Hormones are critical to fertility and to successful reproduction. They give the body instructions, like telling the ovaries when to release the egg (ovulation). When the reproductive hormones are out of balance, the reproductive system malfunctions–often resulting in infertility. Specifically, PCOS can affect egg development and ovulation.
PCOS is a common cause of infertility. Many women with the syndrome do not ovulate regularly, or at all, because of hormonal imbalances. There is a bright side, though. Some women with PCOS are still able to conceive without any intervention.
Whether you have already been diagnosed with PCOS, or you suspect that you have PCOS, both circumstances allow you to check whether the disease is affecting your ovulation. At-home fertility testing is one way that women can check for ovulation. At-home fertility testing is available to measure hormone levels that indicate proper reproductive functioning, including ovulation.
My Virtual Physician has partnered with Orchid to bring our patients at-home fertility testing options. Their hormonal test kits are available to our patients at an affordable cost. Their female hormone test can provide feedback about whether your body is ovulating by testing FSH, LH, and prolactin levels. If you’re interested in checking your fertility at home, Orchid has the solution.
The short answer is yes, PCOS is treatable. But it is more complicated than that. If PCOS is causing infertility, you’re probably wondering what you can do to treat it.
One aspect of PCOS treatment is very important to understand–your treatment method will vary depending on whether you want to relieve symptoms or treat infertility caused by PCOS. That’s because some PCOS treatments aren’t compatible with fertility.
Oral contraceptives, for example, are one way to manage PCOS symptoms, but will prevent pregnancy. Anti-androgen medications are another treatment for PCOS symptoms like acne or abnormal hair growth, but this treatment can cause birth defects if you become pregnant. So be sure to communicate your fertility goals with your provider.
Some lifestyle changes can improve your PCOS symptoms, including dietary changes, losing weight, or increasing exercise. Specifically, reducing dairy and carbs can help with the symptoms.
Some common treatments for PCOS-related infertility include medications that:
Understanding what polycystic ovary syndrome is can give you a holistic view of how it might affect your fertility. Even if you're unsure about whether your fertility has been affected by PCOS, there is no harm in completing at-home fertility testing to find out. With today’s advancements in healthcare, conceiving with PCOS is possible. Book your appointment today to discuss PCOS or to get your fertility test kit.
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If you’re a woman, you’ve probably wondered at some point in your life whether you were fertile. Unfortunately, it’s not an uncommon problem, with as much as 19% of women of childbearing unable to get pregnant.
So if you’re wondering now, is there a way to find out if I’m fertile so that I can be prepared when I am ready to conceive? We have the answer for you. Read on to find out how you can check your fertility.
Before covering how to check your fertility, let’s cover the basics. Fertility is defined as the ability to reproduce. In other words, as a woman, you are fertile if you are able to conceive and sustain a pregnancy to full term. Women are fertile during the childbearing years, from puberty up until menopause.
Infertility, on the other hand, happens when a woman is unable to conceive after a year of trying. Usually, it is due to a hiccup in one of the steps required for pregnancy, which are:
Some factors may increase your chances of being infertile when you’re ready to try to conceive. Here is a list of traits that are associated with female infertility:
Many doctors will not explore the possibility of infertility until you have met one or more of the following criteria:
If you do not yet meet those criteria, but still have a desire to test your fertility–you still have options.
Option #1: If you want to naturally self-monitor if and when you are ovulating, practice the fertility awareness method. This can be used to detect the signs of ovulation and is used by both women who are looking to prevent pregnancy as well as those who want to conceive. This method incorporates a combination of three observations: counting the days of your cycle, checking basal body temperature, and checking for changes in cervical mucus. There are also ovulation test strips available over the counter to help you confirm fertility.
Option #2: If you don’t have the patience for option #1, there is a much quicker way to determine your fertility. In-home fertility testing is available. My Virtual Physician has partnered with Orchid to provide our patients with the ability to test fertility hormone levels at any point in their journey.
All that is required is a consultation with our online gynecologists who will provide you a prescription for your at-home test kit. These kits are very affordable, easy to do at home with a finger prick, and are sent back to a professional lab. Your results are reviewed by our OBGYN team and if there are any fertility concerns, actionable steps are provided and our team of specialists is here to help.
Take the first step and book your appointment with My Virtual Physician to get your at-home fertility test kit today.
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If you’ve had fertility testing done and the results were concerning, but also provided no actionable steps, we recommend trying Orchid test kits. These kits use accurate VAMS technology and the detailed, personalized results come with action steps that can restore your fertility. My Virtual Physician is staffed with board-certified OBGYNs who are available to meet with you virtually and discuss your fertility results, along with an action plan.
