At-home Hormone Tests
There are so many devices available to help with your practice of NFP. Be informed when selecting what will work for you to support this lifestyle choice.
Manufacturer: Swiss Precision Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland
*Price: Fertility monitor $122; 30 monitor sticks $55-60 (typical users need 10-20 test strips per cycle to detect ovulation)
How does it work? Morning urine test that measures urinary metabolites of estrogen and LH. Provides “low” and “high” readings for estrogen and a “peak” reading when LH surges.
Science behind it: Probably the most widely-researched monitor for ovulation detection and FABM use. The Marquette Method is based on use of Clearblue and shows excellent results for avoiding pregnancy. Offers a special postpartum protocol and shows evidence of effectiveness in women approaching menopause.
Who might this help? Women TTC or looking for a tech-based, highly effective FABM who can afford the ongoing cost of test strips. Very useful for postpartum women with confusing mucus patterns during the return of fertility.
Who doesn’t this help? Those TTC with a budget; ovulation can be reliably detected with lower cost generic LH test strips; monitor investment not needed. Also, there is no evidence time-to-pregnancy using LH detection is faster than women using traditional FABMs.
Manufacturer: Mira, Pleasanton, CA
*Price: Starter Kit (includes analyzer, app, and 10 test wands) $199; 20 test wands $45
How does it work? Morning urine sample “read” by analyzer and syncs with app. Unlike other LH tests, this provides a quantitative measure of LHn(e.g., how much, not just present or not). Upgrade plans include providing a quantitative measure of estrogen.
Science behind it: There is excellent correlation of urine LH levels between MIRA and laboratory-based analyzers, but there is no published data yet showing pregnancy rates with MIRA compared to “nothing,” FABMs, or other ovulation predictors.
Who might this help? Possibly women with known fertility issues (i.e., PCOS), however with only LH being measured today, this is a very expensive alternative to simple LH test strips. Getting a full cycle pattern of LH profile may help medical professionals diagnose reproductive issues, and users feel confident as to when or if they are ovulating. When quantitative estrogen is added to the product, this will be a much more attractive device to consider.
Who doesn’t this help? Those TTA; understanding only the day of ovulation does not reliably identify the full fertile window.
Manufacturer: MFB Fertility, Boulder, CO
*Price: $40 for 7 test strips (discounts are often available on manufacturer’s website)
How does it work? Urine test that measures PdG, a metabolite of progesterone, which confirms ovulation. First at-home progesterone test.
Science behind it: Limited but very solid science supporting what it claims to do (confirm ovulation).
Who might this help? In women who are TTC who know they are correctly timing intercourse, it could highlight need to get medical investigation/diagnosis of luteal phase insufficiency. Helpful for women TTC with known PCOS. Helpful for women who are TTA and want a high-tech confirmation of Phase 3.
Who doesn’t this help? For those TTA, does not provide identification of entire fertile window.
Manufacturer: Authorized Representative: Qarad b.v.b.a., Belgium
*Price: $14.95 for 50 test strips
How does it work? Urine test that measures LH metabolites.
Science behind it: Excellent correlation with LH surge detected via serum monitoring. Some limited data shows it can be used as substitute for Clearblue in Marquette Method.
Who might this help? Women TTC seeking low cost way to detect the days nearest actual ovulation.
Who doesn’t this help? Women TTA because it does not help define the time when sperm can survive prior to ovulation. Does not identify the fertile window.