Home fertility tests. What could be simpler? Like over-the-counter pregnancy tests, they can give you all the information you need to know how to maximize your fertility, right? Unfortunately, the reality isn’t so cut and dry for most couples. And those who rely solely on home fertility tests to help them navigate their issues with infertility may simply be wasting their dollars.
As physicians who specialize in reproductive health will tell you, infertility isn’t a one-size-fits-all concern. What helps one woman conceive might do nothing for another. And therein lies the problem with at-home fertility kits.
Because these fertility kits measure only one area involved in fertility — ovulation — they cannot provide the necessary personalization you deserve. After all, they’ve been designed with an “average” consumer who simply needs to understand when she’s ovulating in order to conceive in mind… and that might not describe your case.
This isn’t to say that you can’t try a home fertility test; in fact, you can do whatever you desire. But know that if you haven’t been able to naturally conceive within 6-12 months after ceasing all birth control, it’s a good idea to shift gears and head to a fertility specialist for a one-on-one examination.
(There’s a good article on the About.com site regarding at-home fertility tests, in case you’d like to further educate yourself. Otherwise, consider these kits as potential tools but don’t waste time and money on them if you haven’t been able to get pregnant. It’s much better — and financially prudent – to head to a physician instead.)
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