HWN Suggests

The fertility testing racket just got debunked by science

Women in their 30s and 40s anxious about their dwindling prospects of getting pregnant have become a booming market for a new arm of medicine: fertility testing. Thousands of women have flocked to have their “ovarian reserve” measured, and have made major life decisions — like whether to try to have kids sooner — based on the results of these tests, which typically cost between $150 and $350. Ovarian reserve, or the amount of eggs a woman has left in her ovaries compared to other women her age, was thought to be a key metric of reproductive capacity. But a new study out in JAMA shows that these tests are often useless for many of the women to whom they’re marketed.

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  A Hertility test gave me the answers I needed about my fertility. Here's my honest review

Plus, I know a whole lot more about my hormones than I used to.

 Curious About At-Home Fertility Tests? Start Here

Until you start trying, it’s difficult for most of us to predict just how easy (or difficult) getting pregnant will be. Which means that you’re often weighing multiple factors—like your age, relationship status, and overall readiness to grow a family—without much insight into your own fertility. And while having a conversation with your family doctor well before you want to conceive would be great for helping to inform your decisions, we know access (and finding the time!) can be tough. These barriers are the reason why we offer at-home tests.

 Do You Need a Fertility Test Even If You’re Not Trying to Get Pregnant?

Female-led start-ups are making fertility testing easier and cheaper than ever. Can the trendy new packaging help women predict their future fertility, or does all that data just fuel more baby-making fears? Not only is the science of predicting fertility imperfect and complex, but it also has a major blind spot: Even the techie-est and trendiest fertility assessments look only at the quantity of eggs you have when evidence suggests the quality of your eggs is equally important.

 Fertility test kits: affordable and easy but there are downsides

Growing numbers of people are buying at-home fertility tests despite concern from some leading doctors that these products may cause already anxious would-be parents to worry unnecessarily about their ability to have children. They also say there is an urgent need for better regulation in this area.

 If You’re Struggling to Get Pregnant, You Should Know About These 6 Fertility Tests

The tests women who've gone through multiple failed rounds of IVF wish they'd gotten sooner. Why don’t fertility clinics test for more issues at the beginning of the IVF process? Why is it that many patients only find out the root cause of their issue years into their fertility journey? Doesn’t it make sense to run the possible diagnostic tests at the beginning, to rule out all possible causes of infertility—and therefore save the patient all sorts of time and money?

 Widely advertised hormone test unreliable as fertility prediction tool for women, researchers say

Experts warn women are making ‘significant life changes’ based on the anti-Müllerian hormone test, which they say is not reliable for many of its advertised uses.

 ‘Feminist’ Health Marketing Is Preying On Women’s Fertility Fears

Home fertility tests may not be telling you what you think.

Articles of Interest

At-Home Fertility Tests Are Booming, But Are They Worth It?

Having kids is perhaps not as easy as it once was. Studies suggest male fertility has been declining significantly over the past 40 years (the cause of this drop is still unclear), while women are choosing to have kids much later in life, and having a harder time conceiving as a result. On the positive side, celebrities and regular people are finally breaking the infertility taboo and talking about their miscarriages, IVF journeys or their inability to conceive on social media. But this public interest has also prompted companies to exploit our fertility focus by offering at-home, over-the-counter tests which claim to check for leading causes of infertility.

At-home fertility tests: here’s what they can actually tell you

There are many reasons we’re choosing to have children later in life. On the one hand, waiting to have kids can allow us to create more stable lifestyles first, establishing a career and building our finances. But many of us also know that the longer we wait, the harder it can be to have children – with age being one of the biggest factors underlying infertility. Given how big this decision is, it’s no wonder there’s growing interest in at-home fertility tests which are often advertised to people in their 20s and 30s. But while these test kits can provide you with some useful information, they can’t provide you with a full picture of your fertility.

Can a DIY fertility test help you plan when to have a baby?

A new wave of tech startups is promising women detailed insights into their ability to conceive. But experts are sceptical. The industry’s critics argue that while the tests are being marketed as fertility tests, ovarian reserve – which the AMH test is a proxy for – doesn’t equate to the ability to conceive naturally either today or several years hence.

Direct-to-Consumer Fertility Tests Confuse and Mislead Consumers, Penn Study Shows

“Consumers continue to desire these tests, and they’re attractive, but they don’t deliver on their promise,” said Moira Kyweluk, PhD, MPH, a fellow in the department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the author of the paper. “I view DTC testing as an entry point into what I term the ‘new (in)fertility pipeline’ for women today. Because it is low cost and widely available, it’s reaching a larger demographic, people of diverse identities and backgrounds, and raising awareness of more advanced procedures and technologies like egg freezing.”

Dr. Santoro Talks Fertility Testing with Glamour

CU’s Dr. Nannette Santoro recently spoke to Glamour on the rise of fertility testing companies claiming to offer women a definitive look at their reproductive potential. But claims being made by companies marketing these services may be misleading given that fertility testing is still an area of great scientific debate and controversy. It’s a subject that requires more research as well as a nuanced examination of the facts on hand.

Fertility startups see burst in demand as minds turn to baby-making

The coronavirus lockdown has led to rising interest in video games, sex toys, sourdough bread and also…babies. Or at least that's what may explain a spike in demand for some of Europe's fertility startups over the past few months, according to founders interviewed by Sifted.

Fertility Testing Is Big Business—But Is It Really Helping You Get Pregnant?

New evidence shows that the tests many companies use to determine a woman's chances of having a baby are based on bogus science.

I Tried An At-Home Fertility Test. Here's How It Went

Empowering or effing scary? A new test predicts your egg count after a few clicks and a pricked finger.

Now You Can Measure Male Fertility With a Smartphone App

A new device helps men monitor their sperm count from the comfort of their own home

Raising Concerns About a Widely Used Test to Measure Fertility

New research published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association underscores what Ms. Bourquin experienced, and what many fertility experts have already observed: AMH doesn’t dictate a woman’s reproductive potential. And although AMH testing is one of the most common ways that doctors assess a woman’s fertility — it’s especially important for women struggling with infertility — an AMH value isn’t always telling.

Should Women In Their 20s Be Getting Fertility Tested?

It becomes imperative then, that if we're going to exercise our right to put our careers first while we're still in our 20s and push back having children until such a time as we feel appropriate, we also have to arm ourselves with as much knowledge about fertility, in general, and our own bodies, as possible.

These Two Fertility Tests May Not Be Accurate

According to Santoro, who “women who have never attempted to conceive should not be evaluated in a manner similar to those with infertility. Doing so can not only provide potentially misleading and anxiety-producing results but may also lead to costly fertility preservation treatments that have no value.” So skip the drugstore tests, everyone.

This New At-Home Fertility Test Is Perfect for People Who Want Kids—But Not Today

Called Modern Fertility, it’s a startup that, in addition to testing for nine hormones (including your anti-Mullerian hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone—which is also tracked in over-the-counter ovulation predictor tests), aims to arm women with knowledge surrounding their reproductive health so they can one day consider such options as egg freezing and in vitro fertilization should they need to, and before it’s too late.

Why I chose to have a 'fertility MOT'

An increasing number of women are paying to have their fertility assessed. How much do the tests really reveal about their ability to conceive?

Why It’s So Hard to Have Your Fertility Tested

Some say fertility testing sparks anxiety while giving patients little actionable information, and studies have raised doubts about whether common tests are accurate at all. It’s also an invasive and expensive proposition. Nonetheless, the fertility testing market is currently worth almost half a billion dollars, and it’s growing. Whether that’s good for patients is a matter of debate.

Women Find A Fertility Test Isn't As Reliable As They'd Like

Women concerned about their fertility can use a test to help decide whether they should freeze their eggs now or whether they still have time to have a baby. But this test, called an ovarian reserve test, is often ambiguous and can be misinterpreted. Some fertility specialists worry that many women will be misled by their results, leading some to feel pressured to freeze their eggs when they don't need to and others to miss their best window to do so.

Would you take an at-home fertility test?

"I've always said I'll leave having a baby until the 'very last minute'... but what if this test tells me otherwise?"

Resources

Femometer

Our fertility devices accurately measure vital indicators, such as BBT and hormones, and sync seamlessly with our digital health app to interpret your unique cycle. Understanding your fertility enables you to manage your conception journey with confidence.

Hertility Health

Gain clarity with a diagnostic fertility test and clinical-grade results. Get insight into your egg count and screen for up to 18 conditions including PCOS.

CryoChoice

CryoChoice isn’t just leading the pack in long-term sperm freezing; we’re the trailblazers who brought you the first-ever, wallet-friendly, at-home sperm collection kit. Since 2002, we’ve been revolutionizing fertility preservation, making it easier and more accessible for everyone.

Exceed

Improve your chances of conceiving with our male fertility test. Our completely at-home sperm test will help you understand your fertility.

Legacy

Test and freeze your sperm from home, and grow your family when you’re ready.