October 23, 2023
- Early Warning Self Test kits
You don’t have to accept that you’ll always struggle to conceive. Nor do you have to accept that getting checked looks like long waits, uncomfortable appointments, and busy waiting rooms. With at-home fertility tests, from sperm count test UK to ovulation test strips, you can test on your terms. Complete convenience, accurate results, and answers within minutes – the way it should be.
At their core, sperm test kits will detect the amount of sperm in your semen. The lower the sperm count, the lower the likelihood that your partner will conceive naturally. We think of home sperm test kits as the first stepping stone on any trying-to-conceive (TTC) journey.
If your results show that your sperm count is within the normal range, you’ll have the insights you need to encourage your partner to delve deeper into their own fertility. If it’s low, you may require hormonal treatment to give you a gentle push in the right direction.
In the name of accuracy, most men opt for private sperm tests, designed to be taken at home. You’ll be expected to produce a semen sample into a small container. From there, you’ll follow an easy-to-understand set of instructions, involving the use of a pipette as you drop the sample onto the test.
An accurate set of results will appear within minutes. The darker the line, the higher the sperm count. If the colour is lighter than the reference shade, it means that your sperm concentration is less than 15 million/ml, and requires further medical attention to determine the cause.
Whilst the instructions may be straightforward, the science behind sperm test kits is far more complex. Each kit will detect SP-10 levels; a type of protein that’s essential for binding the sperm to the egg. As this protein is solely found in sperm, and not elsewhere in the body, it is a reliable sperm concentration indicator.
At-home sperm count tests UK have become the obvious first step for couples struggling to conceive – and for good reason. By determining whether the male or female (or both!) is experiencing fertility issues, you’ll have complete clarity on where to direct your attention. By identifying the problem early on, you’ll also save time, money, and energy on unnecessary tests. It’s a win-win-win.
In addition, it’s simply less daunting than in-person testing. While medical appointments – no matter their nature – shouldn’t be uncomfortable, for many of us, they keep us up at night. By keeping tight hold of your privacy, whilst enjoying the convenience of testing from home, male fertility test kits take the stress out of getting checked. In short, it’s a job that won’t stay un-ticked on the to-do list.
For those who are keen to put the wheels in motion and grow their family, at-home male fertility test UK will accelerate the process. When going through the NHS, you’ll need to endure a year of trying to conceive before seeking answers. Then, if your initial test comes back abnormal, you’ll have to wait another 3 months before re-testing. With at-home sperm fertility tests, you’ll never wait more than a matter of minutes for your results. Yes – really.
By fast-tracking the testing process, you don’t have to compromise on accuracy. At between 98.2% and 99.1% accuracy, home sperm test kits are a reliable indicator of fertility. Surprisingly to most, studies have found that they’re just as effective at measuring sperm counts as lab tests.
Simply put, there is no self-test that offers a full screening of your fertility status. That said, at-home ovulation tests are the next best thing. Designed to set you up for success by using your hormone levels to signal when you’re most fertile, this test will tell you when you should attempt to conceive. Offering next-day delivery, discreet packaging, and results within five minutes, this option breeds convenience.
Ovulation test strips work by detecting the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. The higher the level, the closer you are to releasing an egg, indicating that ovulation will occur within 24-36 hours. In simple terms, your LH levels will peak immediately before ovulation, signalling when you’re most fertile – an important factor when trying to fall pregnant.
To conduct the test, you’ll need to either urinate on the test or in a cup, before briefly placing the test into it. After five minutes have passed, it’ll be time to check your results. The control line should appear immediately to indicate that the test is working. The second line is the test line. If the test line is lighter than the control line, your LH levels are low, signalling a low likelihood of conceiving. If the test line is darker, now would be a good time to have sex, should pregnancy be your goal.
In the eyes of many women, they’re an easier, more convenient, cost-effective alternative to ovulation blood tests. Designed to be used from the comfort of your home, the key selling point for ovulation test strips is the lack of wait times. When going through the NHS, the long wait for results may mean that you miss your fertility window; the most crucial part of ovulation testing.
In simple terms, ovulation test strips are bringing science back to the trying-to-conceive process. While many couples settle for messily working out the most-likely window for conceiving based on their ever-fluctuating cycle dates, fertility testing will remove the guesswork. Working with 99.9% accuracy, it’s the obvious first step, whether you’re having difficulty conceiving – or not.
For couples that are having trouble conceiving, the lack of insight into the problem is often the main worry. Do the challenges lie with me? Is it my partner? What if it’s both of us? Instead of both going through fertility testing, ovulation test strips will give you the best chance of falling pregnant. It could be a timing error, after all.
In addition, they’re simple to use. Operating similarly to pregnancy tests, ovulation test strips require a small amount of urine to activate. With just a few instructions to follow, whether you opt for a midstream or a regular test, the full testing process will be complete within just five minutes. By testing in the privacy of your home, you can enjoy all the benefits of NHS testing, while avoiding daunting doctors’ visits.
When it comes to couples’ fertility tests, there’s no such thing as ‘too soon’. It’s true that many couples choose to attempt to conceive before seeking further guidance. That said, ovulation test strips will fast-track your route towards pregnancy by cutting out the guesswork.
If you suspect that you may be having trouble conceiving, we’d recommend doubling up on your home fertility tests. By checking the male’s sperm count, and ensuring you’re having sex at the right time through ovulation testing, you’ll be best placed to conceive successfully. If you’re still having difficulty? You’ll have identified the problem early on, giving you more time to seek the right treatment.
Does vaping affect male fertility NHS? In short, yes. Smoking has long been linked to low sperm counts, but recent studies are now showing that vaping has similar effects.
Can thrush affect fertility? Thankfully, no. Not long-term, at least. That said, there is some evidence to show that when your vaginal flora has been knocked, the sperm may have more difficulty entering the uterus.
Can you ovulate twice in a month? Yes! While it isn’t possible to ovulate twice per cycle, it is possible to ovulate twice per month. This is called hyper ovulation, and is caused by various factors, such as weight, genes, and nutrition.
Is an ovulation test a pregnancy test? No – but it’s not surprising that they’re often mistaken for one another. While they look similar, and are both activated by urine, their uses are completely different. Pregnancy tests are designed to detect HCG, a pregnancy hormone, while ovulation test strips are designed to detect LH levels, a hormone that signals the beginning of ovulation.
Will my ovulation test be positive if pregnant? Will an ovulation test be negative if pregnant? There is some evidence showing that pregnancy will result in a positive ovulation test. That said, we advise against using them as a replacement for genuine pregnancy tests.
Can sperm cause a false positive ovulation test? No. There is no evidence to show that sperm coming into contact with an ovulation test will result in a false positive.
It’s never been easier to take control of your fertility journey. Whether you want to check your sperm concentration levels or ensure you’re having sex at the right time, every time, our private fertility tests are designed to make the complex simple. Explore your options HERE.
Berkeley Health Tests is a UK Company trusted by millions for providing early warning self test kits.