Modern Fertility Reviews: Is this at-home hormone test legit?

Modern Fertility offers an at-home test for 8 hormones that affect fertility -- find out if it’s right for you.

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Last updated: Jan 18th, 2023
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In this Review

Our Findings
Pros & cons
Why you should trust us
How we evaluated Modern Fertility
What is Modern Fertility?
Hormone Test
The testing process
Other products and services
Community support
Your alternatives and how Modern Fertility compares
HSA, FSA, and health insurance
Privacy considerations
Modern Fertility Review

Our Findings

Editor's Rating4.75

We recommend Modern Fertility’s easy-to-use and affordable hormone test. A team of physicians developed this simple blood test to provide information about 8 hormone levels related to fertility. The test does not offer an exact egg count or information about egg health.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Much more affordable than medical fertility clinics
  • Valuable information about your hormones greatly helps with planning
  • Convenience of an at-home, fingerprick blood sample
  • User-friendly with clear instructions and an intuitive website
  • A board-certified physician reviews every test
  • All test samples are analyzed in CLIA- and CAP-certified laboratories
  • Option to discuss your results with a fertility nurse
  • Connecting with and learning from others on the same journey
  • Free shipping for all orders

Cons

  • Not covered under insurance
  • The kit does not diagnose infertility or give information about egg health
  • For those on hormonal birth control, the scope of the test is limited to two hormones

Knowing about your fertility is essential when trying to get pregnant. Unfortunately, infertility is a worldwide issue that affects millions of couples and individuals. The World Health Organization says that 15% of married couples of childbearing age struggle with infertility. In addition, around 186 million women worldwide have trouble conceiving.

In the past, visiting a doctor to get help with infertility was costly and time-consuming. Companies like Modern Fertility have eliminated some of the obstacles that keep patients from getting answers about their fertility issues. With their at-home hormone testing kit, Modern Fertility aims to provide a fast, discreet, and inexpensive alternative to traditional fertility medicine.

In our review, you’ll learn what the company offers and how their products help you better understand your fertility needs. We’ll cover quality, pricing, types of tests, the testing process, and more.

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Table of Contents

In this Review

Why you should trust us

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers like you make more informed decisions to live healthier lives. We extensively test each health service we review.

Modern Fertility offers numerous at-home health products and services. Our team has spent over 71 hours testing and researching Modern Fertility and their close competitors in order to give you a condensed, unbiased exploration of your at-home health options, free of marketing jargon or gimmicks. Through a thorough and deliberate approach to every product we encounter, we evaluate services based on adherence to quality, the latest medical evidence and health standards, and a simple question: would we buy the product or service ourselves if it weren’t part of our job, and would we recommend it to family and friends?

Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review of Modern Fertility was thoroughly vetted for accuracy by one or more members of our Medical Review Board.

How we evaluated Modern Fertility

We evaluated the fertility test on quality, cost, ease of use, speed, and accuracy to give you a complete picture of Modern Fertility as a company.

Quality

9.1/10

Compared to their competitors, Modern Fertility offers the most comprehensive at-home fertility test on the market. It tests for 8 hormones and provides extensive information about how your results influence your fertility health.

In addition to the fertility test, Modern Health offers a variety of other products that can help with your journey, including a free cycle tracker app. The company provides a series of community-building services to connect you with others, including webinars and a Slack channel. Overall, our testers felt like valued members of the Modern Fertility community when using their products.

Cost

9.7/10

For only $159, Modern Fertility provides you with a wealth of information about your hormone levels and how they impact fertility. This is way less than you’d expect to spend on similar information through traditional means.

Compared to other at-home fertility testing kits on the market, Modern Fertility’s test is comparably priced. But, you get more for your money because it is a comprehensive test. However, if you only want to test certain hormones, you can find other tests out there that are more targeted and cost less.

Ease of use

8.9/10

If you’ve ever tested your blood sugar at home, then you already know how to collect your sample for the Modern Fertility test. It requires just a fingerprick blood sample that you mail into the company. If you’ve never done a blood test like this before, don’t worry: Modern Fertility provides you with clear and thorough instructions about how to collect your sample.

Our testers found sample collection to be straightforward. One of our testers struggled a bit to collect enough blood because of the need to fill two test strips, but Modern Fertility gave a lot of guidance about how to do so.

Speed

9.0/10

In general, Modern Fertility processed our testers’ samples quickly and provided results promptly. On average, we received a notification that the lab had received the sample within 3 days of mailing it, and we had results 3 days after that.

When one of our testers reached out to customer support, they received a reply in less than 24 hours. The only wait time one of our testers experienced was waiting for the third day of their cycle to collect the sample.

Accuracy

9.5/10

This fertility test has gone through clinical trials to support its validity as a means to test hormone levels. Just like a blood test you might complete in a lab or doctor’s office, Modern Fertility’s at-home test is accurate and reliable as a way to check your hormone levels.

Because you’re collecting your own sample, you may run into questions or issues about collecting enough blood or filling out the sample card correctly. Modern Fertility gives you ample instructions to ensure that you provide the lab with what they need to test your sample. They even give you an extra lancet in your kit if you need it.

What is Modern Fertility?

Modern Fertility was developed in 2017 by two women interested in learning more about their fertility. They wanted to create a more accessible option for understanding fertility health aside from the traditional, more expensive way.

They developed the Modern Fertility hormone test, which measures fertility hormones to help you understand your general reproductive health, including whether you have more or fewer eggs than average and when you might expect menopause.

Modern Fertility App Interface

In addition to the hormone test, Modern Fertility also offers several other fertility-related products, including:

  • Prenatal vitamins
  • Pregnancy tests
  • Ovulation tests

Hormone Test

Fertility health is a vital subject that often goes undiscussed until you decide to start having children. Many people often don’t understand how hormones affect their bodies and choices until it’s too late.

Modern Fertility’s hormone test is a $159 at-home kit that measures 8 hormones to give you information about your reproductive and general health.

Is this test legit?

According to a clinical study, Modern Fertility’s methods for collecting and testing hormones is an effective way to study fertility health.

Published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, the study collected samples from 130 women using both a traditional blood draw method and a fingerprick method. The research found all 8 hormone levels equal for both methods. Therefore, they determined that minimally invasive testing methods can be used to study fertility health.

Modern Fertility’s methodology is convenient and sound, providing valuable information that may signal underlying health problems for you to address.

What does it test for?

There is no absolute predictor of fertility, but hormones can help you better understand your body and help inform your choices. These hormones can indicate early menopause, high or low egg count, and health conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Anti-Müllerian hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone plus estradiol measure how many eggs you have left, or what is known as ovarian reserve. This gives you a better understanding of your options for having children, including egg freezing, in vitro fertilization (IVF) possibilities, menopause onset, and potential red flags.

The kit tests these eight hormones:

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)

Ovarian follicles produce Anti-Müllerian hormone. The levels of this hormone reflect the number of eggs that remain.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Follicle-stimulating hormone supports the maturation of the follicle, which can also indicate how many eggs are in reserve.

Estradiol (E2)

Our ovaries produce the sex hormone E2. E2 levels can affect the level of follicle-stimulating hormone.

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

LH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It plays an essential role in the menstrual cycle by signaling the ovaries to produce estradiol and prompting the ovaries to release eggs during ovulation.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Produced by the thyroid, TSH regulates thyroid health, which can impact fertility.

Free thyroxine (fT4)

Along with TSH, testing for fT4 paints a fuller picture of your thyroid health, which can affect fertility.

Prolactin (PRL)

This hormone triggers milk production and a pause in ovulation after birth. PRL inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone. High prolactin levels (hyperprolactinemia) may cause infertility.

Testosterone (T)

Women only need a tiny amount of testosterone, but too much or too little testosterone can affect female fertility. Recent research suggests that testosterone plays a role in the development of follicles.

The Modern Fertility test kit measures all eight hormones for those not on hormonal birth control. If you’re on hormonal birth control, the kit measures 2 crucial hormones: AMH and FSH.

Modern Fertility Hormone Results

Special Offer: Free Shipping and Free Call with a Fertility Nurse

How can it help me?

Modern Fertility states that this test will not determine infertility or provide a diagnosis. Your test results are helpful as a starting point for investigating possible red flags that can affect fertility, not as a comprehensive picture of your fertility.

Here’s what the test provides:

  • The test kit indicates whether you have more eggs than average or a lower egg count than average for your age.
  • The test results indicate whether you’ll likely hit menopause at an earlier or later age than average (average age is 51, though menopausal transition period stretches about ten years before the time of your final period). This is very important for family planning purposes.
  • You gain insight into thyroid and ovarian health conditions which may affect your fertility. Hormone levels may justify additional testing or exploring other avenues to gain a deeper understanding.
  • The test provides a starting point for more informed discussions. These might be with a Modern Fertility nurse, your healthcare provider, or your partner. Your results inform decisions about family planning, additional testing, and procedures (such as IVF or egg freezing).

Modern Fertility gives you a valuable, affordable, and convenient way to get this initial information so you can begin to plan. As long as you know what the test can and can’t do, you’ll find this information quite useful. Our testers were impressed by it and Modern Fertility’s openness about the strengths and limits of the information they provide.

The testing process

Signing up

After purchasing the hormone test, the site prompts you to create an account. Provide standard info like your date of birth and phone number, and then create a password. After creating an account, answer a series of questions about your fertility to personalize your experience. For example: When was the first time you got your period? How many periods do you get per year? The questionnaire will also ask about your smoking habits, height, and weight. You can skip any questions you don’t want to answer.

Once you’ve completed the questions, you’re presented with a consent form regarding participation in a study to advance knowledge about women’s fertility. The consent form outlines the research and explains the pros and cons of participation. You can opt out of involvement without affecting your experience with Modern Fertility.

Ordering products

You have the option to pay with a credit/debit card or with GooglePay. Once you purchase the kit, answer several questions that help Modern Fertility personalize your test. Questions like: Are you on birth control? and What is your period like? Your answers help to personalize the test you receive.

You’ll then receive information about the types of hormones measured and when to take the test. For example, based on one of our tester’s answers, Modern Fertility personalized their hormone test to monitor ovarian reserve by tracking AMH, FSH, and E2 and checking fertility by testing for LH, PRL, and TSH. The tester was instructed to take the test on the third day of their period.

Receiving products

One of our testers received their test within 5 days of ordering. It shipped discreetly in a white bubble mailer with no logo or identifiable information on the package.

The product packaging is minimalistic and modern, with the contents packed logically and efficiently. Your kit includes:

  • A card with an activation code
  • Instructions on collecting a sample
  • Info on what to do if you don't get enough blood for your sample
  • A resealable plastic bag that contains: 3 lancets, 2 bandaids, 2 alcohol pads, 2 testing strips, 2 gauze strips, 2 blood sample return bags
  • A resealable biohazard bag
  • A return envelope
  • A return shipping label
  • A zippered pouch with the Modern Fertility logo (for you to keep as a gift)

Taking the test

Sample collection is a pretty easy process, especially if you’ve ever used a fingerprick blood test before. There are no surprises with this test, and Modern Fertility provides a lot of instructions in the kit and on their site about collecting your sample and testing correctly. Here are the steps:

Step One: Register the test.

Registering the test takes less than a minute. Go to the website provided on the activation card and enter the code.

Step Two: Prep your hands.

You can prep your hands by washing them in warm water, rubbing them together, and just generally moving your body around to get your blood pumping.

Step Three: Prick your finger with the lancet.

Wash the end of your finger with the alcohol swab, place the lancet against the side of your finger, and press down. Wipe away the first drop of blood with some gauze.

Step Four: Collect blood onto the collection cards.

It’s best to do this while standing up because you want your blood to drop naturally onto the card. You need between 4-10 drops. It took one of our testers about 20 minutes to collect two blood samples using 4 drops of blood for each. Make sure only to get blood on the left side of the card.

Step Five: Let the cards dry.

You should wait about an hour for the samples to dry before putting them in the blood sample return bags. Make sure your blood has spread past the first set of tick marks on the right side of the card. This ensures that the lab will have enough blood to test.

Step Six: Place the cards in the blood sample return bags.

Once your cards have dried, place them into the return bags, one bag per card.

Step Seven: Return your cards.

Place your samples in the return envelope, attach the shipping label, and put it in the mail. On average our testers received an email after 3 days that the lab had received their samples.

Keep in mind: there are ideal times to take your test, and you should follow Modern Fertility’s instructions to ensure your sample is collected at the right time. Our testers had to wait to test on the third day of their period. Testers were also instructed to fast for 8 hours before testing and to drink a large glass of water before collecting the sample.

Your results

You’ll receive an email when your results are ready – typically within 3 days of the lab receiving the samples.

The results are presented in an easy-to-understand and supportive way. They show you information on the hormones tested, your levels, what your levels mean, and a plan for next steps.

The results page shows each of the tested hormones and states the tester’s level and whether that level is low, normal, or high. You can hover over each hormone name for a description of it.

The next section gives a summary of what these readings mean. This section includes info on ovarian reserve, ovulation, and general wellness. These categories will vary depending on the hormones tested.

At the bottom of the results page, you can sign up for an “egginar” – one of Modern Fertility’s webinars about fertility health – or opt for a consultation with a fertility nurse. You can also choose to look at your insights page, which goes into more detail about your results.

Our testers’ insights page included 13 reports about their results. The reports go into more depth about each fertility concept and advise about next steps.

Modern Fertility 13 Tests

Next, select your plan and answer some questions about what you want to do with your results. These questions ask if you are trying to conceive, prevent pregnancy, or just learn about your fertility.

Your plan is divided into three sections: learn, track, and care. The content of the sections is a mixture of informational articles, other Modern Fertility products, and reminders about things like your annual OBGYN appointment. Each section is set up checklist style to encourage you to move through the plan efficiently.

Working with customer support

Modern Fertility has an extensive FAQ page that covers just about every question you might have about testing and products. If you wind up with a question not covered in the FAQ, you can contact customer support via email. The company does not offer customer support via phone or chat.

One of our testers contacted customer support via email and received a response in less than 24 hours. The representative was knowledgeable and direct in answering their questions.

Using the app

The Modern Fertility app is a sleek and easy-to-use cycle tracker.

  • It includes a Calendar where you can keep track of your cycles and learn about your most fertile days.
  • If you use Modern Fertility’s ovulation tests, you can scan the test from the app and upload your LH readings. LH, or luteinizing hormone, is the hormone that is released during ovulation, and tracking it can help you know when you are most fertile.
  • The app also includes a Community link that connects you with others via Slack. You can message other Modern Fertility customers, share your experience, and learn more about the fertility journey.
  • The app also includes a Shop to purchase more Modern Fertility products.
Modern Fertility App Calendar

Other products and services

Prenatal multivitamin

The Modern Fertility Prenatal Multivitamin ($30) is designed to be taken before, during, and after pregnancy. The formula is packed with vitamins and nutrients like Vitamin A, Iron, Biotin, and others that prepare your body for getting pregnant and help you stay healthy once you’ve conceived. The starter kit includes a one-month supply of multivitamins in a reusable glass jar. If you opt for the subscription, the company will ship a refill to your home each month. Modern Fertility emphasizes that the pills are both vegetarian and gluten-free.

Pregnancy test

For $14, Modern Fertility will send you a pack of four pregnancy tests. Their tests are designed to detect the hormone hCG, released once an egg is fertilized. Like many pregnancy tests you might find in a drug store, the tests are 99% accurate, but they are less expensive than tests sold in stores. In addition to the test, you also have access to the Modern Fertility app, where you can track your period and your test results for a clearer picture of your fertility journey. Opt for the subscription service to have tests delivered every month.

Ovulation test

The Modern Fertility Ovulation Test ($16) helps you track your ovulation to discover your fertile window (a.k.a. your most fertile days of the month). The tests measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in your urine. LH triggers ovulation by signaling that it’s time for your body to release an egg. By knowing your LH level, you can more accurately predict when you’re fertile to either increase or decrease the chances of conception.

As with the pregnancy test, you can access the Modern Fertility app to track your LH levels and better understand your cycle. One order includes 20 tests, and you can choose a monthly subscription.

Community support

In addition to products offered by Modern Fertility, the company also provides ways to connect. Once you create an account with Modern Fertility, you will receive emails from the company prompting you to join the community. The Modern Community includes:

  • One-on-one consultations
  • Weekly webinars, called “egginars”
  • App support and resources

You can schedule a visit with a fertility nurse to get additional help with your test results. The company also organizes Q&A sessions with fertility experts and provides other essential info at weekly “egginars.” In the Modern Fertility app, you can connect with other users and access tons of articles about hormones and fertility.

Your alternatives and how Modern Fertility compares

Everlywell

Everlywell is an at-home testing company that offers a variety of testing kits related to fertility, including:

  • Ovarian reserve test
  • Women’s fertility test
  • Women’s health test

With the collection of a blood sample, the Ovarian Reserve Test measures your level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone can reveal your ovarian reserve, the number of times you are likely to ovulate compared to the average for your age.

The Women’s Fertility Test is designed for those who suspect a hormone problem because of changes to their menstrual cycle or weight. This test measures the following hormones:

  • Estradiol (E2)
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
  • Testosterone (T)
  • Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

The Women’s Health Test is the most like Modern Fertility’s test. It checks for all of the hormones in both the Ovarian Reserve Test and the Women’s Fertility Test, in addition to a few other hormones. The main difference is that Everlywell’s test requires both blood and saliva samples while Modern Fertility only requires a blood sample.

Mira

Mira offers a device that can help track various hormones through urine samples. Unlike Modern Fertility that requires a blood sample for a comprehensive view of hormone levels, Mira requires that you test your urine frequently to track your cycle and discover your fertile window. This helps you identify when you’re ovulating and recognize patterns in your cycle.

Mira offers three testing wands that measure different hormones:

  • Fertility Wands measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels.
  • Fertility Plus Wands measure luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E3G).
  • Confirm Wands measure progesterone (PdG).

Use the Mira analyzer--a handheld device--and the Mira app to track your levels of each hormone and gain insight into your fertility health. Mira more closely offers a product similar to Modern Fertility’s Ovulation Test, a urine test that measures LH and can also be tracked using the Modern Fertility app.

LetsGetChecked

LetsGetChecked offers three tests that target women with fertility issues:

  • Female hormone test
  • Ovarian reserve test
  • Progesterone test

The Female Hormone Test checks for:

  • Estradiol (E2)
  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Prolactin (PRL)

Like Modern Fertility’s test, collect your blood sample on day three of your menstrual cycle.

The Ovarian Reserve Test measures anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels to estimate ovarian reserve. Ovarian reserve can reveal an estimate of how many eggs you’ve got left.

The Progesterone Test tells you if ovulation has occurred by the 21st day of your cycle. Low progesterone levels could indicate an irregular cycle or that you didn’t ovulate. Knowing this information can help you better understand your options for conception.

LetsGetChecked does not offer a hormone test as comprehensive as the one offered by Modern Fertility. However, if you only want to check a particular hormone, you could save money by purchasing a more straightforward test.

HSA, FSA, and health insurance

Insurance does not cover Modern Fertility products. However, you can use an HSA or FSA account to make purchases. Depending on your plan, you can either use your HSA/FSA debit card when checking out or pay out-of-pocket and submit your reimbursement receipts. Remember that every health insurance plan is different, so check your plan before purchasing.

Privacy considerations

Modern Fertility is committed to keeping your information confidential, and they only collect the information you provide in the forms and through their services.

The company understands that protecting your information is essential and endeavors to incorporate commercially reasonable safeguards to help protect and secure it, including encrypting your data while it is at rest and in transit.

They have designed and implemented measures to secure your personal information from accidental loss and unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure. All personal information you provide to Modern Fertility is stored on their secure servers behind firewalls. Any payment transactions will be encrypted using SSL or other encryption technology or will use their third-party payment processors, who will also use appropriate security procedures.