First Response "Fertility Test" - Anyone used them?

[Anonymous]

I am 29. We're just starting to TTC after NTNP for a few months and I've been taking OPKs every month. I seem to always get a positive the day before I ovulate (sometimes I get positive OPKs for two or three days straight too). I have a 27- to 29-day cycle and ovulate around CD 12-14. I am also charting, and all of my charts show a clear thermal shift after ovulation. My temps are consistent with a normal menstrual cycle. I also get really bad mittelschmerz but only from the right side. I ovulate from the right about 90% of the time. I am starting to worry about things like ovarian reserve.

I saw the First Response Fertility Test at the drug store and I'm wondering if anyone here has used them and, if so, what your thoughts are about them.

Here's a link to what they are: http://www.firstresponse.com/fertilityTest.asp

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

At 29, it's unlikely you have DOR and I wouldn't bother with this test.

The test you are talking about does not really provide much information and therefore I don't think it's useful or worth the money.

It purports to tell you whether your FSH level is normal or not - it does not give you a number, it just indicates a normal or elevated/abnormal reading.

Fertility specialists do not test FSH in isolation because it must be interpreted in conjunction with other hormones. That's why an RE would order complete day 3 bloodwork, not simply an FSH test. You could have a "normal" FSH reading because everything is indeed normal. You could also have "normal" FSH reading because your E2 (estradiol, which is estrogen) is elevated - high E2 will artificially suppressing your FSH number and make it appear normal. An ovarian cyst is one of the things that could cause your E2 to be high.

So if you take this test and the result is abnormal/elevated, you will know you should go to the doctor for complete day 3 bloodwork because something may be going on. If you take the test and the result is normal, however, you won't know if it's in fact normal or if your FSH is suppressed due to some other hormonal issues.

Again, I really do NOT think you are going to find out you have high FSH or DOR at age 29. It's not impossible, but it's not very likely. It sounds like you are healthy, having normal cycles, and haven't been TTC very long; it it totally normal for it to take several months.

I personally wouldn't bother with an over-the-counter test like this because it costs roughly the same as my co-pay for going to the doctor and having the complete bloodwork run and interpreted by a professional! (you don't sound like you need to be seeing an RE, but your OB can order the day 3 b/w for you.)

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thank you for all of that helpful information. I've read similar things about the test... that for $20 you can basically find out what kind of line your FSH level will produce on a test

I'm not *terribly* worried, especially since I know I ovulate every month (as indicated by the presence of *all* ovulation signs, such as mittelschmerz, positive OPKs, thermal shift, and EWCM), but I feel like I have a very hyperactive right ovary. But what's happened to the left one? What if my right one empties and the left one just doesn't work after all? Things like this worry me. Sometimes the really strong mittelschmerz worries me too. It makes me think something is wrong.

Since I have a couple of months of cycle data available, we can start to focus our active TTC around the right times. When we were NTNP we didn't BD around ovulation, so technically we've only been at this for two months (this being the second, officially). My doctor said it should take 3-6 months but that charting helps. Let's hope this is our month! If not, the fertility test may help. I'll know in about 12 days.

Thanks again, I'll probably try it just to see what happens but I will keep your advice in mind if it's negative.

[Anonymous]

I have regular cycles like you except that I never had good indicators of ovulation (other than positive readings on a ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor). Given my regular cycles, my OB/GYN advised us to shoot for every other day between days 10 and 20 of my cycle. This seemed like a reasonable approach to me and I found that it was less stressful than dealing with ovulation sticks or the Fertility Monitor. Turns out we had male factor issues and couldn't get pg. on our own, so I'd advise you to go back to your OB/GYN if you haven't had success after six months. Best of luck to you!!

[Anonymous]

OP here: I think DH's sperm are okay. I've gotten pregnant by him once before (five months ago) but it ended as a chemical pregnancy. Not sure what caused it. So I would assume his sperm are okay. It was after that experience that I began learning about reproduction. I can't believe how much is going on!

My OB told me that absent any sperm problems, we should BD as much as possible ("work in volume") around ovulation. I've gotten really used to taking my temperature every morning, and taking the OPKs isn't that bad. I'm just a data junkie, and we're not that stressed. I just worry about my right ovary and think about how many eggs I have left in it.

[Anonymous]

I believe the Fertility Tests will only detect if FSH level is at or greater than 25, which is very high and would mean you were in early menopause. Most doctors want to see below 10 to detect a good ovarian reserve. In addition, like other posters said the test on its own wouldn't tell you much.

I'm glad you are tracking everyday - it really is amazing when you realize all that is going on and, for me, that I was so ignorant of how my body works. Keep at it and good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP here: Yeah, the whole "sperm can live for up to five days in your body" thing was shocking to me. That's how we got pregnant (accidentally) the first time (which resulted in a chemical pregnancy). I thought, "I ovulate on CD 14, so we can BD on CD 11 and be fine." We were really shocked to learn that we got pregnant that month, and while it was a total surprise, we were heartbroken when it ended. So we're back on the TTC horse with all of the information we need!

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm not going to pick your posts apart but you really have a lot to learn about fertility in general. I'd recommend reading Taking Charge of your Fertility. Cover to cover.

[Anonymous]

I hate to be the harbinger of bad news but just b/c you get pregnant doesn't mean your husband's sperm is fine. I've also gotten pregnant (twice), with one ending in a chemical pregnancy. My husband's SA showed a 1% morphology, which is about as low as you can get. Until he was tested, we had no idea he had a problem- we just thought I was the one with the problem (I was too- we both had problems, lucky us).

[Anonymous]

One more thing -- if you are under 35 your doctors may put less tock in your day 3 bloodwork than if you are 35+. Day three bloodwork is an indirect measurement of egg quality and there are false positives (when the measurement is high but your eggs are fine). Or at least that is what two REs told me (and is also what I heard on a Resolve teleconference on FSH). Good luck!!!

[Anonymous]

> OP, I'm not going to pick your posts apart but you
> really have a lot to learn about fertility in general. I'd > recommend reading Taking Charge of your Fertility.
> Cover to cover.

OP here: Yeah, I've read it, I own it. I've also read about six other fertility and pregnancy books. Nothing I've said here has been inconsistent with the current research or anything published in these booksi, nor was my question one that had been answered in any of these books. So how about you just let me know if you find a book specifically about the First Response Fertility Test. That would actually be helpful considering that was, quite specifically, my question.