If you’re planning to have a child in the near future, you probably already realize the importance of optimizing your hormonal health to ensure that the TTC process goes smoothly!

However, some women may have fears that they’re infertile if they have irregular menstrual cycles or have experienced hormonal issues in the past.

Thankfully, LetsGetChecked has made the fertility testing process extremely easy and allows women to test a wide range of parameters from the comfort of their own homes!

Here, we’ll provide an in-depth look at LetsGetChecked and explore the options they have for at-home hormone testing.

I’ve also included details about my own experience taking the Female Hormone Test!

Read on to learn more about what my results revealed about my current fertility status as well as which factors influenced my day 3 hormone levels.

(*Spoiler alert: One of my parameters was falsely elevated…I’ll explain why later!*)

Pros vs Cons of LetsGetChecked

Overall, LetsGetChecked is an amazing company to partner with if you’re interested in learning more about your fertility or exploring other health parameters!

Here’s a quick overview of what we like most about the company as well as some areas they could improve in:

Pros

• Easy to use at-home test kits with a quick turnaround time for results
• Offers 3 major tests for female fertility
• Great customer service and easy to access medical professional help

Cons

• Does not offer medical treatment
• Must purchase the anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) test separately
• Other brands may also include thyroid hormone testing within their female fertility panels

What Is Day 3 Testing?

Day 3 tests are conducted on the 3rd day of a woman’s menstrual cycle and typically measure the parameters of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Prolactin, Oestradiol, and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH).

The levels of these hormones provide a comprehensive view of fertility status and ovarian function.

Any abnormalities found in the results of day 3 testing may indicate that a woman has a low ovarian reserve, may suffer from conditions like PCOS or hypothyroidism, or early menopause is occurring.

Sometimes, however, abnormal tests results may be due to the use of certain medications or impacted by stress, lack of sleep, and other factors.

As such, it’s important for women to retest these hormones every few months so that their long-term results more accurately reflect their true fertility status.

FSH Blood Test for Women

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle, triggering the growth of eggs, and it also promotes the production of estradiol and progesterone.

It’s included in day 3 tests to assess ovarian reserve and sexual function.

The standard range for FSH levels during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is 3.5-13.1 mIU/mL. (This range may vary slightly and other sources state that the reference range is closer to 1.37-9.9 mIU/mL.)

Most medical authorities agree that levels below 9 mIU/mL on day 3 are optimal and that levels that exceed 10 mIU/mL oftentimes indicate diminished ovarian reserve.

Sometimes, FSH levels may be elevated due to the use of various medications or if a woman has recently come off of hormonal birth control.

LH Blood Test for Women

Similar to FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH) is also required for ovulation and the production of estradiol during the first half of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

A surge in LH occurs at the mid-point of the menstrual cycle which leads to ovulation. (This exact day actually varies widely between women but usually occurs sometime between days 14-21)

If you’ve ever used an Ovulation predictor kit (OPK) you realize how crucial the presence of LH is for pinpointing ovulation in order to time sex for conception.

OPKs typically measure both LH and estrogen in urine as both hormones are correlated with peak fertility and determining a woman’s fertile window (which is roughly 5-6 days on average).

The standard range for LH levels during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is 2.4-12.6 mIU/mL.

(Other sources may state that the reference range is closer to 1.68-15 mIU/mL)

LH levels are generally quite similar or close to FSH levels.

Most medical authorities agree that the ratio of FSH: LH should be close to 1 and that ratios that exceed 2:1 may indicate poor ovarian reserve.

However, low levels of FSH and LH have also displayed an association with secondary ovarian failure.

Prolactin Hormone in Women

When you hear the word prolactin, you may automatically recognize that it has something to do with lactation.

Prolactin promotes breast milk production in women who breastfeeding but it also plays a major role in reproductive function and regulating gonadal steroidogenesis.

Prolactin typically falls within a range of 4.8-23.3 ng/mL for women who are not currently pregnant or undergoing menopause.

A wider reference range may be used for prolactin such as 3-27 ng/mL and it is optimal for a woman to have her prolactin levels under 25 ng/ml.

Some women may have elevated prolactin due to the use of certain medications, having impaired immune function or hypothyroidism, or from experiencing high levels of stress or psychosis.

Elevated levels of prolactin can prevent the menstrual cycle from occurring and make it extremely difficult to conceive.

In very rare instances, women who suffer from an underactive pituitary gland may have extremely low levels of prolactin.

Oestradiol Blood Test

Oestradiol, also known as estradiol, is one of the main forms of estrogen (estrone and estriol are the other 2) and is best known for its role in stimulating eggs to mature and be released during ovulation but it also assists in implantation if an egg becomes fertilized.

During the follicular phase, most women have estradiol levels between 9.2-220 pg/mL, however, another popular reference range is 20-350 pg/mL.

It is generally best for a woman’s estradiol to test between 25-75 pg/ml on day 3 of the menstrual cycle and numbers on the lower end of this range tend to be optimal for stimulating.

Elevated estradiol levels are often associated with diminished ovarian reserve, the presence of functional cysts, or the onset of menopause.

Low levels of estradiol may lead to osteoporosis, poor bone growth or maintenance, and irregular or absent menstrual cycles.

Female Fertility Test At Home

Between the hectic juggle of the 9-5 work schedule with life’s other demands, most women struggle to set aside enough time throughout the workweek to get bloodwork done in order to find out more about their hormonal health and fertility status.

As such, these women may have no idea whatsoever if they’re currently infertile, have a limited ovarian reserve, or if there are underlying health conditions and other factors which may impact their future chances at conceiving.

To solve this problem, many women have recently started to use at-home female fertility test kits to get the results they need even quicker and easier than before.

LetsGetChecked

LetsGetChecked is the #1 source for at-home hormone test kits!

The company makes it easier for both women and men to get the testing they need when they need it the most.

LetsGetChecked offers over 30 different home health tests including those for fertility, STDs, micronutrients, and more!

Here’s a quick glimpse at some of its most popular tests:

LetsGetChecked Home Female Fertility Testing

LetsGetChecked offers 3 different tests related to female fertility!

The Female Hormone Test is its most popular female fertility test and it provides the best overall picture of a woman’s fertility status and hormonal health.

The Progesterone Test is most helpful for detecting ovulation whereas the Ovarian Reserve Test is best for women who are considered to be advanced maternal age and want to know if it’s possible to still have children.

LetsGetChecked Female Hormone Test

The Female Hormone test offers a comprehensive picture of your fertility status by looking at a number of key hormones including Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Prolactin, and Oestradiol.

LetsGetChecked Progesterone Test

The Progesterone Test is used to determine whether or not ovulation has occurred and must be taken 7 days before the expected start of menstruation (usually Day 21 but varies between women).

LetsGetChecked Ovarian Reserve Test

The Ovarian Reserve Test can be taken at any point throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle and measures anti-mullerian hormone (AMH).

This test is used to figure out how many eggs a woman currently has remaining and whether or not she can still conceive.

This test is best suited for women who are considered to be advanced maternal age but may also be extremely beneficial for women with certain medical conditions that are known to impact fertility, such as cancer, PCOS, endometriosis, or Turner’s Syndrome.

Lets Get Checked Cost

• The Female Hormone Test costs $129, which is an incredible deal considering the parameters follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and oestradiol are all included!
• The Progesterone Test is the least expensive option of the 3 tests and is available for $89.
• The Ovarian Reserve Test is the most expensive test among the 3 female fertility tests available and is $139.
• There is an option available to receive 30% off on both the Female Hormone Test and the Progesterone Test for women who sign up for a quarterly subscription (testing completed every 3 months).

Lets Get Checked vs Competitors

Lets Get Checked offers one of the most competitive rates on the market when it comes to comprehensive hormone testing!

Brands that offer similar comprehensive panels, such as Everlywell, Modern Fertility, and myLAB Box, are generally more expensive to take whereas lesser name brands that offer more affordable test kits typically fail to include unique parameters (i.e. prolactin) within their at-home hormone tests.

Thus, Lets Get Checked offers one of the best deals when it comes to affordable and comprehensive at-home testing.

My Experience with LetsGetChecked!

As a 28-year old woman who’s currently trying to conceive, it’s extremely important for me to have a better understanding of my fertility and overall hormonal health.

Thus, I decided to take the LetsGetChecked Female Hormone Test!

This test was the best option for me among the 3 female fertility tests since it contained a more comprehensive panel and included the major biomarkers of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and oestradiol.

Due to my age and fairly regular menstrual cycles, I decided to not take the other 2 tests, however, I would certainly consider taking them in the future if I ever find myself struggling to get pregnant, experience irregular menstrual cycles, or try to have a child in my late 30s.

Ordering the LetsGetChecked Female Hormone Test

Ordering the Female Hormone Test was extremely quick and easy!

I went online to the women’s health section of LetsGetChecked and selected the option for female fertility tests.

I then added the Female Hormone Test to my cart and chose the one-time test option rather than select the quarterly subscription.

I ordered my test online on July 12th and received it on the 15th!

These are the individual items that my at-home hormone test kit contained:

LetsGetChecked/Activate

Prior to completing testing, I first had to activate my test kit online.

I downloaded the LetsGetChecked app and provided my unique activation code that was provided on the biohazard bag.

The following images are what the activation process looked like on the mobile app as well as the reminder text I received to take my test on Day 3 of my menstrual cycle:

Finger Prick Test

After activating my test kit I waited until day 3 to take the test.

*Disclaimer: I actually took the test on day 4 of my cycle as I was traveling on day 3, but this had a negligible impact on the results. Assuming a woman bleeds on average for 5 days and has breakthrough bleeding or spotting on the 1st 2 days, hormone levels tend to be extremely similar on days 3-5*

The test was incredibly easy to take and took 5 minutes at most to complete.

Funny enough, I actually had to prick 2 fingers to get enough blood so I’m very thankful that my test kit included 4 lancets!

Here’s a quick overview of the steps I followed to complete the blood test:

• I decided to collect blood from my ring finger for the test. Prior to pricking my finger, I cleaned the rounded portion of my finger with the alcohol pad provided. (I ended up having to collect blood from my middle finger as well since I wasn’t able to get enough drops from the 1st prick so I followed the same steps for that finger as well.)

• After piercing the skin with the provided lancet, I wiped away the first drop of blood with the gauze provided in my test kit.

• I then angled my hand downwards and massaged the surrounding areas to produce new droplets of blood to collect. I did this until I filled the marked line on the tube with enough blood. Once I collected enough blood, I gently inverted the tube several times in order to mix the sample.

• Following the mixing of the sample, I placed my blood collection tube into the biohazard bag and sealed it off. I then placed it back into the box I received initially.

• Finally, I closed the box and placed it into the provided envelope. I found the nearest UPS store and dropped it off 15 minutes following the completion of my test which was right before 11AM

My LetsGetChecked Female Hormone Test Results

I received my test results 2 days after taking the test and the lab called to let me know that my test results were now available for review.

The following are my real test results in comparison to the desired reference range:

*Continue reading on to learn why I believe my prolactin levels were falsely elevated whereas everything else was normal*

 

My provider also left this note for me in respect to why he believed my prolactin may have been elevated:

*Again, I’ll explain right below this section as to what I believe caused my levels to be high*

“Increased prolactin levels in healthy people may be normal and can be caused by stress, sleep, exercise, sexual intercourse, and low blood sugar. Increased prolactin is also seen in lactation, pregnancy, and the post-partum state.

Multiple medications can also increase prolactin levels. These include estrogens, dopamine blockers/antagonists, some stomach acid reducers, opiates, some high blood pressure medications, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotics.

Pathologic causes of elevated prolactin includes prolactinoma (pituitary gland tumor), diseases of the hypothalamus, primary hypothyroidism, compression of the pituitary stalk, chest wall lesions, renal insufficiency, polycystic ovarian disease and ectopic tumors.

Falsely elevated levels can also be caused by macroprolactin (prolactin bound to immunoglobulin).

This assay shows low reactivity with most forms of macroprolactin. If there is clinical suspicion of macroprolactin follow up testing with a venous blood sample may be required.”

 

Why My Prolactin Levels Were Elevated

While many women may be alarmed at having elevated prolactin levels, there are several factors that can impact the results or lead to temporary elevations.

3 days prior to taking the test I decided to drink kratom, specifically Maeng Da (better known as white kratom) which is one of the most potent forms.

On the day I used kratom I also happened to be traveling and was dealing with some minor stressors as well (in my case, fighting for the last remaining parking spot at the MCO airport in order to not miss my flight to my cousin’s wedding 🙃).

Personally, I believe the use of kratom in combination with elevated cortisol impacted my test results and lead to elevated prolactin levels.

The use of kratom, as well as elevated cortisol, has been proven in clinical studies to lead to temporary elevations in prolactin in both women and men, however, women tend to be the most affected by stress-induced prolactin elevations.

My Honest Thoughts about LetsGetChecked Female Hormone Test

I absolutely loved my experience taking the Female Hormone Test by LetsGetChecked!

The test was extremely easy to use and I received my results much quicker than I had anticipated.

The only downside for me taking the test was that the Ovarian Reserve Test had to be purchased separately, but other than that I have no complaints about the test or the company.

This test is 100% worth taking if you want to get a better glimpse at your fertility status or to check for abnormal readings that may be related to subfertility and its associated health conditions, such as hypothyroidism or impaired adrenal function.

LetsGetChecked Reviews

Need to see more reviews in order to be convinced to try out LetsGetChecked?

Here are several honest reviews from other customers on their experience using their at-home hormone test kits!

“Great service. My results came back the next day, nearly a week faster than the same test done by the NHS. Staff were also friendly and helpful when explaining the results. I would definitely recommend their home testing kits”

~Michelle B.

“As long as you follow the directions this kit is a lifesaver!!!! So much better than going to the drs or some clinic. I love that there is even an option for medication for some if needed (luckily, none was needed). Results were very fast. Will use it again in the future for sure and will recommend to friends.”

~Ashley

“I was very impressed with every part of the service, the kit came quickly and I was informed of what was happening at every step followed by a call from a nurse to explain the results.”

~Eleanor Ashman

“Test received Friday. I used it Monday morning then put it in the pre-paid packet and left it in the nearest post box. Next day text and email to say it had been received back at the lab. The next day a phone call and then an email confirming my results. Absolutely brilliant service”

~Heather Carmichael

Lets Get Checked Promo Code

Get 30% off your order today using our code FERTILITY30!

Is Lets Get Checked Legit?

Yes, LetsGetChecked is 100% legit!

Not only does the company offer hormone test kits for essential parameters linked to female fertility but they also have incredible customer service and get results back much quicker than standard clinics.

If you’re trying to conceive in the near future or want to evaluate your hormonal health I highly recommend that you order an at-home hormone test kit from LetsGetChecked today!

Best Male Fertility Test

Curious to know which male fertility tests are the best?

Read our article here!

 

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