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Clearly, the most frustrating part of having PCOS is not knowing that you have it. Once you receive a diagnosis, then you will be better able to monitor and track your symptoms regularly.
Managing your diet, medications, stress levels, and even ovulation can be a challenge without the help of regular tests and check-ins with your doctor.
This is why at home PCOS test kits from reputable brands have become much more accessible. You can now purchase these kits online or through pharmacies on almost every pharmacy aisle.
The pros of purchasing an at-home kit are that they are convenient, easy to use, and almost foolproof. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the testing required to manage your PCOS, buying an at-home kit could be exactly what you need right now.
What does PCOS Mean?
PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It is one of the most common hormonal disorders in women of childbearing age that can cause fertility problems. Women with PCOS are said to have higher levels of male hormones in their bodies.
What is happening is that the ovaries are producing too much androgen, which is a male hormone. It can cause irregular periods, unwanted hair growth and acne, difficulty conceiving, and high levels of insulin in the body.
PCOS usually occurs in women aged between 18 and 40 years. Some women may not even know they have the condition because they don’t have any of the symptoms.
If you think you may have PCOS, you should see your doctor, who will be able to assess you and diagnose PCOS.
What Causes PCOS?
The exact cause of PCOS is not known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetics and environmental factors. Women who have a parent with PCOS are much more likely to develop the condition themselves.
Scientists believe that the increased androgen or male hormone levels that occur in women with PCOS are due to increased sensitivity to these hormones.
Androgen is produced by both men and women and is responsible for increasing hair growth, facilitating skin oil production, and increasing muscle mass.
The insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia (when the amount of insulin in your blood is higher than what’s considered normal) that characterizes PCOS are also influenced by genetic factors.
The environment in which the fetus develops may also contribute to the pathogenesis of PCOS. Environmental factors that have been implicated in the etiology of PCOS include:
endocrine disruptors, such as certain pesticides
maternal nutritional deficiencies, such as low levels of folic acid and vitamin B12.
Women with PCOS have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and certain cancers.
What are the 3 Possible Diagnostic Criteria of PCOS?
The Rotterdam Criteria
This is the most widely accepted method of diagnosing PCOS. It requires 2 of the following 3 criteria:
Hyperandrogenism – elevated testosterone levels and/or other androgen abnormalities.
Ovarian morphology – polycystic ovaries are visualized on ultrasound.
Cyclic androgen deficiency – symptoms related to lack of a normal menstrual cycle. This may include irregular bleeding, absence of menstruation, or a missed menstrual period.
The NIH Consensus
This method is used to diagnose women who do not meet the Rotterdam criteria. It requires 2 of the following 4 criteria:
Oligomenorrhea – infrequent or absent menstruation.
Hyperandrogenism – elevated testosterone levels and/or other androgen abnormalities.
Polycystic ovaries – ovarian morphology abnormalities are visualized on ultrasound.
Hyperinsulinemia – elevated blood levels of insulin. The Androgen Excess and PCOS Society criteria.
These criteria are used for women who do not meet the other diagnostic criteria for PCOS. They require 2 of the following 3 criteria:
Oligomenorrhea – infrequent or absent menstruation.
Hyperandrogenism – elevated testosterone levels and/or other androgen abnormalities.
Androgen Excess – androgen levels are higher than what is considered normal for women.
Can I do an At-home PCOS Test?
Yes! There are a few different types of at-home PCOS tests you can choose from. There are urine tests, saliva tests, blood tests, and ovulation tests. Let’s go over how each one works.
Urine Tests
These are super easy. You just pee in a cup and then add a little solution to it that will turn the color of your pee blue. You then compare the color of the solution with the color chart inside the kit to see if you have PCOS.
Saliva Tests
These are also relatively easy. You just put a little bit of saliva on a test strip and then wait for a few minutes. As soon as it turns blue, you know you have PCOS.
Blood Tests
Blood tests are a little more complicated, but they are really helpful because they can also tell you how severe your PCOS is. You just have a little prick on your finger, and then you put a droplet of blood on a test strip and wait for it to turn blue.
Ovulation Tests
These are the most complicated tests. They require you to take your temperature every morning for a few months so you can see what your normal temperature is and then make sure it stays above that when you ovulate.
You then make sure you have sex on your predicted ovulation day so you will have a better chance of getting pregnant if that is the goal.
How can I do an At Home PCOS Test?
There are a few steps you need to follow to make sure you do the test correctly, and though each test brand and type will vary a bit, the basic idea of the process is the same for collecting your sample.
Here’s how you may be asked to do a sample collection:
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
Be sure to read the instructions carefully and more than once before you begin so that you don’t make a mistake when doing the test.
PREPARE YOUR SUPPLIES
Make sure you have everything you need before you begin.
WASH YOUR HANDS
Cleanse your hands with soap and water thoroughly. This is a very important step because it will help prevent contamination of the sample.
COLLECT YOUR SAMPLE
Put your sample in the correct container according to its nature, for example, if it is urine or saliva.
COMPARE YOUR RESULTS
Make sure you are comparing your sample with the correct color on the chart. Be sure to get help interpreting the results if needed. Most brands will provide this assistance.
Quick Look
LetsGetChecked– offers women the opportunity to take control of their hormonal health.
Modern Fertility– tests that will be customized for you and will always include AMH.
Everlywell– helps women to check five key hormone levels that may affect their fertility.
My LabBox– measures a comprehensive panel of eleven key hormones that affect women’s overall health.
Overview
LetsGetChecked offers women the opportunity to take control of their hormonal health with its at-home test for hormones associated with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).
Using either a finger prick or a saliva sample, this PCOS test kit measures Testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), Free Androgen Index (FAI), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Cortisol.
Highlights
This company uses two easy sample collection methods.
You will receive your confidential lab results within two to five days.
LetsGetChecked uses the Same labs as physicians and hospitals, which is a network of CLIA-certified and ISO-accredited laboratories.
This product is highly rated by over 2 million women.
Shipping is free and discreet.
The company provides easy-to-follow instructions and video tutorials.
Your health record is reviewed by a clinician, and additional support will be provided to help guide you on your next steps.
LetsGetChecked’s nursing team may call you to discuss your results, answer your questions at no extra cost, and empower you to take your next steps.
Pricing
You can access this PCOS test for $199 on the company’s official website. Plus, FSA & HSA cards are accepted, and you get free shipping with every order.
My Take
This test is suitable for women experiencing irregular periods or no periods, difficulty getting pregnant, excessive hair growth, usually on the face, chest, back, or buttocks, weight gain, thinning hair and hair loss from the head, and acne.
Overview
Modern Fertility provides PCOS tests that will be customized for you and will always include AMH, the most reliable marker for ovarian reserve, and TSH.
This test can assess up to eight biomarkers to help you determine whether or not you are affected by PCOS.
Highlights
Every test comes with customized, physician-reviewed online reports.
You will also receive a free 1:1 consult with our fertility nurse.
Modern Fertility provides online tools to track hormone changes over time and help you plan your timeline for kids.
The company provides access to its weekly live Q&As and an invite to the Modern Community to connect with others and get your questions answered.
Modern Fertility works with medical professionals to review your results using clinical thresholds set by fertility doctors and backed by the latest research.
All tests are conducted in a CLIA Certified lab.
Pricing
You can access this PCOS test for $179 on the company’s official website. Plus, FSA & HSA cards are accepted, and you get free shipping with every order.
My Take
Modern Fertility’s PCOS test kit is suitable for women who are experiencing symptoms of PCOS and prefer a more discreet and affordable diagnostic option.
Overview
Using this PCOS at-home test kit, Everlywell helps women to check five key hormone levels that may affect their menstrual cycle, ovulation, and ability to become pregnant with this fertility test.
This test uses a finger prick sample collection and is a helpful first step in understanding reproductive and general health for people assigned female at birth (AFAB).
Highlights
Everlywell works with labs that are CLIA-certified (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments). This means they have to meet high standards to obtain both state and federal certifications and submit themselves to regular inspections.
Everlywell tests are reviewed and approved by an independent board-certified physician within your state.
Everlywell is HIPAA compliant and takes your privacy very seriously. We use state-of-the-art, bank-grade encryption to ensure your data is stored securely, and under no circumstance do we ever sell your data.
You will also receive easy-to-understand test results in a personalized report of each marker tested as well as detailed information about what your results mean for you.
The report provided is actionable, and you can watch the provided recorded educational session to learn more about your test and the next steps.
You will receive a unique ID number included in your box.
The company will send you a prepaid shipping label to ensure you get free shipping both ways.
Pricing
You can access this PCOS at-home test for a regular price of $149.00, but if you use the code GIFT, you will pay only $111.75 on the company’s official website. Plus, there are several subscription options, and you get free shipping with every order.
My Take
Everlywell’s PCOS home testing kit is best for women who are thinking about starting a family, those who are concerned about their fertility health, and women who are having significant changes in their menstrual cycle. Remember to use the code GIFT for a discount at checkout.
Overview
This at-home women’s health and fertility test from myLAB Box measures a comprehensive panel of eleven key hormones that affect women’s overall health.
This test will determine if your hormones are balanced or if you may have hormone imbalances that could be contributing to symptoms that don’t have you feeling your best.
Highlights
You will receive your lab results in two to five days.
The company promises a 100% pain-free sample collecting using either saliva or a finger prick.
For every order, you will receive free shipping and physician consultations.
myLAB Box works only with the best laboratories and health experts to ensure your test results meet national standards and are as accurate as tests done in a clinic or a doctor’s office.
The laboratories that assess your sample are certified by CAP and CLIA, which are high-complexity testing organizations at the forefront of diagnostic testing.
myLAB Box is HIPAA-compliant and ensures web security protocols are in place to protect your data.
You can pay with FSA / HSA cards.
myLAB Box is CDC-listed.
Pricing
You can access this PCOS test for $199 on the company’s official website. Plus, FSA & HSA cards are accepted, and you get free shipping with every order.
My Take
myLAB Box’s at-home PCOS test kit is ideal for women of childbearing age who suspect that they may be affected by the condition due to certain symptoms. However, women without symptoms but who are thinking about having a child are also encouraged to get checked.
Are At-home PCOS Tests Accurate?
Yes, these tests can be very accurate! Of course, their accuracy is dependent on each brand; however, before being able to market their tests, each company must pass a set of rigorous tests to prove its product’s accuracy. An at-home PCOS test can help you determine if you have the condition and can help you get the medical treatment you need to manage your symptoms and feel better.
Summary
Having PCOS can be a very frustrating and confusing condition. Luckily, there are various ways you can test and track your symptoms so you can work towards feeling better. But to get to that tracking stage, you must first receive a correct diagnosis.
Doing an at-home PCOS test is one way to help you get to that diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.
If you are experiencing some of the common symptoms of PCOS, you should talk to your doctor about getting tested. Your doctor may decide that an at-home test is the best way to go.