One way I want to help those who are struggling with infertility is by sharing new products (or even products that have been on the market for a while) that I think could help you have more peace of mind or simply help you with your efforts to have a baby!
Disclaimer: I am NOT a doctor. I’m simply a girl who spends probably too much time on Google researching. Please, please, please consult with YOUR doctor before trying any product or supplement that anyone (myself included) recommends to you.
Today’s Fertility Product You Should Know About are Proov Test Strips!
Let me tell you a little bit more about Proov Test Strips so you can know whether or not they are right for you at this time. This post is sponsored by Proov, but all opinions and words are my own.
Proov Test Strips test the progesterone levels in your body to indicate successful ovulation. Aka, they help you know if and when you’re ovulating! Which, if you’re like me, and have PCOS is HUGE because I never knew when (or if) I was ovulating. Using an OPK (ovulation predictor kit) was really annoying for me because I only got a positive result with an OPK ONE time. And during that ovulation window, I was still unsure of whether or not I had actually ovulated because it is possible to get a false peak (or false positive) with OPKs. With Proov, they recommend using Cervical Mucus to track peak fertility if you have PCOS. Then you would use Proov the same way you would if you were using an ovulation test – count 7 days and test 7-10 to ensure progesterone levels are elevated throughout the implantation window.
A really interesting thing I learned from Proov’s website is that “Progesterone levels must be at a certain level to ensure proper ovulation is taking place and the uterus is ready to receive the fertilized embryo. Inadequate progesterone production can lead to infertility, early pregnancy loss, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), brittle bones, weight gain (especially around the midsection), dry skin, low sex drive, and low energy.” (Source) Progesterone is SO important when it comes to having babies and honestly, when it comes to women’s health in general.
But the great news for you, if your diagnosis is something other than PCOS, you can use Proov Test Strips together with OPKs to help you know whether or not ovulation has occurred! On their website, they say, “Ovulation predictor kits typically measure a hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH), which is released 24-48 hours before ovulation occurs. Proov tests measure a metabolite of progesterone, which is produced after you ovulate. Therefore, OPKs help to predict when ovulation will occur and Proov tests allow women to confirm that ovulation has occurred.” (Source) Isn’t that so comforting?! To easily know-- FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME-- whether or not you have ovulated. I’m telling you, this would have been a game changer for us during the beginning years of our infertility journey!
While we didn’t use Proov tests to help us get pregnant, I can honestly say I would recommend them because they are one of the only products on the market to help women with PCOS conceive. This is so, so important to me because so many other products out there cannot be used or won’t be beneficial for you if you have PCOS.
A few other benefits to Proov that you should know about:
Proov test strips are clinically tested and FDA approved.
Proov test strips can help women with PCOS, Cycle Tracking & Pregnancy Loss
Proov test strips can be used within the comforts of your own home AND don’t require any blood draws or needles!
In each package of Proov test strips, you receive 7 test strips. These strips have a shelf life of about 1 year and the average woman will need between 1-5 test strips per month. (Which means you could easily have left-overs and use them in future months if needed!)
For those who are interested, Proov has lots of resources on their website to help you increase progesterone production. A few blog posts from their website you could read about this topic are:
5 Ways to Naturally Increase Progesterone Levels
Seed Cycling 101: Hormone Balance Through Seeds
I Have My Proov Test Results, Now What?
If you’re on your journey to baby, I’d definitely recommend asking your doctor about Proov Test Strips to see if they would help you before moving into bigger and more expensive treatment options. If you want to see the strips up close, watch this video!
Have you heard of Proov before? If you have any questions about Proov test strips, leave them below and I’ll be sure to get the answers for you!
