My favorites
I’ll be the first to tell you that when it comes to trying to conceive, there is no magic bullet…
But there are things that go a long way to helping you get pregnant.
I’ve handpicked my favorite products below.
Most links below are affiliate links (at no cost to you), which means that I may receive a fee/commission if you end up buying. Having said that, I would never recommend a product I don’t believe in, support or use myself.
Products You Need When You’re Just Starting Out
The number one thing you can do to both kickstart your fertility and protect the health of your future baby, is take a prenatal vitamin every day.
Ideally, you start 3 months before getting pregnant.
PRENATAL VITAMIN
Nature Made Prenatal + DHA
High-quality prenatal multivitamin with folic acid from a trustworthy brand. It's affordable and contains all of the important vitamins and minerals that you need. Some women report pills can smell a bit like fish, which isn't all that surprising considering it contains fish oil for the important omega-3 fatty acid DHA!
PRENATAL VITAMIN
Enfamom Prenatal Vitamin
This prenatal vitamin by Enfamom, the same company behind baby formula (Enfamil), contains methylfolate, the active form of folate which the body can absorb easier than the normally used synthetic folic acid.
While synthetic folic acid works well for the majority of women (and is often recommended due to years of research showing how safe it is), women with the MTHFR genetic mutation could benefit from taking a prenatal with methylfolate.
So if you want a good natural folate choice, this is it!
GUMMY PRENATAL VITAMIN
Nature Made Prenatal Gummy
Admit it. Swallowing a big pill each day kind of sucks. That's why we have sugary-sweet gummy prenatals! This Nature Made prenatal contains DHA, which is great, and plenty of folic acid too.
An important thing you should know, gummy prenatals do not contain iron, so talk to your doctor once you become pregnant to check your iron levels.
GUMMY PRENATAL VITAMIN
SmartyPants Prenatal Gummy
This prenatal vitamin is another amazing choice from a respected brand. It's gluten free and contains lots of Omega-3 fish oil too.
Like Enfamom it contains the natural methylfolate not folic acid, but like all other gummies, it does not contain any iron.
RAW PRENATAL VITAMIN
Garden of Life Prenatal Vitamin
This product is amazing if you're looking for a natural, vegetarian, prenatal vitamin. It contains all the important vitamins and minerals such as B12, zinc and iron. However, there is no Omega-3 DHA, so it may be a good idea to supplement that separately. Garden of Life contains folate as a natural, food-derived compound, not folic acid.
Folate is less shelf-stable than folic acid, so make sure to check the expiration date!
Products That Will Help You Predict Ovulation
The number one thing you need to do when trying to get pregnant is accurately predict your ovulation. And with these tools, you can do so accurately!
"Cheapie"
Ovulation Predictor Kits
Don't let the name fool you! These paper strips are extremely sensitive and work great!
'CHEAPIE" OVULATION PREDICTOR KIT
Wondfo One Step
Wondfo is synonymous to simple, paper OPKS (or cheapies). They were the first to offer cheapies on a grand scale and often people still refer to cheapies as Wondfo's (like you say "Band-aid" instead of "Adhesive Bandages"). That means that some manufacturers of different brands of OPKs sometimes also use the term "Wondfo". So make sure you're getting the real deal (the link you see here point to the right product).
Wondfo OPKs are very sensitive, are wider than most OPK brands and are easy to read.
"CHEAPIE" OVULATION PREDICTOR KIT
Easy@home Ovulation Test
Just like Wondfo, these simple paper OPKs are sensitive and easy to read. While they haven't been around as long as Wondfo, they have accumulated lots of 5* reviews for how well they perform.
You can download the Premom app and take a picture of your OPKs (doesn't have to be the Easy@Home brand) for an easy overview of how your hormone levels are rising.
"CHEAPIE" OVULATION PREDICTOR KIT
Pregmate Ovulation Test
This brand produces tests that develop very fast with lines that are easy to read. The OPK are wide strips and there is plenty of color in both the control line as well as the test line.
The sensitivity of the tests are excellent too!
Digital
Ovulation Predictor Kits
If you're not a fan of interpreting test lines, let digital OPKs do the work for you.
DIGITAL OVULATION PREDICTOR KIT
Clearblue Ovulation Test
The (standard) Clearblue Ovulation test can be recognized by its pink handle and should not be confused with the Clearblue Advanced Test. A empty circle means the LH surge hasn't been detected, while a smiley face means that you're 1-2 days away from ovulating.
If you're looking for an easy way to read OPKs, this test may be what you're looking for. Keep in mind that the Clearblue Ovulation Test is less sensitive than "cheapies", and are not recommended for women with PCOS.
DIGITAL OVULATION PREDICTOR KIT
e.p.t. Digital Ovulation Test
Want to see how high your LH surge gets in actual numbers? Well then e.p.t. numeric digital ovulation test may be what you're looking for. After inserting the test wand, the reader estimates your LH value on a scale of 0 to 100 miu/mL.
Values below 30 miu/mL will display a "No" (meaning you're not close to ovulating just yet), and a value above 30 will display a yes (meaning you're at your most fertile).
Combination
Ovulation Predictor Kits
Traditional OPKs measure the hormone LH that sharply rises 1-2 days before ovulation. These combination OPKs measure other hormones too, which gives you an advanced warning that you're entering your most fertile days.
COMBO OVULATION PREDICTOR KIT
Clearblue Advanced
Another Clearblue OPK; but this one actually measures estrogen in addition to LH. Estrogen rises a few days before the surge in LH (which triggers ovulation), so the Clearblue Advanced gives you a heads up that you're entering your fertile window a few days sooner than traditional OPKs.
An empty circle means no rise in hormones has been detected. A flashing smiley means the rise in estrogen has been detected. And a solid smiley means that the LH surge has been detected and ovulation is very close!
Like the other Clearblue OPK, it's not recommended for women who have been diagnosed with PCOS.
COMBO OVULATION PREDICTOR KIT
Clearblue Fertility Monitor
Like the Clearblue Advanced, the Clearblue Fertility Monitor measures both LH and estrogen (giving you an early warning that you're entering your fertile window). But unlike the Clearblue Advanced; this kit includes a small computer with a touchscreen that allows you to enter personal data, like the start of your period. The machine is then able to tell you when you should test. It's able to save 6 cycles worth of data that you can access right from the machine.
This device should not be used if your cycles are shorter than 21 days or longer than 42 days, or if you have PCOS.
COMBO OVULATION PREDICTOR KIT
Pearl Fertility Ovulation Tests
The Pearl ovulation kit contains two sets of tests that look like your typical "cheapies". One tests LH levels (like all OPKs), and one tests FSH (follicle stimulating hormone).
If you're worried you have yet another test to interpret, fear not... there's an app for that! The Pearl app is where the magic happens and by taking into account both hormones, it's able to predict your fertile window up to 6 days before ovulation.
Products That Will Help You Confirm You’ve Ovulated
Did you know that the most common cause of infertility in women is anovulation (not ovulating)?
That’s why it’s REALLY important to CONFIRM ovulation.
Basal Body Thermometers
Basal body thermometers are thermometers that measure your temperature with more accuracy than regular thermometers (ie. they measure two decimals, for example; 97.65 instead of 97.6). As the changes in body temperature can be subtle, a basal body temperature is the way to go if you're looking for an accurate measure!
DIGITAL BASAL BODY THERMOMETER
Femometer Digital BBT Thermometer
If you're looking for a cheap, no-frills basal body thermometer... this is it! Why is it so inexpensive? Well, it doesn't have a backlit screen and it can take up to three minutes before your temperature is displayed.
With close to 3,000 5* reviews just on Amazon, it's a really popular choice.
BACKLIT BASAL BODY THERMOMETER
Easy@Home Digital BBT Thermometer
If you're fumbling in the dark trying to shine a light on your thermometer to check your temperature, you might be happy to know that there are alternatives; basal body thermometers with a backlit screen!
It takes about 90 seconds for your temperature to be read, and has a soft beep to alert you when it's ready.
BLUETOOTH BASAL BODY THERMOMETER
Easy@Home Smart BBT Thermometer
Don't want to manually add your temperature readings to your fertility charting app? Your best bet is to use a Bluetooth basal body thermometer. This one from Easy@Home automatically syncs your data to the Premom app. Although there are better alternatives out there when it comes to fertility apps, the convenience of not having to enter your data is definitely a big plus!
It also has a backlit screen (and displays your temperature on the screen as well) and it takes up to 2 minutes for your temp to be displayed.
Wearable Basal Body Thermometer
Tracking your BBT doesn't have to be stressful. You don't even have to set an alarm with these ones. Wearable basal body thermometers take your armpit, skin, or core temperature (depending on the model) while you sleep!
WEARABLE BASAL BODY THERMOMETER
Tempdrop Smart Thermometer
Tempdrop gets a lot of love from the TTC community, and it's no wonder why... it makes taking your temperature as easy as remembering to put your armband on at night.
It takes your temperature throughout the night and is surprisingly accurate. Best of all; you're not forced to use a specific app and can use your own personal favorite (so no additional subscription costs).
With a replacable coin battery that lasts 6-12 months, you won't have to worry about running out of battery either.
And now you can get 10% off with code DZC618SGJYVX5
CORE BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE MONITOR
Ovusense Temp Monitor
Ovusense, another wearable that is popular in the TTC community! The device looks like a tampon and you insert it vaginally before going to bed. Most women barely notice it's there. By morning; you'll be able to view your average temp of that night by going to the Ovusense app.
It does more than just measure your core temperature and confirm you've ovulated. The app tries to actively predict when you're about to ovulate too.
The biggest downside is that you have to use the (expensive) subscription based app to be able to view your temperature, and the battery lasts for 12 months after which you have to get a new sensor.
And now you can get 20% off the Ovusense Standard with code STORKACADEMY20 and 20% off the Ovusense Pro with code STORKACADEMYPRO
WEARABLE BASAL BODY THERMOMETER
Ava Tracking Bracelet
The AVA bracelet measures your skin temperature, and also your heart rate variability, your pulse, and a few other measurements; all while you sleep! Their algorithm combines all these measurments and turns it into a reliable way of tracking your cycle. The downside is that you have to recharge the battery every day.
While the AVA bracelet is more expensive than your regular simple BBT thermometer, you don't need a subscription (so no recurring costs) and they offer a money-back guarantee package that gives you a full refund if you don't get pregnant within 12 months!
Progesterone Test Strips
Looking for another way to confirm you've actually ovulated? These strips are what you need! All that's needed is a little bit of your urine and the tests will tell you if you've ovulated!
PROGESTERONE TEST STRIPS
Proov Progesterone (PdG) Test
Proov is currently the only brand that offers progesterone tests. The hormone progesterone rises soon after you've ovulated. After progesterone is metabolized by your body, its metabolite PdG shows up in your urine. And that's exactly how those little sticks work! They test if PdG is found in your urine.
Proov's sensitivity has been showcased in a lot of scientific studies and the TTC community is catching on that these simple strips are an amazing tool in your fertility toolbox!
Unfortunately, they're not (yet) available all across the world. But if you're in the US or Canada for example, you're in luck!
Pregnancy Tests That You Can Trust
When it comes to pregnancy tests, not all are created equal!
Some are notorious for false positives, while others aren’t all that sensitive.
The pregnancy tests on this page are highly rated because of their reliability!
LINE PREGNANCY TEST
First Response Early Result (FRER)
The crowd favorite when it comes to line tests! FRER has been around for quite a long time and they have an excellent reputation. Independent scientific studies agree that FRER tests are more sensitive than any other name brand out there.
Don't go for a drugstore knockoff pretending to be similar to FRER. I'm all for a good bargain, but these drugstore brand tests often perform the worst on reliability and sensitivity!
DIGITAL PREGNANCY TEST
Clearblue Digital
What's more fun than seeing the words "Pregnant" on your pregnancy test?! If you don't like to squint and look for a second line, digitals are your best bet.
While digitals are somewhat less sensitive than FRERs (meaning it needs more of the pregnancy hormone before it shows a positive), Clearblue is the leader of the digital pregnancy test market!
"CHEAPIE" PREGNANCY TEST
Wondfo
Are you looking for a super sensitive, yet very cheap pregnancy test? Wondfo's Early Results Pregnancy Tests fit the bill!
They're as sensitive as FRERs, yet you can buy a box of 25 for less than a 3-pack of FRERs. Cheap doesn't always mean bad quality, and these Wondfo's are an excellent example of that!
"CHEAPIE" PREGNANCY TEST
Pregmate
Another "cheapie" pregnancy test! Pregmate is known for their popular OPKs, but they also sell pregnancy tests.
This is also an excellent choice when you're looking for an inexpensive alternative to FRERs. These sensitive tests are perfect for testing early.