Q. I want to become pregnant; do you have any information on home fertility test kits for my partner and me?

A. Home fertility test kits are a great idea if you are in the initial phases of family planning. They not only allow you to check your own levels of important hormones like follicle stimulating hormone or FSH, but also to take measurements that will indicate impending ovulation, which is when you are most likely to conceive. In addition, they allow your partner to check his sperm concentration, an essential gauge of male fertility.

FSH is measured on the third day of your menstrual cycle. It is an indicator of what is called "ovarian reserve," which is important for healthy ovulation. Your pituitary gland releases FSH when your estrogen level is low after your period starts.

FSH stimulates the follicles in your ovaries to prepare for ovulation. If your FSH is low, it is a sign that your ovaries are adequately responding to signals from the pituitary. If your FSH is high, it could indicate that your ovaries are not responding to signals from your pituitary and you may have a more difficult time conceiving.

One home test to measure FSH, the Fertell female fertility test, requires only 30 minutes to get results.

Another type of Fertell test measures semen concentration of motile sperm — the sperm that can actively swim to fertilize an egg. The ability to naturally fertilize an egg is decreased if there are fewer than 10 million motile sperm per milliliter of semen. The test can be taken any time between two and seven days after a man's last ejaculation, and the results can be obtained in the comfort of your home within 80 minutes. Both tests are 95 percent accurate and can be found at www.fertell.com.

How can a watch help you assess ovulation? A device called the Ov-Watch measures changes in the chloride ion levels in your skin as you sleep.

Researchers have found changes in these levels in a woman's sweat at different times during her cycle. By detecting these changes, the Ov-Watch can help a woman predict the time of her ovulation and allow her to take advantage of her "window" of potential fertilization at mid-month. More information can be found at www.ovwatch.com.

A saliva test can also help you determine when you ovulate. A number of saliva test kits on the market can help you see a "ferning" pattern in your saliva that indicates potential ovulation. Go to www.ovulook.com, or www.earlypregnancytests.com to learn more.

Laurie Steelsmith is a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist in Honolulu, as well as author of "Natural Choices for Women's Health," published by Random House. You can reach her and read her past columns at www.DrSteelsmith.com. This column is for information only. Consult your health provider for medical advice.