Clearblue Review – Here’s What You Need to Know Before Testing

Clearblue focuses on women’s fitness and fertility by providing easy-to-use testing products. The brand offers a range of test types to meet different needs, including pregnancy tests, ovulation tests, and fertility monitors.

Clearblue claims that its test could help pinpoint your most fertile days in a cycle by tracking hormonal changes, particularly luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen. However, are these tests really reliable?

This exclusive review will cover Clearblue’s brand history, advantages, limitations, and the range of tests it offers. It will also highlight how the brand tests the accuracy and ease of use to help you decide if you want to give it a try.

About Clearblue

Clearblue specializes in home diagnostics, particularly in the area of reproductive wellness. It focuses on providing pregnancy tests, ovulation kits, fertility monitors, and menopause stage indicators.

Clearblue features pregnancy tests, which have digital screens that clearly display results like “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant,” eliminating confusion that can come from traditional line tests.

The brand also provides ovulation tests and fertility monitors that could help people trying to conceive by detecting hormone surges to identify the most fertile days.

As per the official website, Clearblue has also introduced a Menopause Stage Indicator, helping women better understand where they are in their menopausal journey using hormone testing and symptom tracking.

The brand also features a free cycle-tracking app that helps you monitor periods, predict fertile windows, and track ovulation.

Clearblue operates under SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, a joint venture between Procter & Gamble and Alere (now part of Abbott).

Clearblue Offering Tests

1. Pregnancy Tests

   Clearblue provides pregnancy tests to provide results from the comfort of your home. It is said to use advanced urine-based testing technology that detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone that is made shortly after the fertilized egg implants in the uterus. This hormone typically begins to appear 6–8 days before the missed period, rising rapidly during early pregnancy, making it a key indicator for early detection.

   The Early Detection Pregnancy Test by Clearblue is said to be made for people who want to test early but prefer a non-digital option. It can provide results up to six days before a missed your period, giving you more control and clarity during the early stages of pregnancy detection.

   Clearblue also gives access to the Rapid Detection Pregnancy Test, which offers quick results with a wider color change tip for easier sampling. It is intended for women who prefer a fast yet simple testing process. The makers state that results may typically appear within a minute when testing from the day of the expected period.

   Another option from Clearblue is the Digital Pregnancy Test with Smart Countdown, which displays the testing progress in real time, helping to reduce anxiety while waiting. The brand claims that it offers clear digital results and combines scientific precision with user-friendly technology.

   For added discretion and convenience, the Flip & Click Pregnancy Test by Clearblue features a foldable handle that allows for easy handling and disposal.

   Clearblue also provides combination packs for extra confirmation. These include options with multiple tests, such as the Triple Assurance Pack and other packs offering 4x or 10x confirmation. These combinations are designed to provide reassurance through repeated results.

2. Ovulation Tests

   As per the official website, Clearblue features a variety of ovulation tests and fertility monitoring tools created to help you identify your most fertile days with precision and ease.

   Clearblue ovulation tests can work by detecting the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) and, in some products, the rise in estrogen that occurs just before ovulation. These hormonal shifts signal the optimal time for conception, unlike methods such as basal body temperature tracking, which only indicate ovulation after it has already occurred.

   The Connected Ovulation Test System by Clearblue tracks both LH and estrogen levels and typically identifies four or more fertile days. It syncs via Bluetooth with a smartphone app, offering digital test results, personalized fertility calendars, and cycle comparisons.

   Clearblue also provides the Advanced Digital Ovulation Test, which measures both LH and estrogen, identifying a wider fertility window, typically four or more fertile days. Its clear digital display uses smiley face icons to indicate high and peak fertility, simplifying the testing process and making results easy to interpret. The makers state that this test also enhances the chances of conception within each cycle by capturing both the estrogen rise and the LH surge.

   For those looking for a simpler option, the brand offers a Digital Ovulation Test that detects only the LH surge, identifying the two most fertile days in a cycle.

   The Clearblue claims that its Fertility Monitor with Touch Screen helps you identify up to six fertile days per cycle by tracking both estrogen and LH. It stores fertility data for up to six cycles and offers daily reminders,

   The makers state that Clearblue also offers the Easy Ovulation Kit, a user-friendly option that helps identify the two most fertile days with high accuracy.

   As per the official website, while choosing a test, you should consider your cycle regularity, tech preferences, and how much fertility data you wish to track.

   To maximize accuracy, the makers advise following product-specific instructions carefully and testing daily during your estimated fertility window. Using first-morning urine is typically recommended for the best results. For a personalized recommendation, Clearblue also offers a ‘When to Start Ovulation Testing’ calculator, which tailors the testing start date based on your cycle length and test type.

3. Menopause

   The Clearblue claims that its Menopause Stage Indicator helps women understand where they are in their menopause transition. The Menopause Stage Indicator assesses fluctuations in your hormone levels by tracking follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) over several days using five easy-to-use urine tests. FSH tends to rise as women approach menopause, though it can vary daily. The test can classify your overall FSH trend as “low,” “high,” or “variable” by evaluating your results across multiple days.

   Clearblue states that with the Menopause Stage Indicator, you also get access to the free Menopause Stage Indicator app. Once you input your test results, age, and menstrual cycle history, the app’s Smart Algorithm processes the data to estimate your likely menopause stage. These stages include Premenopause, Early Perimenopause, Late Perimenopause, or Postmenopause. This personalized approach may provide you with a more subtle understanding of your hormonal journey.

4. Hormone-free Birth Control

   The Clearblue & Natural Cycles Hormone-Free Birth Control Kit combines fertility tracking tools with a mobile app. Designed for women looking to avoid the side effects of hormonal birth control, the kit helps you understand your cycle by identifying fertile and non-fertile days using data from both ovulation testing and basal body temperature tracking.

   Inside the kit, you’ll find Clearblue’s Digital Ovulation Test holder with 15 test strips, a highly accurate digital basal thermometer, and a 3-month subscription to the Natural Cycles app. The ovulation tests detect the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, which signals your most fertile days, while the thermometer captures subtle shifts in your basal body temperature (BBT).

   As per the official website, using the kit involves three main steps, starting with measuring your BBT every morning upon waking and inputting the data into the Natural Cycles app. After this, you use the Clearblue ovulation tests during your predicted fertile window and enter those results into the app. Based on this combined data, the app then uses a smart algorithm to assign each day a fertility status, such as green (not fertile) or red (fertile). On green days, the makers state that you can have unprotected sex, and on red days, you’ll need to use a barrier method, like condoms, or refrain from sex to avoid pregnancy. However, the official website mentions that this kit does not protect against STIs, and it requires daily consistency with temperature readings and data input.

Clearblue Advantages

1. Pioneering Digital Testing

   Clearblue emphasizes ease of use by offering digital pregnancy and fertility tests that display results in plain language, such as “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant,” rather than relying on lines or symbols that can be difficult to interpret. This reduces user confusion and may improve result accuracy in real-world use.

   The tests also include practical design features like visual countdown timers, ergonomic shapes, and clear step-by-step instructions. These elements are designed to make the process more accessible and less stressful, particularly for first-time users.

   Clearblue’s digital tests use highly sensitive sensors capable of detecting reproductive hormones earlier than many standard options, offering the potential for earlier insight. By combining straightforward digital readouts with features that support clarity and comfort, Clearblue positions itself as a practical option for those seeking a more reliable and simplified home testing experience.

2. Features Smart Dual Sensor Technology

   One of Clearblue’s strengths is its use of Smart Dual Sensor technology in select pregnancy tests. Unlike standard tests that only detect hCG to confirm pregnancy, Clearblue’s Early Digital Pregnancy Test also measures estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G), allowing it to estimate how many weeks have passed since conception, typically categorized as 1–2, 2–3, or 3+ weeks. This added feature offers more context at an early stage, which may be helpful for individuals looking to make timely health or lifestyle decisions. While not a replacement for medical dating methods, the ability to provide both confirmation and a rough timeline gives Clearblue an edge in offering more detailed early pregnancy insight compared to basic tests.

Clearblue Limitations

1. Regulatory Risk

   Clearblue has faced regulatory challenges that may impact user trust. In 2015, a U.S. court ruled that Clearblue’s advertising for its “Weeks Estimator” pregnancy test was misleading. The marketing suggested it could determine gestational age by medical standards, which it could not. This led to a court-ordered change in its packaging and a legal settlement. More recently, in 2025, the company was sued over its Menopause Stage Indicator test. Critics and medical professionals argue that relying on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels to determine menopause stages is scientifically unreliable, as FSH levels naturally fluctuate and do not accurately reflect menopausal progression. The FDA has echoed this concern, warning against the use of FSH alone for such diagnostics.

   For users, these legal actions may lead to confusion or misplaced confidence in the brand’s testing capabilities. Misleading claims could result in consumers spending money on tests that may not provide clinically meaningful information, or worse, delaying necessary medical consultation. This raises concerns about the reliability of consumer health tools when marketing outpaces scientific consensus.

Clearblue Alternative Brands

1. First Response

   First Response offers pregnancy tests, including the Early Result and Rapid Result Pregnancy Tests, which claim to detect pregnancy hormones up to six days before a missed period. The brand also provides fertility-related tools such as a Due Date Calculator, an Ovulation Calculator, and a How Far Along Am I? calculator.

   Clearblue provides a range of reproductive health products, including pregnancy tests like the Early Digital Pregnancy Test and Early Detection Pregnancy Test, which detect the hormone hCG up to six days before a missed period. The brand also offers ovulation tests, an Ovulation Calculator, a Menopause Stage Indicator, and a Hormone-Free Birth Control Kit. Clearblue’s products are supported by clinical research and involve an advisory board of health experts.

   Both brands’ pregnancy tests include a small desiccant tablet with warnings not to ingest. First Response emphasizes sensitivity and includes digital fertility tools, while Clearblue offers a wider product range covering ovulation, menopause, and contraception options.

2. Natalist

   Natalist claims to support you through your journey to parenthood with thoughtfully designed products for fertility, conception, pregnancy, and postnatal care. It offers a broad range of wellness products that include supplements, self-care products, and male fertility support, and its testing offerings are particularly notable. Their ovulation test kits come with 30 test strips and a urine cup that helps you better understand your fertility signals and optimize your timing for conception. For pregnancy testing, Natalist provides Early Pregnancy Test Strips and The Test Pack, both designed for ease of use and reliable results to guide your family planning decisions.

   Meanwhile, Clearblue focuses on a limited range of products when compared with Natalist. Their categories include pregnancy tests such as the Clearblue Early Detection Pregnancy Test and the Clearblue Early Digital Pregnancy Test, which can detect pregnancy hormone (hCG) up to six days before a missed period. They also provide ovulation tests designed to identify your fertile window by detecting hormone surges, a menopause stage indicator to track hormonal changes during menopause, and a hormone-free birth control kit.

   While Natalist’s testing products focus on practical, user-friendly ovulation and pregnancy tests integrated with fertility tracking, Clearblue’s strength lies in clinically proven, technologically advanced testing devices, including early digital detection and advanced fertility monitors.

   Natalist supplements complement their testing with prenatal, postnatal, and male fertility support options, covering nutrition alongside testing, whereas Clearblue’s product line is limited to reproductive health areas, including menopause and hormone-free birth control, in addition to pregnancy and ovulation testing.

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How Did We Evaluate The Clearblue?

1. Consumer Responses And Feedback

   To evaluate Clearblue, we closely analyzed real customer reviews, particularly from Amazon, focusing on key aspects such as accuracy, ease of use, clarity of results, and reliability across different Clearblue products, specifically the Early Detection and Early Digital Pregnancy Tests.

   The Early Detection Pregnancy Test by Clearblue has received appreciation for its user-friendly design and reliability. Customers consistently highlighted how easy it was to follow the instructions, with features like a comfortable grip and wide tip making the testing process simpler. Many users successfully detected pregnancy up to five days before their missed period, though some noted that very early positives could appear faint. While a few mentioned the possibility of false negatives if testing too early, they still found the product dependable when retested later.

   Customers appreciated Clearblue Early Digital Pregnancy Test, mentioning its clear digital readout that displayed a direct “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant” message, eliminating the common confusion over faint lines. The product’s fast results, intuitive design, and progress indicators were also praised. Several users shared that Clearblue’s digital test was more reliable than cheaper alternatives, especially when confirming early pregnancies.

2. Value For Money

   Clearblue’s Early Digital Pregnancy Test, priced at $10.50 for a pack of two, comes to about $5.25 per test. While it’s more expensive than basic test strips, the added convenience of a digital display clearly stating “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant” makes it a user-friendly choice. This format removes the uncertainty of reading faint lines, which can be especially helpful for first-time users or those seeking immediate clarity.

   Compared to this, Natalist’s Early Pregnancy Test Strips cost $16.00 for 15 strips or roughly $1.07 per test. The affordability is a major plus, particularly for frequent testing, but the tradeoff is that these are non-digital strips that require manual interpretation. While mostly accurate, they may not be as intuitive to use as Clearblue’s digital option.

   First Response offers a 3-pack of its Early Result Pregnancy Test for $11.69, about $3.90 per test. Known for detecting pregnancy early, even before a missed period, it delivers reliable results at a mid-range price point. However, it lacks the digital readout that Clearblue provides in terms of convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why does my Clearblue test show a blinking smiley face for several days in a row?
   The blinking smiley on Clearblue’s ovulation tests signals high estrogen as ovulation approaches. If it stays blinking, it means the LH surge hasn’t been detected yet, or the testing timing missed it.
2. Can PCOS affect the accuracy of Clearblue ovulation tests?
   Yes. PCOS causes elevated hormone levels that can confuse Clearblue ovulation tests, leading to irregular or frequent positive results. If you have PCOS, taking Clearblue tests with other ovulation tracking methods, such as basal body temperature, might provide a clearer picture.
3. Can drinking too much water affect my Clearblue pregnancy test result?
   Yes. Clearblue’s pregnancy test detects hCG concentration in urine, so drinking too much water can dilute it and cause false negatives. For best accuracy, use first morning urine or limit fluid intake before testing.
4. Does using hormonal birth control affect Clearblue test results?
   Yes, birth control can suppress ovulation, so ovulation tests offered by Clearblue may not detect a surge. After stopping hormonal contraception, it may also take time for your cycle to regulate, affecting early pregnancy tests.

Conclusion

Clearblue focuses on a broad range of at-home reproductive health products covering pregnancy, fertility, menopause, and hormone-free contraception. Its pregnancy tests can provide accuracy and early detection options.

Clearblue also features fertility monitors that help track both luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen, giving you a more comprehensive view of your fertile window.

The brand claims to emphasize clinical validation and user-friendly digital features to reduce user error and simplify interpretation.

However, hormone levels can vary widely between people, which may affect test accuracy and lead to false negatives or unclear results.

Clearblue has also faced regulatory scrutiny regarding certain product claims, such as the estimation of gestational age and menopause staging, reflecting scientific debate over the reliability of some hormone markers like follicle-stimulating hormone.

You should view Clearblue’s tests as supportive tools rather than definitive medical diagnoses. It is advisable to complement your test results with professional medical advice, especially in cases of unexpected or inconsistent outcomes.