I bought a used one off of e-bay, used it 2 cycles and got pregnant on 2nd cycle, so I would say...Yes they work. Not sure how long they last, I would imagine a long time. The measure your LH surge and estrogen it gives you lows, highs and peaks. It can take several (2-3) cycles for it to "learn" your cycle. Well worth the investment if you ask me. GL!