Tips for Testing Ovulation

Did you know that you can only get pregnant for about six days each month? Five days before ovulation, the day of ovulation and the day after. If you have irregular periods or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), determining that fertile window can become complicated. Once you ovulate, the egg only survives for up to 24 hours, and if it’s not fertilized during that time, you won’t have another chance to get pregnant until the following month. 

This means you want to predict with certainty when you’ll ovulate to time intercourse with your fertile window. There are several tests available to help predict ovulation, but without guidance, it can sometimes take time to get the hang of using them. Give these helpful tips a try, and you’ll be testing like a pro in no time. 

Understand How Tests Work

While ovulation test kits have a high degree of accuracy when used properly, there is a lot of room for user error if you don’t understand how the tests work. 

Over-the-counter ovulation tests fall into one of three categories: urine strips, digital devices, and saliva tests. The majority of tests measure hormone levels in your urine, but some tests use saliva to help predict ovulation.

Most ovulation tests measure luteinizing hormone (LH) because your body produces more LH, called an “LH surge,” 24 to 48 hours before you ovulate. This surge triggers your body to ovulate, making identifying it a great way to predict ovulation. 

Other ovulation tests measure estrogen levels, which increase just before your LH surge. Some tests measure a combination of hormones, such as LH, estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin, and estradiol. 

Saliva-based tests require you to view your saliva under a microscope to identify a pattern, called ferning, which occurs near ovulation. 

Choose the Right Test for You

There are pros and cons to each of these methods, but if you choose a test that you feel confident using and fits in well with your lifestyle, you’re more likely to use it accurately. 

Urine Test Strips

Urine test strips are the most economical option for testing because they come with multiple test strips. Some kits require you to urinate into a cup, then dip a test strip into the urine. Others include holders or sticks that allow you to use the stick midstream, much like a pregnancy test. 

After testing your urine, you’ll need to check the result. In most cases, this will be a color change or second line. Some people find these types of tests difficult to read at first, so you may need to test for a while before you get the hang of it. Many test kits also come with free apps that help you track and interpret your test results. 

Digital Urine Tests

Digital urine tests also use test strips, but they come with digital displays or monitors that make it easier to interpret the results. There is a wide range of digital urine tests, ranging from simple sticks that resemble pregnancy tests to more advanced monitors that track your cycle, monitor your hormone levels, and store information to share with your doctor.

Digital urine tests often claim more accurate results, but they are also more expensive. These are a good option if you want user-friendly tests with easy-to-read results, but they are less affordable over the long term. 

Saliva Tests

Saliva tests aren’t accurate as urine tests because they don’t measure hormone levels. Instead, they require you to look at your saliva under a microscope every day and watch for a pattern called ferning to occur. One of the biggest benefits of saliva tests is they are reusable, so you can test over a long period of time without needing to purchase more supplies.

There are drawbacks to these tests. They require you to learn and identify ferning, which means you’ll spend a lot of time testing and learning to interpret the results. And some women don’t fern on all their fertile days, and others don’t fern at all. 

Test at the Right Time

You’ll need to test at both the right time of the month and right time of day. Ovulation tests are often expensive, and many only come with about a week’s worth of supplies. If you don’t already have an idea of when your fertile window is likely to occur, you may waste time and money testing during a time of the month when you won’t get a positive result.

It’s worth learning methods, such as charting your cycle on the calendar and monitoring your cervical mucus, that help you predict when ovulation is likely to occur. That way, you can narrow down the timeframe during which you should use ovulation tests. 

Because your hormones fluctuate throughout the day, it’s important to test at the same time each day. Morning is usually the best time to test, and many kits are designed for use first thing in the morning. 

Know When to Seek Help

Ovulation tests are a great tool to help you conceive, but they do have limitations. Certain medical conditions, like PCOS, can cause inaccurate results, and some women may not experience a surge in LH at all. 

It’s also important to remember that if you’ve been trying to conceive for 12 months or more (6 months if you are over 35), you should seek help from a fertility specialist. At Reproductive Health and Wellness Center, Dr. Rosencrantz can use other tests to help determine whether and when you’re ovulating, along with diagnosing any conditions that may be contributing to your infertility. 

Schedule a consult to learn about the options that are available to help you grow your family.