Ovulation Test - Types, Instructions, How To Use?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Ovulation test

An ovulation test is a very useful thing and can be useful to every woman. With its help, you can accurately determine the days on which the probability of conceiving a child is greatest. Such tests were developed not so long ago, so it is understandable that many of the fair sex simply do not know about them. Such tests can be especially useful for women who are trying to conceive a child.

Content:

• How does the test help determine the time of ovulation?
• When should you do an ovulation test?
• Does the middle of the cycle always coincide with ovulation?
• What are ovulation tests?
• Features of using an ovulation test at home
• Why is the ovulation test negative?
• If the test is positive, when can you start conceiving?
• How to conceive a boy or girl?
• Determination of ovulation by measuring basal temperature
• Can an ovulation test detect pregnancy?
• What else is the ovulation test used for?
• Can testing be done daily?
• Popular ovulation tests

How does the test help determine the time of ovulation?

After the completion of the next menstrual cycle, a healthy female body immediately starts the beginning of the next cycle. When the mature egg is ready to leave the ovary, the level of hormones in the blood will increase. They are responsible for the possibility of her fertilization.

One of these hormones can be detected not only in the blood, but also in other biological fluids of a person, for example, in urine and saliva. It is the LH hormone or luteinizing hormone. It is to him that the ovulation test is sensitive. Therefore, if it is positive, then it means that the egg can be fertilized.

When should you do an ovulation test?

To determine the optimal time to complete the test, a woman needs to know the length of her cycle. The test is done for 5 days in the morning and evening, or only in the morning.

• Cycle 28 days. The test starts from the 11th day from the beginning of the last menstruation.
• Cycle over 28 days. The test begins 17 days before the first day of the next menstruation.
• The cycle is not stable.

In the case of an unstable cycle, the initial figure is the one that characterizes the shortest cycle, for example:

• From day 7 with a cycle of 24 days;
• From day 9 with a cycle of 26 days;
• From the 15th day from the first day of menstruation with a cycle of 32 days and so on.

Calculate ovulation (conception) calendar online:

Calculate ovulation

Does the middle of the cycle always coincide with ovulation?

Ovulation does not always fall in the middle of the cycle, even if the woman has no problems in the gynecological sphere and the menstrual cycle is regular. It is for this reason that so many cases of conception occur precisely on "safe" days, when ovulation according to a woman's personal schedule has not yet begun.

The process of maturation and release of the egg is influenced by many factors, including: infectious diseases, emotional upheavals, change of place of residence and even just a change in weather conditions. Therefore, it is not surprising that the level of an increase in luteinizing hormone in the blood can be observed several days before and several days after the expected period.

What are ovulation tests?

Ovulation tests and pregnancy tests are similar in structure. For their implementation, the same biological fluid is required - this is urine, or saliva. There are several types of ovulation diagnostic tests that have different prices and percentages.

Test strip (strip test). The test strip is the most popular among other diagnostic systems for determining ovulation. It is made of paper coated with reagent and a control strip. To carry out the test, you must collect the urine in a suitable container and dip the existing strip into it. The exposure time is 10 seconds. You need to evaluate the results within 5-10 minutes.

• If the level of the hormone in the blood is increased, then a second strip will appear on the test.

• The brighter both stripes are, the higher the likelihood of conception that day.

Test tablet. The test tablet looks like a small case that has two windows. Urine is dripping into one window, and in the other, after a few minutes, the result appears. Two bars indicate an increase in LH levels. The test plate is considered to be more reliable than the paper test strip.

Multiple test. The reusable test is an electronic device with strips to be immersed in urine. This is a reliable test that allows you to determine the optimal days for conception with high accuracy.

Inkjet test. The inkjet test is represented by a strip with a reagent applied to it, which is characterized by increased sensitivity. There is no need to collect urine for the study; you just need to bring the test under a stream of liquid while going to the toilet. After five minutes, you can evaluate the result. Ovulation is indicated by two bars on the test.

Digital test. This test will require saliva. This is a very sensitive test, which is essentially a miniature microscope that resembles a lipstick.

In a woman's saliva, you can see a pattern that resembles either a fern leaf or frosty patterns on a window. Such a pattern can be found only before the release of the egg from the ovary.

Features of using an ovulation test at home

• The test does not detect the release of an egg from the ovary, but reacts to the level of increased hormones in the blood. This means that ovulation has just happened, or will occur in the next few hours.
• High levels of hormones in the blood during ovulation persist for 24 hours, so you need to do the test twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. In this case, the likelihood of conception increases.
• You should not drink a lot before using the ovulation test, or you may get distorted results.
• If a woman uses a digital test on her own, then the resulting pattern must be carefully compared with the picture indicated in the instructions.

Why is the ovulation test negative?

• The hormone levels drop after ovulation has already occurred, so the test will be negative.
• It will not be possible to get a positive result if there is still a long time before ovulation.
• It is possible that the test itself is damaged or expired, and therefore gives an incorrect result.

If the test is positive, when can you start conceiving?

After receiving a positive result, the woman asks a more fully logical question: when can you start conceiving?

• If the test is positive, it means that after a few hours the egg will be released from the ovary and will be ready for fertilization.
• The egg cell retains its ability to fertilize throughout the day.
• You should not start conceiving immediately after the test. Wait a few hours to allow the egg to leave the ovary. This time is 5-10 hours. But it is not worth delaying either, because the egg cell lives no more than a day.
• It is also not necessary to postpone the moment of fertilization for the last hours, since this process does not occur immediately after intercourse, but only after a few more hours. During this time, the sperm and the egg "get" to each other.

How to conceive a boy or girl?

Science has established that when a girl is conceived, an egg is fertilized by a sperm with an X chromosome, and when a boy is conceived, a sperm with a Y chromosome. It is believed that these spermatozoa are somewhat different, knowing their characteristics, you can in a certain way affect the sex of the unborn child.

The life span of sperm is 1-5 days. At the same time, "sperm-boys" live for about two days, but they are more mobile, and "sperm-girls" live about 5 days, but they move less actively. Therefore, if conception occurred directly during ovulation, then the chances of having a boy increase.

To conceive a girl, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Sexual intercourse should occur approximately 2-3 days before ovulation. Attempts to conceive during ovulation and in the next 3 days after it must be abandoned.
• This increases the chance of survival for sperm with the X chromosome.
• The penetration doesn't have to be deep. This will minimize the chances of the Y sperm reaching the target, which are more mobile.

To conceive a boy, you can use the following guidelines:

• 5 days before ovulation, you need to give up intimate life.
• Sexual intercourse should take place on the day of ovulation.
• Penetration should be as deep as possible.
• A man should not overheat, as exposure to high temperatures is detrimental to sperm with a Y chromosome. This applies to wearing warm clothes, going to a bath, etc.

Determination of ovulation by measuring basal temperature

The method for determining ovulation by measuring basal temperature does not require financial investments. A woman in the morning should measure the body temperature in the rectum. This should be done every day, right after waking up. As a rule, after menstruation, it stays at around 37 ° C, and before ovulation begins, it decreases slightly. When ovulation occurs, the temperature rises again to 37.3-37.6 ° C. If you regularly monitor your temperature, you can create a specific schedule that allows you to determine the day of ovulation.

An ovulation test cannot detect pregnancy because it reacts to another hormone. Therefore, all discussions on this topic are not serious, and you should not pay attention to them.

If the ovulation test shows two strips, then this means that the woman has just ovulated, and not pregnancy. At the same time, the chances of successful conception are increased.

What else is the ovulation test used for?

The ovulation test is used not only to increase the chances of getting pregnant, but also to avoid unwanted conception. Although in this case they need to be done constantly. It is not a cheap method, but some women practice it.

It is worth giving up unprotected sexual intercourse from the moment when two stripes appear on the test until the moment when they completely disappear. In addition, this gives virtually no guarantees that pregnancy will not occur after all.

Can testing be done daily?

The test has no effect on the woman's health, so you can do it every day. Especially often women who cannot get pregnant for a long time do this. In this case, it is best to calm down, and the cherished two strips will certainly appear, but already on a pregnancy test.

Popular ovulation tests

Although all pregnancy tests have the same principle, their reliability is somewhat different. The most popular tests are: Clearblue, Frautest, Eviplan.

Frautest

This manufacturer produces reliable tests, which are presented in three types:

Clearblue, Eviplan

The package contains 5 tests to determine ovulation and 1 test to determine pregnancy. High confidence test. Price - 310 rubles.	This is an electronic test that is equipped with 7 strips. If the ovulation result is positive, the woman will see a smiley face. Price - 1000 rubles.

Ledy-Q, Insure, Ovuplan

The result is guaranteed 100%. This is a digital test that can be used repeatedly. The cost of the test is 2000 rubles.	Results guarantee - 90%. The package contains 5 tests, the price is 150 rubles.	Ovulation inkjet test. The guarantee of the reliability of the result is 99%. Price - 200 rubles.

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.