Ovulation is the time where the eggs are released from the ovaries for fertilization. Every month, hormones from the pituitary gland stimulate the ovaries to release an egg or ovulate. Once the egg is released, it travels the Fallopian tube. It is the best time to conceive. The egg is active for about 24 hours to get unite with the sperm. Sperm cells can survive in the reproductive tract for 2 to 3 days. So, it is advisable to have regular sex during the days leading up to ovulation. An ovulation home test is used to help identify the time in the menstrual cycle when a woman is most prominent to get pregnant.
Things to watch out for
1. Do not drink large amounts of fluids before using the test.
2. Ask your doctor if you need to stop taking certain drugs before using this test.
3. Drugs that can decrease LH measurements include estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Estrogen and progesterone may be found in birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy.
4. The drug clomiphene citrate (Clomid) can increase LH levels. This drug is used to help trigger ovulation. Women taking this drug should wait three days after stopping the medicine before checking their LH levels.
5. The specific time of month that you start testing depends on the length of your menstrual cycle.
6. The test involves normal urination. There is no pain or discomfort.
DIY Steps
Ovulation prediction test kits usually come with five to seven sticks. This is used to help predict ovulation. The test works by detecting a rise in luteinizing hormone in urine. This rise signals the ovary to release the egg. While trying to get pregnant, the couples should intercourse around ovulation when ovaries release eggs. For women with 28 day menstrual cycle, this release normally occurs between days 11 – 14. If you have an irregular menstrual cycle and are not sure when or if you are ovulating, an ovulation prediction kit can help.
1. Missing the surge
If you miss a day, you may miss your surge. You may also miss recording a surge if you have an irregular menstrual cycle.
2. Keep an eye on calendar
Use a simple calendar to mark the day your periods begin each month and track the number of days each period lasts. If you have a consistent 28-day cycle. Ovulation (link to ovulation calculator) is likely to begin about 14 days after the day your last period began.
3. Fertile days
If your periods are long, subtract 18 from the number of days in your shortest cycle. When your next periods begin, count ahead this many days. The next week is a reasonable guess for the fertile days.
4. Basal body temperature
Normal body temperature is measured every morning using a thermometer. The ovulation is indicated by rise of temperature.
5. Cervical fluid
Changing pattern of cervical mucus throughout the cycle is an excellent indicator of fertility. The cervical fluid becomes wet and has an egg white-quality during fertility period.
6. Cervical position
Check your cervix daily or when you are experiencing the egg white type of fluid and fertility is assumed when the cervix changes from being low, thick and closed to being high and open.
7. Try ovulation monitoring kit
These kits can be bought at most drug store. It tests the urine hormones that are seen during ovulation. You will need to urinate on the test stick, or place the stick into urine that has been collected into a sterile container. The test stick will turn a certain color or display a positive sign if a surge is detected. A positive result means you should ovulate in the next 24 to 36 hours, but this may not be the case for all women. The kit’s instruction booklet will tell you how to properly read the results. The test involves normal urination. There is no pain or discomfort. A positive result indicates an “LH surge” and is a sign that ovulation may soon occur. Read your specific manufacturer’s instruction booklet for complete details.
If you are unable to detect a surge or do not become pregnant after using an ovulation prediction kit for several months, contact your doctor. You may need to see an infertility specialist.
