Premom Ovulation Test

Premom ovulation test strips are similar in design to pregnancy test strips that are generally available. But while the pregnancy test strips indicate whether the individual is pregnant, ovulation test strips indicate when the individual is in their fertile window, so they will know when having sexual intercourse will give them the best chance of conceiving. While the store-bought pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels in the urine, ovulation test strips detect luteinizing hormone in the urine to determine the best window for conception. 

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is secreted at low levels throughout the menstrual cycle of an individual. When a developing egg follicle reaches a certain size, the levels of the luteinizing hormone increase and a surge of the hormone causes ovulation to occur within 24-32 hours later, usually around the midpoint of the cycle. 

Ovulation indicates the culmination of the fertile window, and once an egg has been received, it is only viable for about 24 hours. This is why the best chance of pregnancy is usually having unprotected sex from 5 days before to about a day after ovulation has occurred. This means by the time the LH surge has been detected, the individual is already in the middle of their fertile window. A good advice usually given is for the individual to have unprotected sex 2-3 times in the 24-48 hours following the LH surge.

Does taking ovulation tests play a part in pregnancy?

Using an ovulation test strip does not guarantee that an individual will become pregnant. For one, they do not work for everybody; there have been cases where the body has elevated LH levels due to other reasons. In that case, an LH surge does not indicate ovulation and sexual intercourse will not result in pregnancy. Also, the tests do not determine the viability of the ovulated egg or the sperm; they do not play a role in fertilization. This means that there are absolutely no guarantees that sex during an LH surge will lead to conception and pregnancy.

How are premom ovulation test strips used?

The various brands of ovulation test strips will usually come in different directions. This is why it is essential to properly read the instructions on the particular kit that the individual is using. In general, the individual should try and use the test strips at the same time each day for several days until they get a positive result. The process of testing is very simple, and it involves dipping the test strips in urine and then waiting to read the results.

How are the results read?

If the individual has gotten the basic test strip, they will usually see two lines. One line is the control line to indicate that the test is working properly. When the second line is dark, or at least darker than the control line, that is interpreted as the LH surging. An ovulation test that has a digital display will have a design that will display on the screen whether the individual has entered their fertile cycle.

When the test is positive, it indicates to the individual that they are having an LH surge and that their fertile window will be in the next 24-48 hours. It is important to remember that an individual can have a positive result for several days. So when the test result is positive on the first day, in the following month, they should try and test a day or two earlier to ensure that they catch the start of the LH surge. This is because the fertile window begins a few days before the surge, so being aware of when it happens can help pinpoint the right timing.

Correctly timing the cycle

Being aware of the days to use the ovulation test strips can be a bit complicated. Many people would not do the test every day of the month because of the cost of the strips. This is why it is helpful for them to be able to narrow their widow to a few days before the surge. Using an ovulation calculator app is one way. The app will give an estimated ovulation date when the individual inserts information about their average period length and the dates of their last cycle. It is then essential to begin using the strips a few days before the estimated ovulation date to make sure that the LH surge is not missed, especially those that have a shorter cycle. 

For people who want to figure it out on their own, in a 28-day cycle, ovulation usually occurs about 14 days after the first day of the last period, and the LH surge generally occurs 1 or 2 days before that. In this case, the individual should start testing on day 10. For people with shorter cycles, they should adjust the midpoint. They should begin the tests at least 3-4 days before the estimated ovulation date to catch the surge.

Who can use ovulation test strips?

These strips are not fit for everyone, so it is important to know that if any of the following conditions are present, the individual should not use them:

• Women with extremely irregular cycles
• Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), this is because they have constantly elevated levels of LH, so ovulation tests will give a false positive result
• Women who are entering menopause. This can lead to constantly elevated levels of LH.

What kind of ovulation test strips are best?

There are a wide variety of ovulation test strips with different price ranges to go along with them. The more expensive ones offer a digital display, and some detect both estrogen and LH. This allows them to detect more fertile days than the basic types of tests. This extra information and ease of readability may cost the individual more money, but it may be worth it especially if they have been struggling to conceive. On the opposite end of the spectrum, an individual can order ovulation test strips in bulk that will come with limited directions of use. Whether these test strips will work depends on the individual’s comfort in reading them. Unlike pregnancy tests that will show a line or not, the individual will need to be able to compare the colour of the test line to the control line on a basic ovulation strip.