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Knowing your ovulation schedule is imperative when trying to conceive. A great tool to help determine this is an ovulation test.
The ovulation tests work by detecting the luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. Your LH will spike right before you ovulate. A positive result indicates that the woman will be fertile over the next three days.
We have two kinds of ovulation tests. One is a strip. These tests are highly reliable and accurate. They are also cost effective. When using the ovulation test strip, you will need to collect the urine in a clean sanitized specimen cup. Then simply dip the test into the urine sample collected.
After the sample is collected, lay the strip on a clean, flat surface. You can read the test result in 10 minutes. If only one pink band appears, the test is negative. Meaning that you’re not ovulating. If two bands appear, the test is positive. If no lines appear then the test is invalid and will need to be done again.
The other option we have is the mid-stream test. Just like the test strip the mid-stream test, LH is measured to determine ovulation. What differs with this test, you urinate directly on the test. Simply pull the protective cap off, place the absorbent end in the urine stream for at least 5 seconds (can also use a specimen cup). Place the cap back on the device. In 10 minutes you’ll be able to read your result. Again, if one line appears the test is negative, if two appear the test is positive, the there are no lines at all, the test is invalid.
The best times to test are in the morning. If you opt to test twice in a day, make sure you perform your tests eight hours apart. Make sure to reduce your liquids two hours prior to the test.
If your cycle is 28 days you can begin testing around day 11 after your menstrual cycle. If your cycle is longer add a day, if it’s shorter then 28 days minus a day. Timing is everything when trying to get pregnant and being in check and understanding your body is the best way to determine peak times.
