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Ovulation tests (fertility tests) for women allow you to determine the fertile days in a woman's cycle, i.e. the time just before ovulation. Which ovulation tests are most effective? How to do them? How to interpret the results of the ovulation test?

Before theovulation tests( for fertility )women , most of the ladies tried recognize your fertile days by observing your body. It was of course possible due to the symptoms that accompany ovulation. Besides, many women today control their menstrual cycle only in this way. Taking body temperature, cervical mucus evaluation, cervical examination and calendars calculations allow you to determine fertile days, but there is a risk of error. You can avoid itovulation tests , which are available in pharmacies without a prescription.

Ovulation strip tests - how do they work and how to perform them?

The most popular form of ovulation testing is strip testing. Their mechanism of action is simple and very similar to how pregnancy tests work. They detect the luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine, the level of which rises sharply before ovulation itself, which is when fertility is at its highest. The tests are very sensitive and are able to detect LH levels as low as 40 mlU / ml.

One test pack contains several testers (strips) that allow you to repeat the test day by day until the desired result is obtained. The first test should be done on the day your fertile period begins. In a regular cycle, it is usually the middle of the cycle, i.e. 14 days before your next period is due. To perform the test, you need to have a clean urine sample cup (included with some tests). The urine collected for the test should not be your first morning urine (which is completely different from the pregnancy test). The sample can be taken a little later in the day, making sure to limit your fluid intake. Thanks to this, the urine will not be too diluted and the tester will detect the LH hormone more easily. Then dip the test strip into the urine sample for 10 seconds to the level indicated in the instructions (not completely). The test result should appear after about 5 minutes. after removing the strap.

Ovulation tests - interpretation of results

  • One line

If it is a test line, the test was successful but the tester did notdetected LH hormone. In a word - the woman is not fertile at this point and ovulation will not happen anytime soon (up to 36 hours). It is completely different when this one line appears in the place of the result and the test line is not visible. Then the test is poorly performed or simply faulty.

When interpreting your results, keep in mind that the fertility test does not detect ovulation but predicts it will happen shortly. The credibility of such is up to 99%.

  • Two lines

They mean the test is positive. The woman is now fertile with a maximum of 36 hours until ovulation. The most reliable result is two dashes in the same color as the control dash. If the line with the result is brighter than the control line, although it is visible on the test, it is worth repeating the test the next day, because the hormone concentration is probably just rising.

If no lines on the strip are visible after 5 minutes, the test is probably faulty or incorrect.

Ovulation tests - advantages and disadvantages of strip tests

The test strips are more accurate than the natural methods (thermal and slime methods) and more precise. The simplicity of execution and convenience of use also speak in favor of them. Additionally, these tests are available over the counter and are not very expensive. However, the greatest advantage of the tests is that they help to control pregnancy.

There are also downsides to using ovulation test strips. One of them is the limited effectiveness in the event of a dysregulated cycle. If a woman has irregular periods and an ovulatory cycle, the use of tests may be helpful, but it sometimes requires a significant amount of packaging. All because ovulation tests can be performed almost every day throughout the cycle. There is also a probability that the test will be done, for example, after ovulation (some women may ovulate right after their menstruation) and will also not be reliable. The downside of ovulation test strips is that they can become falsified if a woman trying to conceive takes hormones to increase her chances of becoming pregnant.

Worth knowing

Ovulation tests - typesIn addition to the strip tests, there are other ovulation tests available on the market:

  • electronic ovulation monitor - this is a more advanced form of the test. Instead of paper strips, a plastic stick is obtained, which should be put under the urine stream. It should be inserted into an electronic device on which the information aboutdegree of fertility. The electronic fertility monitor is more accurate in this respect than the test strip, but unfortunately also more expensive. The device makes it possible to repeat the tests continuously - the only limitation is the battery. This is a good buy for people who use natural methods of contraception.
  • ovulation microscope - it's a saliva test. It is not based on the study of the LH hormone in the urine, but on the levels of estrogen in the body. Estrogen is a hormone that increases in levels just before ovulation. The increase in this hormone causes changes in the structure of saliva, and it is these changes that the ovulation microscope can recognize. Performing the test takes some time and requires precision. First, a sample of saliva is collected on the slide attached to the microscope and allowed to dry. Then the trace of saliva crystals is examined under a microscope. Depending on how this mark looks under the microscope, the proximity to ovulation is judged.

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