Ovulation tests: from operating principles to instructions for use

Women can use easy-to-use ovulation tests to find out which days of their menstrual cycle are the most fertile. For those who are trying to get pregnant, knowing when ovulation happens can be helpful because it increases the likelihood of getting pregnant. The optimal time for conception can be easily determined with the help of these tests, which function by measuring hormone levels in the body.

This post will discuss the various types of ovulation tests that are available, how they operate, and how to use them properly. Knowing these tests can make tracking ovulation easier and more efficient, regardless of whether you’re new to the concept or just need a refresher.

What is it?

A woman can only become pregnant during ovulation. For a woman, the fertile period is limited to days – this is how long the egg lives after ovulation. The test system, which is easy to use at home, is designed to determine the onset of this period. Ovulation is the process of a mature oocyte leaving the follicle, where the maturation of the reproductive cell occurred during the first half of the female cycle after menstruation, into the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs after the egg meets live sperm. Before entering the oviduct, the egg matures in the ovary for two weeks, or more precisely, after menstruation, several follicles begin to mature, but in most cases, under a certain hormonal influence, only one remains – the dominant one. It is this one that ruptures on the day of ovulation and releases the oocyte (female reproductive cell), ready for fertilization.

  • Menstruation
  • Ovulation
  • High probability of conception

In the event of a 28-day cycle, ovulation takes place on the 14th day, 14 days prior to the onset of the menstrual cycle. Since there is often variance from the average value, the computation is imprecise.

In addition to the calendar method, you can check cervical mucus, measure basal temperature, use special tests or mini-microscopes, and test for progesterone, estrogens, LH, and FSH.

Ultrasound folliculometry can be used to determine the day of ovulation with certainty.

  1. Losos, Jonathan B.; Raven, Peter H.; Johnson, George B.; Singer, Susan R. Biology. New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 1207-1209.
  2. Campbell N. A., Reece J. B., Urry L. A. e. a. Biology. 9th ed. — Benjamin Cummings, 2011. — p. 1263
  3. Tkachenko B. I., Brin V. B., Zakharov Yu. M., Nedospasov V. O., Pyatin V. F. Human Physiology. Compendium / Ed. B. I. Tkachenko. — M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2009. — 496 p.
  4. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Овуляция

With a regular menstrual cycle, which lasts 28 days, ovulation usually happens on the fourteenth day. However, the female body is not a mechanism or a machine, and variations that last for a few days are perfectly normal and physiological. After about an hour, the egg exits the follicle and is ready for fertilization in the wide section of the oviduct, where it waits for sperm for a maximum of 24 hours. The oocyte dies, travels through the tube to the uterus, and is released with the next menstrual flow if fertilization is unsuccessful.

If there are live, motile spermatozoa in the tube during the time of oocyte release (sexual activity happened one to three days prior to ovulation) or if male reproductive cells reach the tube within twenty-four hours of the egg becoming viable, conception may be possible.

Ovulation can be determined in a variety of ways. Some people count or calculate the middle of the cycle, but this approach has significant errors because a woman’s health, well-being, hormonal background, level of stress, and other factors all affect how fluctuating the day of ovulation will be.

Others concentrate on feelings and discharge. The discharge becomes viscous, copious, transparent, and resembles raw chicken egg white a few days prior to ovulation. Some people report that, depending on which side the follicle on the ovaries bursts, they can detect ovulation by a slight ache on either the right or left side. However, doctors contend that this approach is not valid because it is impossible to detect ovulation objectively.

Additionally, the temperature method—which is predicated on taking a basal temperature—is employed, though it is not without significant error.

It is particularly challenging for women who have specific gynecological issues because determining the anticipated day of ovulation can be quite challenging when a woman has an irregular menstrual cycle and varying cycle lengths over the previous few cycles.

Based on an ultrasound scan of the ovaries, ovulation can be identified in a clinical setting with a reasonable degree of accuracy. The quantitative amount of luteinizing hormone (LH hormone) in the blood can also be measured in a lab; this hormone reaches its peak concentration right before ovulation. It is evident that a woman cannot afford such a diagnosis at home, and it is very difficult for her to visit the clinic daily in the middle of her cycle for an ultrasound or to give blood. For this reason, the invention of the home test led to the conception of millions of pregnancies.

The test facilitates the rapid and simple determination of whether ovulation is occurring, is on the verge of occurring, or has already occurred. And based on this information, schedule sex in order to become pregnant or, on the other hand, to avoid becoming pregnant unintentionally.

How it works and principles of operation

Pregnancy tests, which are widely used by women, detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropic hormone (hCG) in the urine of the subject by means of a unique sensitivity zone. HCG is produced by the embryo’s chorion. Similar principles apply to an ovulation test; however, instead of reacting to the pregnancy hormone, hCG, it does so to other hormones that control the female body’s ovulation process.

The shift in the female cycle’s phases in the body of the fair sex is caused by the hypothalamus, which controls the pituitary gland’s activity. The pituitary gland is clearly ordered by the hypothalamus to release specific hormones at the appropriate time, which facilitate the maturation and release of the oocyte from the follicle. In theory, conception cannot happen if the egg does not mature and is unable to exit the follicle.

During the first half of the female cycle, the pituitary gland releases two hormones into the bloodstream: luteinizing hormone (which causes follicle rupture) and follicle-stimulating hormone (which affects the maturation processes of the germ cell). The follicle grows larger due to FSH until it reaches a critical size of up to 2 centimeters in diameter.

Estrogen production is stimulated while the follicle grows larger. They cause the pituitary gland to start producing luteinizing hormone (LH) more quickly. Medical professionals and laboratory technicians refer to this process as the ovulatory peak of LH. It takes between 36 and 48 hours from the time this peak is recorded until the follicle ruptures and the female reproductive cell that is ready for fertilization is released.

A luteinizing hormone-sensitive substance is applied to the sensitivity zone (test zone) of an ovulation test. Consequently, a woman’s sensitive zone will be able to detect whether ovulation is about to occur or has already done so more quickly the higher the concentration of this substance is in her body.

It is not unnecessary to check the ovulatory period, even if you are confident that you understand your body and that your cycle is regular. If you are unable to determine the day of ovulation, a home test can assist in determining the best time to conceive.

Types and characteristics

There are many different types of ovulation tests available, so a woman visiting a pharmacy with a related query might not know which test is the best option. Naturally, you’ll have to determine the answer for yourself: while some people place a premium on a highly sensitive testing system, others are more concerned with affordability and require a low-cost pharmacy test. We will describe the types to you along with a few of their key attributes.

  • Rapid tests in the form of strips (the so-called "strip" tests) — a very popular and, perhaps, the most demanded type of ovulation test systems. These are paper strips with a reagent applied to the test sensitivity zone, which is colored when determining a high content of luteinizing hormone in the urine. The advantages of the test are that it is convenient to use, no special medical knowledge is required to understand its results. It is only important to follow the instructions.

These tests are cheap, but it is hard to say that they are highly accurate because everything relies on the brightness of the second strip, which indicates the likelihood of ovulation. The brighter the strip, the higher the probability. It’s possible to interpret something incorrectly.

  • Tablet (cassette) test — looks like a plastic case with two miniature windows. The task of the woman being tested is to drip a few drops of urine into the first window using a special pipette and wait until the result appears in the other. The test will react to an increased quantitative presence of the LH hormone in the fluid excreted by the kidneys with two strips.

The system’s benefits include not having to gather pee in a clean container specifically and a slightly higher degree of result reliability than with a standard paper strip. The cost is higher than that of express strips, which is a drawback.

  • A reusable test — an electronic device that can be used more than once. Equipped with replaceable strips for determining LH in urine, the accuracy is considered to be quite high. The cost is also not low.

  • A jet test — a highly sensitive test system that allows you not to collect urine, but simply place the test under the stream while emptying the bladder. After a few minutes, the result appears on the test.
  • Digital system — this is not even a test in the broad sense of the word, but a small microscope that looks like a lipstick tube. Allows you to determine the approximation of ovulation by saliva and vaginal discharge. Under the influence of estrogens, a woman’s saliva in the period immediately before ovulation when drying begins to resemble a pattern of fern sheet or frosty pattern on glass.

The secretory discharge from the vagina behaves similarly. Advantages: extremely good accuracy and multipurpose use potential. Cons: Expensive and open to a woman’s imagination running wild, which occasionally lets you see things that aren’t supposed to.

When making decisions, a woman should consider her financial situation and the significance of achieving a high degree of accuracy in the outcome.

Testing rules

Results that are sufficiently accurate for planning conception can be obtained if the test is administered correctly and in accordance with the guidelines provided in the instructions for use. However, the challenge is in using it correctly; a lot of women make mistakes and receive inconsistent results. You must understand how to conduct this kind of testing properly in order to prevent it.

Five test strips are included in the box of the great majority of disposable tests (the most popular kind). Why is five? Since 1-2 strips can confirm a pregnancy after a lapse, determining the ideal time to test for ovulation can be difficult and may necessitate repeat testing. Furthermore, the diagnostic self-test’saccuracyis improved by repeated testing.

You recently purchased a test and are unsure of the best time to administer it. Self-testing right after menstruation is useless because, as the follicle develops, luteinizing hormone is released prior to ovulation. Hence, it is advisable to determine the optimal testing duration based on the duration of your cycle. The formula O = A-17, where O is the preovulatory period and A is the cycle duration, is what gynecologists advise using.

A woman’s menstrual cycle, for instance, lasts for 28 days. If we take 17 out of 28, we get 11. This indicates that the eleventh day of the cycle is a reasonable time to perform the first ovulation test. The first day of menstruation marks the beginning of the countdown. Suppose that on March 1st, a woman’s menstruation began. This indicates that she ought to take the initial exam on March 11.

But what to do if the cycle is irregular? Here, the advice of women"s health specialists is unambiguous: you need to find the average duration of the cycle, taking the last six months as a basis. Let"s say a woman has one cycle that lasted 28 days, another – 30, the third – 29, the fourth – 32 days, and the fifth and sixth – 34 days each. Add these values ​​​​and get 187. Divide this number by 6 (months) and get the duration of the average cycle for a particular lady – 31 days. Based on the method and formula described above, she needs to start doing tests on the 14th day from the beginning of her last menstruation (31-17 = 14).

You must carefully read the instructions that come with your purchase before using it for the first time. If strip testing is chosen, gather pee in a container, dip the test there to the indicated level for 15 to 20 seconds, and wait for the result for five to ten minutes before placing the test on a dry napkin. To use a jet test, just place it beneath the stream of pee while urinating.

It is advised to use the subsequent strip concurrently with the initial one. Women should keep in mind that there are some guidelines that are best to abide by in order to improve the possibility of an accurate outcome.

  • Four hours before the test, you should not drink water, tea, or other liquids (this way the concentration of LH in the urine will be more objective).
  • Before testing, you should refrain from urinating for at least two hours.
  • The time of day matters: unlike pregnancy tests, for which it is advisable to use urine collected in the morning after waking up, it is better to do ovulation tests not on this morning portion, since it will contain more hormone, which can lead to a false positive result. It is best to test the following portions of urine, at any time from 10 am to 8 pm.

Keep in mind that scheduling the subsequent test for the same time as the preceding one will increase accuracy. If the first strip was used at eleven a.m., the second, third, and subsequent strips should also be used at the same time the following day.

Decoding the results

Interpreting the ovulation test results is not difficult. A woman may receive multiple results that are not interpretable in one of two ways:

  • negative;
  • positive.

The test should be considered negative if the second strip is either completely absent from the test zone or hardly visible; this indicates that the body does not contain luteinizing hormone at the necessary concentration. This indicates that either ovulation has already occurred (the favorable moment has been missed), the test was conducted ahead of schedule, or the preovulatory window has not yet arrived. Following ovulation, the test also displays a result with a "-" sign.

The test is deemed successful if there are two stripes. A woman should anticipate ovulation in roughly 12 to 48 hours based on this outcome. Keep an eye on the second stripe’s brightness. The brighter and clearer it is, the higher the LH level and, in turn, the closer the critical moment is. The time between the appearance of two distinct bright stripes and ovulation is usually about 24 hours. Ovulation test results are positive for one to two days, after which they turn negative once more if you test again.

Occasionally, women receive an odd result where there isn’t even a single stripe on the test; this indicates that the test system wasn’t appropriate (it was outdated and had storage and shipping regulations broken). Another outcome might be if a woman performed the self-diagnosis process incorrectly.

It’s crucial to understand that two stripes on the ovulation test indicate that unprotected sexual activity should begin within three days of the current period in order to conceive. However, because the viability of sperm is significantly higher than the comparable ability of a female oocyte to survive, the method is not very effective in preventing pregnancy.

False results – what is it and why does it happen?

One can debate ovulation test accuracy for a lifetime. Manufacturers state that it is between 97 and 99%. Let’s state up front that, in actuality, even in costly electronic tests and reusable mini-microscope systems, it is not that high. Women frequently obtain inaccurate results in this area, which can be caused by a multitude of factors.

Receiving two strips when there isn’t actually any ovulation is known as a false positive result. This can occasionally occur when using extremely sensitive test systems that can pick up even minute increases in luteinizing hormone levels. Any healthy woman will experience anovulatory cycles; ovulation need not occur during the current cycle at all. However, a small change in hormone levels may be interpreted by the test as a positive result. However, conception does not happen.

Anovulatory cycles and results from testing the morning portion of urine, where LH may be present in higher concentrations, can result in false positive results.

When the test indicates one strip but ovulation takes place, this is known as a false negative result. This could happen if the test is administered improperly or if the testing guidelines are broken.

Evaluation of the results must strictly follow the usage instructions.

If you get a positive result, keep in mind the small but still possible chance of a false positive result. You can also use other diagnostic techniques, such as going to an ultrasound room to have an ultrasound scan of your ovaries, to verify the test system data. Keep an eye on the thermometer readings if you take a basal temperature reading.

For whom testing is contraindicated?

Ovulation tests are generally not advised for women undergoing hormonal drug treatment for infertility or undergoing an in vitro fertilization cycle. Because all hormone-based medications alter a woman’s natural hormonal background, self-diagnosis with at-home tests loses its usefulness.

Duphaston and other medications have the potential to produce inaccurate or misleading results. Therefore, more precise techniques are advised for women with polycystic ovary syndrome who are infertile during the IVF protocol and wish to plan for conception. These techniques include a combination of ultrasound and laboratory blood tests for the concentration of LH and FSH.

We examined the reviews of women and obstetrics and gynecology specialists in order to compile this review. It contains the most widely used and sought-after systems, which are readily available in pharmacies. It’s worth finding out more about a few of them before making a decision for yourself.

Clearblue – digital test system

Manufacturers state that the test has a high degree of accuracy. The device, which consists of a testing module and a plastic case, appears to be fairly sturdy. A blinking signal should appear on the body once the module is inserted into the body in accordance with the instructions. This indicates that the system is prepared for use.

After attending to the external genitalia’s hygiene, pee should be collected in a clean container. It is crucial to avoid getting the sampler wet on the body as it is lowered into the urine for ten to fifteen seconds. After that, place the system on a level, dry surface. After 30 to 40 seconds, the test will begin to blink, indicating that it is operational. The outcome is expected to be available in a few minutes. An empty circle indicates an unfavorable time to conceive.

A happy smiley in the test window indicates a successful outcome. The strip is discarded. To be used again, a fresh one is inserted.

The test in pharmacies costs more than 700–800 rubles. Reviews claim that the test is intriguing specifically because the first and second stripes are absent; women claim that this makes the test "smile" at them. Reviews describing how the test never smiled during the cycle but pregnancy still happened are mixed in with the positive ones.

"Frautest"

This is a more affordable and frugal choice. Because the makers of this brand’s test strips take a responsible approach to the issue, their products have been tried and tested by women worldwide for a very long time. Each "Frautest" kit has five strips in it. The kits are priced between 400 and 500 rubles. Pregnancy can be determined from the first day of the next menstrual delay with two identical brand strips, which is a nice bonus (you won’t have to buy separate tests later!). Seven tiny urine containers are also a nice bonus (you don’t have to search for a suitable, convenient container to collect it).

Utilization is easy to understand, even for the most intuitive user. Up to the line indicated on the strip, the strip is dipped into the urine sample. Remove it after five seconds and set it aside to dry on a dry surface. You are able to read the outcome after ten minutes. It is typical to have one negative and two positive stripes. Every strip is meant to be used just once.

If the pharmacy does not stock this specific manufacturer’s strip system for whatever reason, you can substitute it with "Eviplan," "Ovuplan," or "Femiplan" strips without significantly affecting the outcome.

Reviews indicate that the test is fairly accurate, but the price of the express strips is a little excessive. Some contend that the exam is more prone to error than a digital one.

Cassette tests

These tests have the major benefit of being reusable, so people who have been considering getting pregnant for a long time and have used a lot of disposable tests can choose them with confidence. In the end, this will save money. They are made very simply: after five to ten minutes, you can read the result, which resembles one or two strips, by placing the cassette under a stream of urine.

It is not very important who makes the product. Numerous tablet assessments share nearly identical features, precision, and user feedback. Choose "Frautest," "Evitest," "Femitest," or "Ovuplan" as a result.

Electronic test for determining ovulation by saliva

Although this test is very accurate, it is the most expensive and, therefore, less popular. As a result, there aren’t as many genuine user reviews as we would like to help us understand the benefits and drawbacks. It is possible to purchase brands like MaybeMom, "Femotest," "Eva-testD," "OVU-test," and Fertile Focus mini-microscope, among others.

It is as easy as applying a small amount of saliva to the microscope glass, waiting for it to dry, and then closely examining it under the lens. Ovulation is almost here if the pattern looks like fern leaves. Reusable gadget, between 2,000 and 4,000 rubles in price.

The test "works" on changes in saliva under the influence of estrogens, so it is appropriate for women who have issues with their hormone levels. The results are independent of the body’s level of LH. You can examine both saliva and vaginal secretions with many models.

Aspect Description
What is an ovulation test? An ovulation test detects the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) that occurs before ovulation, helping predict the best time to conceive.
How does it work? When LH levels rise, the test shows a positive result, indicating ovulation is near, typically within 24-36 hours.
When to use? Start testing a few days before your expected ovulation and continue daily until you detect a positive result.
How to use it? Collect a urine sample or hold the test in the urine stream, wait a few minutes for the result.
Reading the result A positive result shows two lines of equal or greater intensity compared to the control line; a negative result shows one line.

Ovulation tests are a quick and easy method for monitoring fertility that also helps women understand their menstrual cycle. These tests increase the likelihood of conception for couples by identifying the peak days for luteinizing hormone (LH) production.

An ovulation test is simple to use, but in order to obtain accurate results, it’s crucial to carefully follow the instructions. Testing in the middle of the cycle usually yields the best results because timing is everything.

Ovulation tests are useful, but they do not ensure conception. It is a tool that aids in planning and can help individuals who are attempting to conceive by providing some clarity and control over the process.

Ovulation tests detect a spike in luteinizing hormone (LH), which happens right before ovulation, and help women determine when they are most fertile. When used at the appropriate time, these simple tests can raise the likelihood of conception. This post will describe the operation of ovulation tests, when to use them, and offer easy-to-follow directions for precise findings.

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Olga Sokolova

Experienced pediatrician and consultant on children's health. Interested in modern approaches to strengthening the immune system, proper nutrition and child care. I write to make life easier for moms and dads by giving proven medical advice.

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