Ovulation test - how to use it correctly. How to do an ovulation test correctly: timing, which one is better to choose, positive, negative and false positive results

If a long-awaited pregnancy does not occur, this does not yet indicate problems with the reproductive system. Fertilization occurs during ovulation, when the egg enters the fallopian tube after the follicle ruptures. This period is quite short and its duration does not exceed two days. To determine the most appropriate time for conception, modern medicine suggests doing an ultrasound of the ovarian follicles or donating blood to determine the amount of luteinizing hormone.

However, it is not always necessary to go to medical institutions; you can determine a favorable day for conception at home. To do this, it is enough to purchase an ovulation test, with which you can determine the peak level of luteinizing hormone or estrogen. This period is the most favorable for fertilization.

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Essence of the question

Ovulation occurs as a result of the “explosion” of a mature follicle, from which a released egg is released. The whole process takes just a couple of minutes. This process occurs once per cycle, and the lifespan of the “hero of the occasion” - the egg - is only 24 hours. Its main task is to meet the sperm for fertilization. Most eggs fail to do this, so they die.

Before the follicle ruptures, there is an increase in estrogen levels, which, in turn, provokes the release of luteinizing hormone. Usually a sharp jump occurs 1-2 days before the release of the egg. It is on the measurement of these two hormones that methods for determining ovulation at home are based.

In medical conditions, ultrasound diagnostics of the ovaries is performed, with the help of which an increase in one of the follicles is observed. The change in size is quite significant - from 1 mm to 20 mm. After reaching its maximum size, the follicle bursts, and then it is absent on the next ultrasound.

Of course, the use of ultrasound diagnostics gives a more accurate result. But this examination must be carried out more than once, which takes a lot of time and money. Therefore, women are increasingly choosing ovulation tests at home.

Types of ovulation tests

Before you learn how to do an ovulation test correctly, you need to choose the right model. Your gynecologist can help you with this, taking into account your preferences. Ovulation tests are distinguished according to the principle of their action:

Urine test. The most common due to its relative cheapness and ease of use. It can be used to easily determine the level of luteinizing hormone in urine. The maximum value indicates that ovulation begins in the next two days and the probability of fertilization of the egg is high.
Saliva test. It is a reusable diagnostic device. Unlike a urine test, in this case the level of estrogen is determined, not luteinizing hormone.
Temperature test. Based on body temperature measurement. This test must be kept under your arm. With a maximum increase in temperature, which indicates the onset of ovulation, the device gives a signal to action.

Ovulation tests are also divided into two groups:

disposable;
reusable.

If you have an irregular menstrual cycle, it would be more correct to use multiple tests, since the number of diagnostics performed in this case is much higher. Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be taken into account in each specific case.

Favorable time for testing

When to take an ovulation test depends on whether your menstrual cycle is regular. The countdown begins from the first “critical” day. And then everything depends on the individual characteristics of your body.

In a standard regular cycle of 28 days, the test is used on day 11. If your cycle lasts more than 28 days, tests begin 17 days before the expected start of menstruation.

It is most difficult to determine ovulation with an irregular cycle. In this case, the shortest interval between menstruation over the last six months or a year is taken as a basis. An ovulation test should begin 17 days before the expected start date of menstruation.

Often women are interested in what time of day to take measurements.

The ideal time for diagnostics is from 10-00 to 20-00. It is not recommended to postpone the study overnight. You can choose when it is better to do the diagnosis - in the morning, afternoon or evening. Before the study, it is necessary to avoid drinking liquids for two to three hours to avoid distorting the results.

If you determine exactly what day after your period to carry out the test, you will not have to repeat the procedure more than five times. Therefore, make your calculations as carefully as possible so that you do not have to waste additional time and money.

Instructions for use

To learn how to use an ovulation test correctly, you need to read the instructions that come with each specific test. Since the range is quite diverse, we will focus on the most common cases. However, the description of the method of use does not replace reading the instructions, but is provided for informational purposes only.

1. Disposable urine test strip.

The simplest one, similar in use to a pregnancy test. It is a strip of paper with a substance applied to the tip that reacts to luteinizing hormone in the urine. Can be jet or submersible. In the first case, the strip is placed under a stream of urine for 20-30 seconds, in the second, the test is dipped into urine collected in a container for 5-7 seconds.

When ovulation occurs, two bright stripes appear on the strip; if there is no ovulation, one control stripe appears. The advantage of the test is its relative cheapness, the disadvantage is that such a test is less accurate than other varieties.

2. Reusable "cassette" or "tablet".

The test consists of a rectangular plastic container with two control windows. The test liquid must be collected in the first window, and in the second the results are displayed on the screen. The waiting time is about five minutes, and the effectiveness of such a test is much higher than strip tests. Its sensitivity is 30 mIU/ml. The disadvantage is that it is expensive, but this test is recommended for women with irregular cycles.

3. Electronic test.

Both urine and saliva can be used as test material here. The device consists of a control module and sticks that are inserted into it. After the “Ready for use” signal appears on the display, the absorbent on the stick is placed, end down, under stream of urine for 10 seconds or immersed in a container with collected urine for 15 seconds. After approximately three minutes, a result will appear on the screen, which will disappear after 8 minutes.

4. Test microscope.

Based on the ability of saliva to crystallize in the form of fern leaves during ovulation. This phenomenon was discovered by Andreoli della Porta from Italy in the middle of the last century. The scientist found that with an increase in progesterone and estrogen, which is characteristic of ovulation, potassium and sodium accumulate in the female body, which affect the composition and thickness of saliva. With a high content of these elements, it has the ability to crystallize.

The instructions for use are simple: drop a drop of saliva onto a glass slide and wait for it to dry. Typically the waiting time is up to 20 minutes, which is much longer than with other methods. After drying, they begin to examine the crystallized residue. If rich colors appear in patterns similar to fern leaves, then ovulation is near. There are two to four days left before its onset.

The lifespan of the device is 3-4 years. At the same time, it can be used to determine both suitable days for conception and safe ones, on which fertilization is impossible. The disadvantage of the method is its high cost, as well as the different visual perception of an individual. At the same time, reusability and versatility of use, as well as ease of maintenance, attract its supporters to this method.

Once you decide on the variety, taking an ovulation test becomes very simple.

Obtained results

If you take the test and get a positive result, it means that ovulation will occur in about a day. It is at this time that you need to plan conception. Remember that sperm are active for another three days, so it is not worth repeating sexual intercourse many times just for fertilization. Moreover, with frequent ejaculation, each time less and less active tailed “tadpoles” are found in male sperm.

To maximize the likelihood of conception, provide yourself with a pleasant atmosphere. These days, try not to be nervous so as not to reduce the likelihood of conception. And most importantly, don’t be upset if you didn’t get pregnant this time. Believe that next time everything will work out.

Sometimes, having carried out diagnostics at the right time, a woman cannot wait for a positive result. What is the reason? It could be as follows:

Incorrect calculation of the menstrual cycle.
Delayed ovulation.
Low concentration of luteinizing hormone in urine.

If the calculation is incorrect, most likely the test may simply occur at the wrong time, but the delay is almost impossible to predict. In this case, you can either delay testing until your next cycle or continue testing until ovulation occurs.

A low concentration of LH in the urine may be due to heavy drinking or frequent emptying of the bladder. Before testing, it is recommended not to urinate for four hours.

Remember that any test, even the simplest one, can show ovulation. Although some are more sensitive than others, at peak concentration they will produce the same results. Therefore, you should not buy a large number of tests from different manufacturers in the hope of seeing the desired result.

False positive result

False positive results are not that common. As a rule, there are serious reasons for this:

the presence of cysts on the ovaries. In this case, the hormones are acting up, so the result will be obviously false. To exclude pathology, it is necessary to do an ultrasound examination of the ovaries;
treatment with hCG injections;
kidney diseases;
a sudden change in nutrition, for example, going on a diet;
recent discontinuation of oral contraceptives;
pregnancy. Immediately after fertilization, when the pregnancy test is still negative, an ovulation test may show a positive result.

If you do not know the reason for a false positive result, consult your doctor. It may be necessary to do additional examination to find out the reasons.

Before taking an ovulation test, here are some general guidelines to help you achieve the best results:

Be sure to check the expiration date before purchasing the test. In case of delay, the results may be either false positive or false negative;
Even if you theoretically know how to use the test, still re-read the instructions. It is possible that this particular test differs in use from the one described above;
Do not break the seal of the packaging until you start using it. If liquid gets on the reagent, the test will be spoiled;
if necessary, prepare a clean container and timer in advance;
do not use morning urine for diagnosis, as after the night it becomes more concentrated, which can cause a false positive result;
If you are taking hormonal medications, consult your doctor. Some hormones may affect the results;
As a rule, ovulation occurs one day after the peak level of luteinizing hormone is determined, and fertilization of the egg occurs no earlier than 6-12 hours after its release from the ovary. Since sperm remain active throughout the day, conception is possible at maximum LH levels. Therefore, it is not recommended to use this method as a means of protection.

Price policy

The range of prices for ovulation tests is quite wide:

The cheapest are regular urine test strips. Their price ranges from 200 to 1000 rubles. There are usually 6 strips in a package;
reusable “cassette” tests are more expensive - from 1000 rubles and more. Their advantage is their repeated use, but you will have to buy additional “cassettes”;
A salivary test microscope will cost much more - from 2500 rubles. However, it is worth noting that when using it you do not need to buy anything in addition, and you can use it for 3-4 years.

Despite the price range, diagnostics are not cheap. If you monitor ovulation for a long time, it will be more profitable to purchase a salivary test microscope. But remember that in the case of caries or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the results may be false.

If you're trying to get pregnant for a long time, it's not worth spending money on tests. Contact a gynecologist who will prescribe an examination for you. Sometimes conception does not occur due to banal thrush or another genitourinary infection. The doctor will also tell you what time of day is best to do an ovulation test, which method to choose, and calculate what day to start making diagnostics. Despite the abundance of information on the Internet (which often contradicts each other), this is not a substitute for consultation with a specialized specialist.

A positive ovulation test is a signal to begin active pregnancy planning. You can determine the favorable period using various methods. The method is selected individually, suitable for each individual patient. For conception, it is important to timely establish the release of a mature egg. Only during this period can pregnancy occur.

Ovulation is characterized by the release of an egg from the dominant follicle. The life cycle of a germ cell is one day. Cell maturation occurs towards the middle of the menstrual cycle. Most women ovulate mid-cycle. But it is not always the case.

Each ovary contains a certain number of cells. Under the influence of various hormones, one of the cells matures and prepares for upcoming fertilization.

After the end of the next menstruation, the estrogen content in the body increases. This hormone affects the functioning of the pituitary gland. The brain region is involved in the production of follicle-stimulating hormone. This substance promotes the formation of neoplasms on the surface of the ovary. Also, under the influence of FSH, the follicle cavity is filled with fluid. The egg will mature and grow in it.

Once the egg reaches the required size, luteinizing hormone enters into the activity of the reproductive system. Two days before the rupture of the walls of the dominant follicle, the amount of luteinizing substance increases sharply. In this case, there is an increase in the volume of follicular fluid, which breaks the wall of the neoplasm and allows the egg to leave it.

After the dominant ruptures, the egg enters the abdominal cavity. Contraction of the muscular frame helps the reproductive cell move into the cavity of the fallopian tube. This time is 1–2 days. From these processes we can conclude that ovulation occurs one day after the surge of luteinizing hormone.

It is for this reason that you should learn to determine the date of the onset of a favorable period. For this purpose, the following methods are proposed:

calculation according to the menstrual cycle calendar;
visiting ultrasound diagnostics;
observation of external manifestations;
building a graphic table;
use of ovulation tests.

The least popular among women is the calendar method. This method is based on the duration of the second phase of the menstrual cycle. The average duration of the progesterone phase is two weeks. With a constant cycle, you should subtract 14 from the usual duration. The resulting number is considered the approximate date of ovulation. Since the dominant rupture does not always occur exactly at this time, it is necessary to subtract 5 more. From this moment the fertile stage begins. Many women believe that during this period they can quickly become pregnant. Hormonal levels are not always stable. It is for this reason that the calendar method may not lead to the desired result.

other methods

An accurate way to identify a favorable phase is to visit an ultrasound scan. This technique involves constant monitoring of the condition of the ovaries and the growth of the dominant follicle. The examination is carried out by a doctor every other day. This examination allows you to detect ovulation on any day.

Not all girls have access to the listed techniques. The reason may be an irregular cycle or lack of free time. In this situation, doctors advise monitoring changes in the functioning of the reproductive system.

Normally, every woman has cervical discharge. Under the influence of hormones, mucus can change its characteristics. After menstruation, a dry period begins. At this time, the cervical canal is dry. Its walls are tightly compressed. With the appearance of the follicle-stimulating substance, a slight opening occurs. At this time, the woman experiences slight liquid discharge. Gradually their volume increases. The mucus becomes transparent and viscous. Cervical discharge acquires this property as the level of luteinizing hormone increases.

In the absence of active secretion of the glands of the cervical canal, it is necessary to monitor other changes occurring in the body. Some girls notice nagging pain in the area of the active ovary. These sensations arise due to rupture of the follicle. In this case, it is recommended to start planning from the moment pain occurs.

In some women, a few days before ovulation, the breasts become enlarged and swollen. Edema occurs due to the active activity of prolactin. The hormone helps the mammary glands prepare for possible lactation. An increase in prolactin is observed two days before the fertile day. Planning can begin on this day.

What else do you need to know

The absence of noticeable changes in the body makes it difficult to detect ovulation. Such patients need to use another method. The exact answer can be obtained by constructing a graphical table of basal temperature indicators. This method must be carried out independently. Every day the girl needs to measure the temperature in the rectum. The obtained data is entered into a table. Studying the graph allows you to accurately determine whether ovulation occurred in this cycle.

The proposed method requires the patient to follow a number of rules. The measurement is carried out immediately after sleep at the same time. You cannot change position or actively move. Drinking alcohol or breaking the rules should also be included in the schedule. If difficulties arise when examining the graph, you can show it to a specialist. The gynecologist will explain how the stages of the cycle are determined and ovulation is detected.

Separately, it is necessary to consider the last proposed method. It involves the use of special tests for ovulation.

Types of test strips

You can determine ovulation at home using tests. You can buy them at your nearest pharmacy. When purchasing, women are offered various tests. Modern pharmacies can offer the following options:

The first variety has the lowest cost. This test is produced by various pharmaceutical companies. The strip has two study zones. The first area is treated with a substance that colors upon contact with urinary fluid. It is always brightly colored. The second zone responds only to the hormone that causes the follicle to rupture. The increase in luteinizing hormone affects the intensity of the staining of the area. A positive test is considered to be equally colored areas.

A modern device is a microscope. It is small in size and easily fits in a handbag. Salivary fluid is needed for the study. A small amount of saliva is applied to the glass being examined. An image appears in the microscope. Ovulation is characterized by receiving a picture that does not look like a clover leaf.

Plastic cassettes are more convenient to use. The package contains a special pipette for collecting urine and a cassette. The principle of operation of the cassette is the same as that of conventional paper dough. But the box remains dry.

The blasting attachment can be used anywhere. The liquid is collected using a special material, which is closed with a protective cap. This test is performed under a stream of urine. Additional testing devices are not used. But the price of such tests is high. They are not available to all women.

Electronic tests are available in some pharmacies. They are designed for reusable use. A smiley face appears in the field being examined. If the result is positive, a smiling image appears on the screen.

Testing rules

An ovulation test must be carried out according to certain rules. Many girls mistakenly conduct research in the morning. This condition is necessary for a pregnancy test. Ovulation devices provide accurate results at a later time. The test should be used after 10 hours. During this period, the concentration of luteinizing substance is maximum.

A few hours before using the test, you should not drink much liquid. The last fluid intake should be taken 4 hours before. This will help increase the concentration of the hormone.

Test results are also affected by alcohol consumption and disruption of the daily cycle. Abuse of alcoholic beverages causes a narrowing of the walls of blood vessels. For this reason, the concentration of LH decreases. The result will be invalid.

The test must be used in accordance with all the rules specified in the instructions. The response received must be assessed no later than 10 minutes after use. If the study is carried out at a later date, the findings should not be taken into account.

Urine should be collected immediately before use. Previously collected liquid is not suitable for testing.

Testing should begin on the second day after the end of menstruation. Monitoring must be carried out at the same time every day. If identical stripes appear, a control study should be carried out after 6 hours. This will allow you to get a reliable result. After this answer, you need to begin active planning. Fertilization can occur in the next three days.

Studying the result

Most women buy cheap paper strips for testing. They also allow you to get the desired result. A positive test for ovulation is considered to be uniform coloring of both zones. If the examined field has a less intense color, the test is considered negative. In some cases, there is no coloring on the strip. This result can be obtained due to a manufacturing defect or damage to the reagent.

Receiving a positive test must be accompanied by active action. It is recommended to have sex within two days. Further sexual intercourse will not lead to fertilization.

Reasons for a negative or false answer

Some patients do not receive a positive test during the entire cycle. There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

hormonal disbalance;
ovarian dysfunction;
incorrect use of the test.

With all these pathologies, ovulation becomes impossible. The woman needs medical examination and treatment.

But there is another problem. The ovulation test was positive. Sexual contacts took place on favorable days. But the pregnancy did not occur. In this situation, the reason is to obtain a false positive result.

A false positive response can be obtained for the following reasons:

carrying out stimulating treatment;
taking various hormonal drugs;
manufacturing defect.

Ovarian stimulation is required to produce ovulation or multiple eggs. For stimulation, medications containing human chorionic gonadotropin are prescribed. This hormone enhances the maturation of follicles. Human chorionic gonadotropin is similar to luteinizing substance. These hormones are classified as gonadotropins. For this reason, a woman may receive a false positive response.

Concomitant treatments may also affect the test result. Errors often occur in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Medicines for its treatment contain hormonal substances. They promote the growth of follicle-stimulating hormone. It also belongs to the gonadotropins. The test may respond positively to FSH in the absence of an increase in LH.

A common cause is considered to be a manufacturing defect. In this case, a large amount of reagent is applied to the studied area. A control reagent is rarely applied. In this case, even a small amount of luteinizing substance is accompanied by a positive response.

When to start planning

For pregnancy to occur, there must be an egg in the fallopian tube and sperm in the uterine cavity. After sexual intercourse, sperm are able to remain active for three days. In rare cases, sperm live in the female body for 5 days. An egg is capable of fertilization for only one day. A positive test indicates a ruptured follicle. The egg will enter the tube only after 1–2 days.

From these data it follows that fertilization can occur only one day after a positive test. To increase the chances of conception, a sufficient concentration of healthy, motile sperm is necessary. In order for sperm to accumulate in the uterus, sexual intercourse must be performed within three days from the moment of a positive response. This method of planning will help you quickly get the desired result.

When planning a pregnancy, a couple may face many problems. To speed up the process, you need to track the date of ovulation. Tests are used for this purpose. From them, a woman can accurately determine the date of growth of the luteinizing substance. If conception has not occurred within three cycles with fertility tracking, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will determine the cause of infertility and select the appropriate treatment.

An ovulation test is a special device that helps determine the time of release of a mature egg from the follicle. They appeared on the pharmaceutical market not so long ago, so not many people know about them. Thanks to an ovulation test, you can calculate the ideal time for conception, which is very important for women who suffer from infertility.

During each monthly cycle, one egg matures. In some cases there may be two or more. As it matures, follicle cells produce female sex hormones - estrogens. The larger the size of the follicle, the faster the amount of estrogen in the blood increases.

Once estrogen levels are high enough for ovulation, the body releases LH. About 2 days after this, the follicle ruptures and an egg is released. This is ovulation.

A mature germ cell emerges into the abdominal cavity, but soon it is sent to the fallopian tube. There it must merge with the sperm. The lifespan of an egg after ovulation is 24 hours.

If conception occurs at this time, the resulting zygote will reach the uterine cavity after 3-4 days and implant there, and if not, the egg will die in the fallopian tube and then leave the body along with the menstrual flow.

The period during which the follicle matures is different for everyone. Even for one woman it can be different in different cycles. This is why calculating the exact date of ovulation is quite difficult.

Deadlines

The testing date will directly depend on the length of the monthly cycle. In medicine, the beginning of the menstrual cycle is usually called the first day of menstruation. For most women, the cycle length is 28 days. In this case, it is recommended to start testing from the 11th day. It will be possible to complete the activities if the ovulation test shows two lines.

Calculating the date is, in fact, very simple: you need to subtract 17 from the number of days of the cycle. If the cycle is stable, but its duration exceeds 28 days, you need to start the first procedure 17 days before the start of the expected menstruation. For example, in the case of a 34-day cycle, this will be the 17th day.

Often women are interested in what day to do an ovulation test? With an irregular cycle, as the initial number you need to take the shortest cycle that the woman had during the last 6 months, and then subtract 17 from this number.

If a woman has one cycle that lasts for months, then it would be more advisable for her to think about a medical examination. Using ovulation tests in this case can become an unjustifiably expensive pleasure. In this case, the woman risks missing that very moment X. This category of patients should give preference to monitoring ovulation using ultrasound.

It is worth noting that sometimes even in healthy women the ovulation date during a regular cycle can change. This explains the fact that some women conceive on safe days. Ovulation can be negatively affected by lack of sleep, stress, strict diets, climate change, etc.

Kinds

At the moment, there is a huge selection of pregnancy tests, so every woman can choose the most suitable option for herself.

For urine

These devices record the chemical changes that occur in the urine during ovulation.

In turn, they are divided into the following types:

strip tests;
inkjet tests;
electronic tests.

In order to conduct the study correctly and be able to decipher the results obtained, it would not hurt a woman to familiarize herself with information about how an ovulation test works.

The ovulation test is a strip of carrier material, which in one of the areas is impregnated with a special substance that can react with LH. Moreover, it reacts only after the hormone reaches a high level.

LH is always present in a woman’s body, but only before ovulation does it become abundant. Moreover, an increase in the amount of the hormone is observed not only in the blood, but also in the urine. It is this hormonal surge that fixes the device.

The advantages of these tests include accurate results and a relatively low price.

Mode of application

The method of using the test will directly depend on its type.

So, if this is a strip test, the action plan should be like this:

the test is dipped in urine to a special mark and held in this position for 15-20 seconds;
the dough is removed and placed on a dry, flat surface;
the device is kept for 5 minutes;
the result is evaluated.

In this case, the woman must evaluate how similar the shade of the second strip is to the shade of the control strip.

It is very important that such a test is used immediately after opening. If the device has been in contact with air for a long time, it will become unusable and may give a false result.

The urine that was used for testing does not need to be thrown away immediately after testing. You can immediately repeat the study with it. These steps will help ensure that the test is not defective.

As for inkjet tests, they are a modern option. They are more convenient to use. To carry out testing in this case, you do not need to look for a clean container and collect urine in it.

Having unpacked the strip, a woman can immediately place it under a stream of urine, and then wait a few seconds or minutes and evaluate the result.

When conducting testing, you need to adhere to some rules that will help avoid false results.

Among the main ones are the following:

Urine should be collected during the daytime. The fact is that the morning fluid may be too concentrated and show ovulation, even if it is absent. With evening urine, things are exactly the opposite.
Research needs to be carried out daily, at approximately the same time.
Avoid using drugs that have a diuretic effect.
Do not empty your bladder for approximately 3-4 hours before the procedure.
Collect urine (if required) in a clean, sterile container.

These rules apply to absolutely all types of tests, even if nothing is said about this in the instructions.

results

After the study, a woman can get the following results:

The appearance of a weak second stripe.

This suggests that the concentration of LH begins to gradually increase. Most likely, with subsequent tests the strip will become brighter. If after some time the strip becomes brighter, but it is still paler than the control, it means that the woman needs to repeat the test after a few hours. This way she won't miss the right moment.

The second stripe became brighter than the control stripe.

This indicates a significant increase in LH. In this case, the egg has either already left the follicle or will leave it in the next 10-12 hours.

The stripe does not change in any way or is completely absent.

This phenomenon can occur if the test is damaged. This happens when the packaging is depressurized, if the device was stored incorrectly or its expiration date has expired. A similar phenomenon can occur if a woman used the device incorrectly or if it itself was defective from the beginning. Unfortunately, even the most expensive tests from well-known manufacturers can be defective. No one is immune from this.

To make it easier to decipher the results, you can look at photos of other women’s ovulation tests on the Internet.

It is important to note that the device can give a false result if a non-standard level of LH is observed in a woman’s body (for example, with hormonal disorders). For this reason, experts recommend that patients, before using ovulation tests, first examine their hormonal levels in a medical facility.

If a woman with hormonal imbalance conducts research, she will have a positive ovulation test after ovulation.

A woman may receive a false result if conception has already occurred. This is due to the fact that the operating principle of an ovulation test and a pregnancy test are similar. However, the first contains a substance that reacts to LH, and the second to hCG. These hormones are different, but their structure is quite similar, so a home test can easily confuse them.

In addition, ovulation tests are much more sensitive than hCG tests, so they can diagnose a “interesting situation” even before a missed period. At the same time, if a woman is ovulating, a pregnancy test will not show this, which is due to its lower sensitivity. According to some women, in the early stages of pregnancy, an ovulation test shows very bright stripes.

Ovulation test kits usually come with several strips. In addition to these, some manufacturers also include pregnancy tests and sterile containers for collecting urine in the package.

Digital

If a woman does not want to decipher the results herself, then she can use a digital test to determine ovulation. After it, she will not need to check the strips, evaluate the degree of their brightness, etc. On electronic tests, the result is clearly indicated on the screen.

Source: baby.ru

The most popular digital test at the moment is Clearblue digital. In this case, the set contains a special electronic device and 7 strips for it.

Testing using Clearblue digital should be carried out in the following order:

One of the stripes opens.
The cap is removed from the device.
The strip is inserted into a special holder. In this case, the arrow on it should coincide with the one similar to it on the device.
Inspect the display. The message “test ready” should appear on it. If the strip is installed incorrectly, this message will not appear. In the latter case, the situation should be corrected.
Place the device under stream of urine for 5-7 seconds or dip it in a container with biological fluid for 15 seconds. During the test, it is very important to ensure that urine does not come into contact with the electronic device.
Place the test on a dry horizontal surface. There is no need to remove the strips from it. After about 20 seconds, the device display will show “test ready.” This will mean that the procedure was performed correctly. If this does not happen, the strip should be removed and replaced with a new one, and then the study should be repeated.

If the procedure is carried out correctly, the result can be assessed within 3 minutes. Usually all this information is contained in the instructions for the ovulation test.

In this case, one of the results will appear on the screen:

“There is no LH surge.” This means that the release of the egg from the follicle is not expected in the near future, and the woman will need to repeat testing in the following days.
Empty circle. In this case, there is an increase in LH, but it is not as large as during ovulation. In this case, the woman needs to continue to periodically conduct research so as not to miss the right moment.
Smiley. It indicates the maximum content of LH in the blood. It appears when the egg is about to be released from the follicle or has recently just left it.

The disadvantages of such tests include their price. It is much higher than that of inkjet tests or strip strips. After all the strips are gone, the woman will need to buy the whole set again, while it would be much more convenient to purchase just the strips separately.

Sometimes it is very difficult to choose what you really need from a wide range. To simplify this task for a woman, you can look for reviews on the ovulation test on the Internet. Or find the right device through trial and error.

Reusable

Today, a woman can purchase a special device that analyzes saliva.

It can be electronic or have the appearance of a microscope. However, regardless of the subtype of the test, they have one operating principle - they analyze the salts that are present in saliva. As you know, during ovulation, a woman’s saliva, under magnification, forms a pattern that in appearance resembles a fern leaf.

It is worth noting that, despite this, there are still some differences between the tests. Using a microscope, a woman will independently examine and evaluate the pattern, while an electronic ovulation test will simply display the result on the screen.

The advantages of such tests include their high efficiency. They are reusable and as a result can be used for several years. Unfortunately, such devices have a fairly high price. This is perhaps their only drawback.

Preference should be given to reusable devices for women whose menstrual cycle is irregular. In this case, a woman will not have to go to the pharmacy every time, look for a test and spend money on it. A reusable device will always be at hand. Most of these devices are small in size (no larger than a powder compact), so you can always carry them with you. To carry out the analysis, a woman will not have to look for a toilet. You can even use the test in a public place.

Conducting research in this case is very simple. To do this, apply a smear of saliva on the glass, then insert the latter into a microscope and look at the drawing under multiple magnification. If a woman has an electronic reusable ovulation test, a smear should be applied to a special window, and then the result should be assessed on the display.

During the study, a woman can see the following types of drawings:

Fern leaf, which is outlined with a dotted line. This usually happens in the first half of the monthly cycle. At this time, the egg is only growing and developing.
Transverse lines appear in the image of the leaf. This indicates a significant increase in estrogen in the blood. It is during this period that the follicle becomes mature.
The fern leaf is clearly visible. This indicates that the egg has left the follicle and is already heading towards the uterus.

To get reliable results of an ovulation test, doctors recommend not eating 3-5 hours before the procedure. It would be ideal to take a smear immediately after waking up, even before performing hygiene measures in the oral cavity.

Thanks to reusable devices, a woman can not only understand that ovulation has occurred, but also monitor the development of the reproductive cell. Moreover, by constantly conducting tests, a woman will gain experience and in the future will be able to predict the date of ovulation.

Indications

An ovulation test should be done in the following situations:

if the couple tried to conceive a baby for a year, but it did not bring results;
if the spouses are planning to have children, but for some reason they cannot have an intimate relationship during the cycle (in this case, the test will help to choose the most appropriate moment);
if a woman is planning a pregnancy, but she has PCOS or endocrine disorders that negatively affect the regularity of the cycle.

As for the frequency of the procedure, it can be repeated indefinitely, if the budget allows it. Typically, patients who cannot get pregnant and are being treated for infertility constantly do tests and obsessively wait for ovulation. In this case, it is better to let the situation go and then the woman herself will be surprised when she sees 2 stripes, only on a pregnancy test.

Contraindications

There are no contraindications to conducting research as such, but there are situations where it makes no sense to do so. For example, if the patient is undergoing hormonal therapy or if she does not intend to become pregnant, but simply wants to avoid sex on “dangerous days.” An ovulation test is not a way to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

The test should also not be done on pregnant women. In this case, although it may show a positive result, it will not carry diagnostic value. The procedure is useless for women during menopause.

Conception

Many women do not understand, if they receive a positive ovulation test, when to conceive?

Two lines on the test indicate that the egg is mature and will leave the follicle after a few hours. In this case, this cell lives for about a day. This means that there is no need to start conceiving immediately after receiving a positive result.

In this case, it is better to wait a few hours and wait until the egg is released from the follicle. Ideally, this should happen 5-10 hours after the study. At the same time, there is also no need to delay sexual intercourse until the last hours of the egg’s life, because fertilization does not occur immediately after sexual intercourse, but only a few hours after that - when the sperm penetrate the fallopian tube.

Don't forget that an ovulation test can help you choose the sex of your baby. The fact is that if the egg is fertilized by a sperm that carries the X chromosome, then a girl will be conceived, and if Y, a boy will be conceived. It is now known that these sperm are very different.

Thus, germ cells with the Y chromosome have a life expectancy of no more than 1-2 days, but at the same time they are very mobile. At the same time, sperm with the X chromosome can live up to 5 days, but at the same time they move much more slowly.

This means that if unprotected sexual intercourse occurs at the time of ovulation, the likelihood of conceiving a boy will be high. In this case, you should avoid intimacy 4-5 days before ovulation. Penetration of the penis in this case should be deep.

If a couple wants to conceive a girl, then it is better for them to have sexual intercourse 2-3 days before expected ovulation and refuse sex during ovulation itself and 2-3 days after it. To conceive a girl, the penetration of the penis should not be deep.

Thus, we can summarize: if the ovulation test shows two lines, when to conceive will depend on the desired sex of the child.

Women are interested in when to take a pregnancy test. In most cases, pregnancy tests show that conception has occurred after 2-3 weeks. That is, to conduct the study you need to wait until your period is missed. If a woman does not want to wait that long, she can donate blood for hCG. In this case, pregnancy can be detected already 11 days after conception.

Conception does not always occur when the ovulation test is positive and sexual intercourse occurs at that time. There is no need to worry about this. The fact is that conception can be influenced by various factors that a person cannot always control. Normally, in healthy couples, conception occurs within a year of regular sexual activity without the use of contraception.

If after the end of this period pregnancy does not occur, then it’s time to sound the alarm. In this case, it is necessary to conduct a thorough medical examination of both partners. Based on its results, the specialist will prescribe (if necessary) the most appropriate treatment and thereby solve the problem.

Ovulation test- is an effective assistant in. Many women who do not have problems conceiving do not even suspect the existence of these tests. But they are actively used by those who cannot get pregnant.

No second line either may indicate that it is overdue or a defective test.

Positive

The test is considered positive if the second line is the same in brightness, as the first one. The egg is released and can be fertilized.

A positive result lasts for 1-2 days.

Types of tests

Now pharmacies offer a large selection of tests - from the simplest and cheapest to expensive digital ones. In addition to price, they differ in the percentage of accuracy.

Test strip (strip test)

This the simplest and cheapest type of test. It does not have high accuracy. It is a paper strip with reagents. Usually there are 3-5 such strips in a package.

The strip is lowered into the container with urine for 30 seconds, then placed on a horizontal surface for several minutes and evaluate the result.

The second line may turn pink a few days before ovulation. It is possible to reliably talk about the release of the egg when the color of both lines is the same.

Test tablet (test cassette)

Tablet considered more accurate, but costs more.

It is a cassette with small windows.

Through the window you need to drop a couple of drops of urine, after a few minutes the result will appear in another window in the form of the same two or one stripes.

Jet test

This is a stripe coated with a reagent substance. What distinguishes it from the strip test is that the jet test is simply placed under a stream of urine. After a few minutes, one or two lines appear on it. This type is considered the most reliable and reliable.

Reusable devices

This portable device with a set of test strips. The strip is placed in the urine and then inserted into the device. The result is assessed in a couple of minutes.

Digital

This device has the greatest accuracy, zero chance of error.

The device is presented in the form of a tube lipsticks with a built-in miniature microscope. It is not the urine that is examined, but the woman’s saliva.

Under a microscope you can see different patterns which appear at the time of ovulation. The instructions describe the meaning of each picture.

Important! The only disadvantage of the device is its high cost, however, in terms of accuracy it has no equal.

When to start conceiving

All tests determine not ovulation itself, but a surge in LH, after which the egg will be released. This will happen in a few hours. Therefore, sexual intercourse should be performed taking this nuance into account.

Sexual contact is optimal after 6-8 hours after a positive result. The highest probability of fertilization remains for another day. It takes several hours for the reproductive cells to cover the distance between each other; when conceiving in the last hours of this day, you may simply not have time and the egg will die.

How to conceive a boy or girl

In men, the last pair of chromosomes has X and Y chromosomes. If XX connect, then a girl will be born, if XY - a boy.

Y and X chromosomes have different mobility and life expectancy. X cells move more slowly, but are more resilient. Y chromosomes are much “faster”, but do not differ in vitality. They die within a couple of days.

Thus, if sexual intercourse occurs a few days before ovulation, sperm with X cells will wait for the egg, and it's going to be a girl. If sperm enters a woman’s body on the day of ovulation, then the nimble Y cells will reach their goal faster, then it will be a boy.

To increase your chances of conceiving a boy you need to:

Avoid sex 5 days before ovulation.
Have sexual intercourse 5-8 hours after a positive result.
Choose positions with “deep” penetration to shorten the path for sperm.

If parents wish to have a daughter, they must adhere to the following recommendations:

Have sexual intercourse no later than 1-2 days before the release of the egg.
Do not have sexual intercourse after ovulation to give X sperm a chance to wait their turn.
Choose positions with “shallow” penetration in order to increase the path for sperm, along which the Y cells will “go away”.

How often can you take the test?

Ovulation tests are absolutely harmless and cannot cause any harm to a woman’s health. Therefore, they can be carried out at least every day for a long time. Another thing is that on some days, conducting research is absolutely useless.

Best tests

Today, leading pharmaceutical companies produce a variety of ovulation tests, varying in accuracy and price.

The following are the most trusted:

Frautest in the form of test strips. Suitable for those who have a regular cycle. The package contains 5 strips, which are placed in a container with urine and the result is assessed. Price - 350 rub. The same company produces a cassette test for irregular cycles. The package contains 7 cassettes. Part of the cassette is placed under a stream of urine and the readings are assessed after a couple of minutes. Cost 750 rub.
Eviplan. This strip test brand has won the trust of women. There are 5 strips in the package, use is similar to Frautest.
Clearblue. This is a digital test. It determines the two best days for conception with a probability of almost 100%. If ovulation is about to occur, a cheerful smiley appears in the test window. Price about 1000 rubles.
Lady Q. Digital device for reusable use. Examines saliva. The kit includes: microscope, drawings, glass, instructions. Price - 1900 rub.

What does the number of stripes mean?

Tests have a control strip, with which to compare the second line. If the second line is too pale, then the LH level is still too low and ovulation will not occur soon. Two bright lines mean the hormone has increased to its maximum level, therefore the egg will be released within a few hours. The complete absence of the second strip indicates that the test was damaged.

Sometimes tests can give false results. For example, positive - in the absence of ovulation and vice versa.

The fact is that other factors influence LH levels:

Ovarian exhaustion.
Postmenopause.
Renal dysfunction.
Lack of protein in the body (with a vegetarian diet).
Recent use of hormonal contraceptives.

In addition, the “redness” of the strip is provoked by other hormones, for example. For this reason, a positive ovulation test occurs during pregnancy or after ovulation is stimulated with hormones.

In some cases ovulation occurs, but the test gives a negative result. This happens when instructions or rules for preparing for testing are not followed.

Ovulation tests - the greatest invention of mankind. They are completely safe and help to “catch” the moment the egg is released with maximum accuracy, even with irregular menstruation. This greatly helps women who have difficulty conceiving.

Women can plan time of sexual intercourse during which the likelihood of fertilization increases many times. With the help of tests, following some recommendations, it is possible to plan the conception of a boy or girl.

Video on the topic

After all, there are special tests for this. However, not everyone knows how to do an ovulation test.

Today it is not difficult to determine, because there are special tests for this. However, not everyone knows how to do an ovulation test.

As you know, without ovulation, conception is impossible, and therefore knowing when it occurs is very important. Every person must approach the issue of procreation responsibly. Pregnancy planning is a primary and extremely important process. However, not in every case, conception occurs immediately as soon as the family decides to have a child. Some couples have to wait a long time. This is often due to health problems of one of the partners, but in some cases the cause is an incorrectly calculated time of ovulation.

If you don’t know exactly when in a woman’s body the egg will become ready and the sperm will be waiting, you can try to conceive a child for a long time. In a month, or more precisely in one menstrual cycle, nature has allocated only a few days to get pregnant, so the favorable time should be determined in advance.

Every woman who is going to become a mother should know what ovulation is. This is a natural process for a healthy female body, without which it is impossible to conceive a baby. Ovulation occurs once a month, but the periodic absence of a mature egg in the menstrual cycle cannot be ruled out. This can happen about twice a year. Rare is acceptable and is not considered a pathology. In young girls this is practically impossible, but as women age, they may encounter a similar phenomenon.

At its core, ovulation is one of the stages of the menstrual cycle, during which the follicle develops, and after that the egg enters the fallopian tube for its further fertilization with male seminal fluid. The duration of ovulation directly depends on how long the mature egg will live. If during this time she is not fertilized, she will die. As a rule, this occurs 20-40 hours after the cell enters the fallopian tubes.

In nature, no one pays attention to such a process as ovulation. Everything happens by itself. However, for a modern woman, this process can play an important role when planning a pregnancy. A complex life rhythm, an endless lack of time and catastrophic employment can lead to a malfunction in the functioning of the reproductive system. For this reason, the fair sex often has to rely on the biological clock and look for the most favorable periods for conception.

The best diagnostic methods

Considering how responsible many couples are when planning a pregnancy, various methods have been created to determine ovulation. One of the most convenient and effective is the test.

In modern pharmacies you can purchase ovulation tests in various versions. They differ in both price and quality. The sensitivity of the tests may vary, but the principle of operation is practically no different. The effect of pharmaceutical products for determining ovulation is based on the amount of luteinizing hormone, which is sometimes simply called LH. In most cases, determining its level at home occurs by testing urine. The maximum concentration of LH in a woman's urine is reached approximately one day before ovulation. The time from this moment is considered the most favorable for conception.

In addition to pharmaceutical products, traditional methods are often used to determine ovulation. They are based on the length of the menstrual cycle, as well as changes in basal temperature and other factors. For example, some representatives of the fair sex are so sensitive that they are able to independently determine the period of ovulation. The maturation of the egg is accompanied by increased secretions, increased sexual desire and unpleasant sensations in the lower abdomen.

To more accurately determine the period of ovulation, you can contact a specialist. In this case, an ultrasound examination is performed. The disadvantage of this method of determining ovulation is that the ultrasound procedure is not cheap, and one session will not be enough. The exact results become known around the second or third visit to the doctor.

Menstrual cycle

And yet, in our time, they are the most popular. They are very easy to use and give accurate results. It is important to know how to use an ovulation test correctly so as not to miss a favorable moment.

It is believed that ovulation should occur in the middle of the cycle, if the first day of the critical days is taken as its beginning. Therefore, in order to determine when to do an ovulation test, you need to focus on the woman’s menstrual cycle. If a woman’s menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, then the maturation of the egg should occur on the 14th day. In this case, you can do an ovulation test for the first time at 11-12 days.

If a woman’s menstrual cycle is normal and stable, then there should be no problems. It will be much more difficult for those whose cycle shifts in one direction or the other.

Many experts recommend calculating time according to the 17-day rule. In this case, exactly 17 days are subtracted from the menstrual cycle and the test is used at this time. In other words, if the cycle lasts 28 days, then it is better to start testing urine on the 11th day, that is, approximately 6-8 days after menstruation, and if, for example, the cycle lasts 32 days, then on the 15th day.

If your menstrual cycles have not been stable recently, you should choose the shortest period over the last six months. Next, the start date for using the tests is determined from standard calculations.

If there is significant instability of the cycle, which is accompanied by frequent delays of critical days, it is worth seeking help from a specialist. Here you cannot do without additional control over ovulation. Otherwise, you may miss the most favorable period for conception.

Rules for using tests

It is not difficult for a woman to determine her ovulation period at home. Modern pharmacy products are very easy to use, and any questions can be answered by the information in the accompanying instructions.

Qualitative tests can produce very accurate results. Sometimes they are not inferior to ultrasound examination. However, in the case of the test, everything is much more convenient and profitable.

Sometimes, for greater guarantee, a woman first goes for an ultrasound, and only after that she relies on the test results. It would be advisable to start testing if the ultrasound examination showed that the follicle size is about 18 millimeters. From this moment you can start using pharmaceutical products. With the right approach, a good result will be guaranteed.

The procedure for testing urine for LH at home is very simple. All questions that a woman may have are described in the instructions. To make the information more accurate, it is worth using the tests at approximately the same time every day.

The woman chooses what time of day to conduct the test herself, taking into account her daily schedule. However, it is worth remembering that urine is required for testing. It is not recommended to go to the toilet 4 hours before this process. The accumulation of fluid in the body should occur naturally. You should not drink a lot of water during this period so that the test can accurately determine the amount of luteinizing hormone.

To carry out the procedure for determining ovulation in the body, you need to collect a small amount of urine in a clean jar. Then the test strip is lowered into the liquid to the mark indicated on it.

The test must then be transferred to a clean, dry surface. A regular piece of paper will do just fine. Modern pharmaceutical means for determining ovulation act very quickly. As a rule, the exact result can be seen within 15 seconds.

Nowadays, you can buy various products in pharmacies to determine the period of ovulation. The most common are tests in the form of strips and special devices. As for the latter, their use is somewhat different from the first option.

In this case, there is no need to use containers to collect urine, since the tip of the test can simply be placed under the stream. If this seems inconvenient, you can still collect the liquid in a jar and dip the tip of the dough into it. In any case, the test must be held in a downward direction. After about 20 seconds, the cap is put on the device. The test results can be seen in 2-3 minutes.

If the test shows only one line, it means there is no ovulation yet, and the procedure is done again in a day. When two stripes appear, the level of luteinizing hormone reaches the desired level, which indicates a favorable time for conception.

Getting the result

If the test was used correctly, the result will be one of three options. A clear sign of ovulation are 2 clear and bright stripes on the test. In this case, the couple needs to act in the next 20-30 hours.

If the second line on the test is weakly expressed, you must wait a little longer, since in this case there is no talk of ovulation in the coming days. You need to wait and try to repeat the test the next day.

It is also possible that there is simply no second line on the test. This is not a reason to think that ovulation has not occurred. Here we are talking rather about the unsuitability of the test, which needs to be replaced by another, better one.

Could there be mistakes?

As a rule, ovulation tests give fairly accurate results, however, errors cannot be ruled out. For a number of reasons, pharmaceutical products for determining egg maturation may give incorrect results.

This primarily applies to those women whose hormone production is excessive. In this case, even in the absence of ovulation, the test will show a positive result.

In some women, the body may produce too little luteinizing hormone, again leading to abnormal test results. In this case, even if the egg is ready for fertilization, the test will be negative.

The test results may also be affected by taking certain medications.

When purchasing a drug to determine ovulation at a pharmacy, you must pay attention to the tightness of the packaging and the expiration date of the test.

Women should remember that an ovulation test cannot show a positive result if pregnancy has already occurred. Expectant mothers do not produce LH in their bodies.

If pregnancy has already been determined earlier, but urine testing for ovulation gives a positive result, this is an extremely dangerous sign. In this case, there may be a frozen pregnancy or a threat of miscarriage. All this is very dangerous and requires consultation with a specialist. The doctor should order an ultrasound examination and find out what is the reason for such test indicators.

Medical statistics say that about 40% of women on the planet are diagnosed with frozen pregnancy. In most cases, everything ends in an arbitrary miscarriage, the cause of which is the arrest of fetal development.