2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
Do you dream of getting pregnant? For some couples this is more difficult than for others. Is this your case? Maybe the ovulation test could give you a little help then.
We know: women are having their children later and later. Also, the longer you wait, the harder it can be to conceive. Therefore, the use of an ovulation test can be useful, as well as for those who have an irregular cycle, or an extremely busy schedule: no time to lose!
What is an ovulation test?
This little tool, which looks just like a pregnancy test, makes it possible to determine, as its name suggests, when a woman is ovulating: in short, when she is most fertile.
Unlike the method of temperature calculations which lets you know that ovulation has indeed taken place without predicting it, the ovulation test indicates that the event prepares. How? It's simple: the ovulation test is a urine test that assesses the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. It is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. This acts on the ovaries to stimulate estrogen secretion and induceovulation. Thus, a few days before ovulation, the level of LH in the urine reaches a peak.
Fertility is therefore optimal on the day when the LH level is high, as well as the day after.
Where to buy an ovulation test?
Ovulation tests are available over-the-counter at pharmacies and some big box stores, such as Walmart. They are often placed in the same section as pregnancy tests. Regular sticks retail for around $5 each, while digital sticks are mostly $8.
If you can't find any, don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist for them: sometimes they are placed behind the counter. Also, you can save a considerable amount of money by purchasing your ovulation tests online, like at ovulatest.com or amazon.ca, but make sure the expiration date has not passed.
When to take the test?
Knowing when to start your tests starts with determining your cycle length. Thus, you will establish the approximate date of your ovulation. It is best to start the test 2-4 days before your expected ovulation date.
Like the pregnancy test, it is a urine test: so, every day, you must soak a stick (a test) under your stream of urine. It is usually advisable to take the reading every day, at approximately the same time, in order to have an optimal result. You can do your test in the morning or in the evening, it doesn't matter, thisthat being said, it is strongly advised not to drink too much liquid before taking the test: indeed, ingesting large amounts of liquid can dilute the HL in your urine.
So limit drinks two hours before taking the test. Most tests are easy to read, and you should have no trouble deciphering the results. If this is the case, please know that you can speak with a customer service agent at any time, who can also help you calculate your cycle, if you need it.
Efficiency
If the packaging claims that their test is 99% reliable, don't kid yourself either. For results to be effective, many variable and difficult-to-find conditions must be met.
First, you must follow the instructions to the letter, the urine must not be too diluted and certain medications can influence the results. Above all, it is not because there is ovulation that a baby will show up in exactly nine months. Ovulation tests should be seen as indicators to determine the time of ovulation and thus improve the chances of fertilization if you have sex on days when the LH level is rising. In short: it is not a baby guarantee, but a little more.
Precious Tips
- Tests have an expiration date: check it before checkout!
- Establish a routine when doing the tests to avoid differentinterpretations of results if conditions are not similar.
- Be specific and follow instructions.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on choosing a test.
