What is an Ovulation Test Kit?

Ovulation test kits are urine-based tests, administered at home, that help track surges in hormones in order to get a better sense of when you’re ovulating or detect impending ovulation. This is important information when you and your partner are trying to conceive. You can buy an ovulation test kit online. Ovulation Test Kits and their Use How Test Kits Work In their most basic form, ovulation test kits detect LH (luteinizing hormone) levels in your urine. LH is the hormone released when ovulation approaches (typically in 12 to 36 hours from the initial LH surge) and is responsible for pushing the egg into maturity. Some ovulation test kits also test for estrogen, which surges before LH, allowing a full week of conception sex compared to the typical two or three days. The Parts of an Ovulation Test Kit Ovulation test kits typically contain five or ten test strips (narrow thin papers) that look similar to pregnancy test strips, including the sometimes-confusing two-line indicator.  Five and ten may seem like random numbers, but there is a rhyme to their reason--though it’s not actually a rhyme. They include these numbers so you can continuously test over the next week, further increasing the predictability of your ovulation. If you test positive for five days, your chances of predicting ovulation are raised to eighty percent (80%). If you test for ten days, these numbers are bumped even further to ninety-five percent (95%). Using an Ovulation Test Kit Similar to pregnancy tests, you have to soak the extended end of the test strip in urine. This is usually done by either urinating directly on the test portion of the strip itself or filling a cup and dipping the strip, covering the test portion - the choice is based on what you’re comfortable with. The result will tell you if you, or your partner, might be ovulating soon.  How to Use an Ovulation Test Kit Most kits follow the same steps, but it’s best if you check the instructions as different brands steps may vary slightly. Typically, you’ll want to take the test a few days before you expect to ovulate, this allows the most accurate results. Each strip contains two lines*. The first line to appear is the control line, meaning if it shows up, the test is working correctly. The second line is the actual result indicator. If the second line is as dark or darker than the control line, your LH levels are surging, predicting ovulation. If your result is positive, you’ll want to start having baby-making (unprotected) sex every day for the next two to three days, as LH surges occur 12 to 36 hours before ovulation. It is worth mentioning that most kits suggest you don’t drink excessive fluids before testing, as well as trying not to urinate for at least four hours preceding the test, often suggesting administering the test during the first urination of the day. *Some ovulation test kits are digital and have clear and concise reading, but those are more expensive. Overview Ovulation test kits are a simple tool to utilize when you and your partner are trying to get pregnant. They measure the amount of LH in your urine in order to predict ovulation, which is when you are the most likely to conceive.