Do Ovulation Tests Take The Guesswork Out Of Pregnancy?

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Pregnancy is definitely one of the most cherished stages that every couple looks forward to during marriage. However, as simple as it might be for some couples to achieve pregnancy, there are several others that struggle and go to great lengths in order to get there. For these couples there are a few aids available on the market that can help them greatly increase the chances of achieving pregnancy in a natural way.

One of the most popular among these aids is the ovulation test, which is also one of the most precise out there, allowing women to know and anticipate the time at which the chances of getting pregnant is highest. What is even more, ovulation tests are widely available and can be used at the comfort of one’s own home.

There are two varieties of ovulation tests in the market, the ovulation test strip and the midstream ovulation test. Both are almost equally accurate, although the strip ovulation test is definitely more popular.

Let’s take a better look at what an ovulation test is and how exactly it can help couples achieve their dreams of becoming a family.

What Is An Ovulation Test?

Every healthy woman goes through two days during her menstrual cycle during which she is most likely to be able to conceive. During this period of time, the luteinizing hormone (LH) – which is a clear indicator of a woman’s fertility and which is present in her urine – surges dramatically. The most common type of ovulation tests are made to detect the LH surge in a woman’s body with an impressive accuracy rate of more than 99%.

Once the LH level is at its maximum, ovulation tends to happen between 12 to 48 hours afterwards, which is why this information can be so valuable. With this knowledge, women can thus anticipate their peak fertility days and couples can plan intercourse accordingly in order to take maximum advantage of this fertile period.

How To Perform An Ovulation Test

Even though each of the ovulation tests discussed above need to be performed differently, the accuracy of the results will usually be the same when comparing one against the other.

In order to perform the ovulation test using the ovulation test strips, a small clean container has to be filled with a woman’s urine. Then one should dip one strip into the urine for at least 30 seconds – the minimum time needed for the strip to absorb the LH – in order to obtain valid results. After that, the strip should be placed on a clean surface for an average of five minutes.

During this time one should carefully look for subtle changes in the color of the strip. Every brand tends to be a bit different in the way in which they measure their results, but in average the darker the more likely the woman is close to – or already – ovulating.

As for the midstream ovulation test, this type of test is quite similar to common pregnancy test s available on the market. In these tests urine just needs to be placed on the test kit, which after about three to five minutes afterwards, will provide accurate results.

When Should You Take The Test

While both ovulation tests can be performed at any time, here are a few recommendations for meeting the ideal conditions before performing them.

For the midstream ovulation test it is highly advisable to avoid urinating 3 – 4 hours before the test. The early hours of the morning are ideal for performing the test since urine tends to be concentrated at this time of the day, providing for better accuracy.

When using ovulation test strips the same applies, although it would also be acceptable to perform the test at any time during the day as long as the woman hasn’t urinated for a few hours before performing it.

Needless to say, in both the case of the ovulation test strips and of the midstream ovulation test, women need to know their organisms and their own menstrual cycle so as to determine the best time period during the month in which taking the test will provide best results.

As a final tip, women planning on performing an ovulation test should avoid drinking too much water or urinating too frequently a few hours before and after taking the test, since this might affect its accuracy.

The Advantage Of An Informed Decision

While some might consider performing tests like these unnecessary, the truth is that by taking an ovulation test at the right time and in the right way ensures couples have the most accurate information, which in turn helps them plan accordingly. And in the end, those with proper planning will always have the best chances of achieving pregnancy.