If you are looking for a way to improve your chances to conceive naturally, consider taking an ovulation test. This test allows you to track ovulation, the period when your body releases a mature egg from the ovaries into the uterus to get fertilized. This makes the best time to have sex to get pregnant. Ovulation typically occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle. However, it can vary between women, so this test can be helpful. Here is the step-by-step guide to ovulation tests to get accurate results. Schedule an appointment at Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center.

What are ovulation tests and when should you consider one?
An ovulation test, also popular as an ovulation predictor test, OPK, or ovulation kit, is a home test kit used by women to determine the time in the menstrual cycle when they are most likely to become fertile or get pregnant. This test detects the rise of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine, a hormone that is produced when a woman’s body is ready to ovulate and release an egg for fertilization. Women mostly use this at-home test to predict when they will ovulate, and pregnancy is most likely to occur. Learning about this, helps you and your partner decide the time for sex for pregnancy. These kits are available at most medical stores.
You should consider this test between days 10 and 14 when ovulation starts based on the 28-day menstrual cycle. If you have sex 3 days before ovulation begins, you’re likely to become pregnant. If your menstrual cycle lasts for 32 days (about 1 month), then you should perform this test 10 to 14 days (about 2 weeks) after your period begins. However, if your cycle has a different length or is irregular, then you should talk with your doctor about when you should take this test. You should take this test during the time you’re expecting to be pregnant. A positive test lets you know you’re about to ovulate (typically within 36 hours) and having sex that day or the next day can make you pregnant.
How do ovulation tests work?
Ovulation test kits are used to detect the rise in luteinizing hormones from your urine. This hormone is produced by your body when your ovaries release the egg in the uterus to fertilize.
Besides LH urine tests, there are at-home fertility monitors, which are digital handheld devices that detect electrolyte levels in saliva, LH levels in urine, and basal body temperature to predict ovulation. These devices can save your ovulation information for several menstrual cycles.
Procedure
To prepare for this test, you should avoid drinking large amounts of fluids before taking this test. Avoid taking birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy as they contain hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. If you take a drug like clomiphene citrate, it will increase your LH levels and trigger ovulation.
During the procedure, you need to follow the instructions mentioned in the kit. It may have these steps:
• First, unwrap the test stick by removing the cap from the absorbent tip.
• Put the test stick into the test holder and listen for the click sound, which indicates the test is ready to detect the hormone.
• Place the absorbent tip in your urine stream for 5 to 7 seconds. Or you can collect your urine sample in a clean, dry container and dip the absorbent tip in the sample for 15 seconds.
• Leave the absorbent tip pointing down in the test holder for about 20 to 40 seconds until the test-ready symbol begins flashing. Open the cap on the test stick and wipe off any excess urine.
• Around 3 minutes your test symbol appears, and you know the result. If it displays an empty circle then it’s a negative result, and if it displays a smiley face, it means a positive result. If the test symbol doesn’t start flashing, then the test doesn’t work or there’s an error in the display if the symbol doesn’t appear within 10 minutes. You need to try again with a new test stick.
• Press on the eject button to remove the test stick, clean the test holder, and wait until the display clears before inserting another test stick.
If the version you’re using is not digital, then results will show a single or double line, which means not fertile or fertile, respectively.
Results
Each ovulation test is different, some tests respond to LH levels in your pee to show whether you will ovulate soon or not. The test results will either show one line or two lines, smiley face symbols, or yes or no. Other digital versions of tests can also show your fertile days.
A positive result means you’re about to ovulate, typically within the next 24 hours. If you want to be pregnant, this is the perfect time to have sex with your partner. An egg can live for 12 to 24 hours, so you can have sex on the same day or the next day, if possible.
If you get a negative result, it means the test is not able to pick up the surge of LH yet. In that case, you can take the test again. You can do it later the same day or take the test the next day. In case you don’t get the positive result again; if you have regular cycles, then it might be a testing issue. You can try to look for ovulation signs like wet, slippery cervical mucus or look at sex-based predicted fertile days. However, in case you have irregular or abnormal cycles, then you should consult your doctor.

Ovulation test kits are an effective way to track your ovulation to become pregnant or to confirm your pregnancy. There are many different options available from testing strips to digital ovulation tests to check your fertility. You should test during the time you’re expected to be fertile according to your menstrual cycle. A positive test result means you are about to ovulate and to time sex for pregnancy with your partner. If you get negative results or have issues tracking your ovulation, then consult with your doctor.

If you need help with tracking your ovulation, visit our gynecology clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!
At Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center, we have the best GYN doctor in Brooklyn, and we provide women with quality health care services. To schedule an appointment, you can visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call us on 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at http://www.gynecologistbrooklyn.com/.