Some women have difficulty conceiving a child for a variety of reasons, including age, irregular menstruation, or other reproductive system complications. One of the simplest ways to increase the chances of getting pregnant is to use an ovulation test. It is a device that perceives the increase in the concentration of the luteinizing hormone and other indicators of the impending ovulation; in this way, you can know when you have the best chance of conceiving. There are a number of different tests that employ various methodologies to detect ovulation and that offer varying levels of accuracy; for this reason it is a good idea to know the most important features before buying one.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Know What to Look for
Step 1. Do some research on the various ovulation tests
The main models are those with stick, with monitor, with microscope and with clock. Each type has advantages and disadvantages, so you need to consider which one is best suited to your needs and which one you prefer.
- Stick tests are inexpensive, accurate and the result is easy to interpret; however, some women find them awkward to use and can also cause a bit of a mess.
- Models equipped with monitors are electronic or battery-powered devices that recognize ovulation hormones through a urine or saliva sample. One of these body fluids is applied to the reader's lens to calculate its hormone concentration. Monitors often offer more detailed information about hormone levels throughout the month, but they are more expensive than stick tests.
- Kits equipped with a microscope involve applying a sample of saliva to a lens of the instrument, and then examining it once it is dry. The presence of a fern-like residue indicates that ovulation will occur within 24-36 hours. Verifying the release of the egg with these tools is simple and convenient, but they are more expensive devices; the accuracy rate is not as high as that of the other methods.
- There are also "clocks" and other devices to predict ovulation. They use a biosensor applied to the skin to measure the increase in the levels of chloride ions exuding from the skin, which occurs about six days before ovulation. Such devices are able to provide an estimate of the fertile period well in advance of what tests based on estrogen or luteinizing hormone can do; show a six-day "window" in which ovulation occurs, highlighting the most likely dates.
Step 2. Check accuracy
Ovulation tests offer variable accuracy. Look for those with a rate close to 100% as possible; this way, you can be quite sure when you are ovulating and increase the chances of getting pregnant. Most kits have an accuracy ranging between 98 and 99%.
Step 3. Compare prices
When considering costs, consider that some models are reusable. If you choose a kit that measures the hormone level in urine using a stick, make sure there are more tests in the box than the other models. It is likely that you will need to use the device for 4-10 days and, at least during the first month, even for a longer period, especially if you have a rather irregular menstrual cycle. Although monitor and microscope models are more expensive, you can use them multiple times and you don't have to worry about running out of sticks.
Step 4. Choose a template that is easy to read
The less you have to interpret the results, the better. In most cases, you need to get results you can rely on with a good deal of confidence. This allows you to focus on increasing your chances of conceiving at the right time, instead of having to "guess" if the test results are correct.
Ovulation prediction kits that use sticks react by giving a positive or negative result, so there is no room for interpretation
Step 5. Evaluate the convenience
Many tests need to be done at roughly the same time each day during the week that ovulation is most likely to occur, based on the length of your menstrual cycle. The kits that use the microscope or monitor allow you to perform the exam freely throughout the month at any time of day. This feature is useful for identifying changes in hormone levels and determining the most likely time of ovulation for the following months as well.
Step 6. Choose which template is easiest to use
Some tests measure the hormones contained in the urine, so you need to pee on the stick or dip it into a sterile container that you poured the urine into. Monitors use a lens screen to quantify the hormone concentration of saliva or urine. Finally, microscopes work in a similar way to monitors and recognize hormone levels once the saliva has dried on the lens.
Some women don't like having to "handle" a kit that uses urine samples or the potential mess they can create; if this also applies to you, consider purchasing an ovulation test that does not rely on measuring the hormone concentration in the urine
Method 2 of 3: Predict Ovulation
Step 1. Learn about ovulation
Each month, at this stage of the menstrual cycle, an ovary releases a mature egg that reaches the end of the fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized by a sperm. The egg remains in this spot for 12-24 hours; if it is not fertilized in the meantime, it will be expelled along with the uterine lining during menstruation. This is the most favorable moment to conceive, it is the temporal "window" during which the egg is available for fertilization.
By going back to the date of the first day of menstruation in the previous cycle, you can estimate the days when you are likely to ovulate; alternatively, you can calculate the days when the egg is released by subtracting 12-15 from the date your next period is due. Ovulation usually occurs 11-21 days after the last menstruation
Step 2. Measure the luteinizing hormone concentration
Most kits rely precisely on the detection of the increase of this substance to signal the initial moment of ovulation. Estrogen levels are low as soon as the menstrual cycle begins, but increase when the egg is ready to be released. This variation raises the concentration of the luteinizing hormone and triggers the expulsion of the ovum from the ovary within 24-36 hours; the ovum then crosses the salpinx to be fertilized. Measuring this hormone is a very effective technique for determining when you are most likely to get pregnant after intercourse.
- The exact day a woman ovulates can fluctuate from month to month and can be any within the month. The menstrual cycle has unique characteristics in each woman, monitoring it is therefore the best way to understand what could be the most fertile moments.
- It is possible to ovulate without menstruation and you can have bleeding without ovulating, which means that you have no chance of getting pregnant for that month.
- Sometimes, it is possible to experience a spike in luteinizing hormone but this does not trigger the release of an egg that is ripe for fertilization. It must be emphasized that the tests do not allow to know exactly the occurrence of ovulation, but only when it is probable.
Step 3. Assess your estrogen levels
Many tests use a saliva sample to measure the peak of estrogen, because this hormone increases almost simultaneously with the concentration of the luteinizing one, when the body is about to ovulate. Estrogen can be detected by saliva and leaves a dry residue very similar to fern when viewed under a microscope.
- Since many estrogen tests use a saliva sample, you shouldn't smoke, drink, eat, or brush your teeth in the two hours prior to the exam.
- If the microscopic result shows a residue with a fern and bubble pattern, it means that you are close to ovulation or that it will happen soon after, but not that you are ovulating at that very moment; if you only notice bubbles, your body isn't ready to release the egg yet.
Step 4. Measure the chloride ion levels
There are instruments, such as watches or microcomputers, which are able to measure this substance present on the skin. As a result, they can calculate the days when you are most likely to get pregnant, using this data and some algorithms. They provide several readings throughout the day, but must be worn for at least six hours while sleeping to provide good electrolyte measurements.
Step 5. Check the consistency of the cervical mucus
When you are close to ovulating, this substance changes to become more watery and slimy, with a texture similar to egg white. Variations in cervical fluid are unique to each woman, so you should check it throughout the month, to learn about its normal appearance and how it changes over the course of the month. The mucus can change gradually, but typically has the consistency of egg white on the day of ovulation and the day immediately after.
Step 6. Monitor your basal temperature
Make a note of this value throughout the month using a special thermometer. When ovulation occurs, the temperature typically rises by about 0.2 ° C; you should chart the values each day to see the changes that indicate ovulation. Temperatures are usually lower during the first part of the menstrual cycle and slightly higher after ovulation.
Method 3 of 3: Ask for advice
Step 1. Go to the doctor
The family doctor, gynecologist or fertility expert is usually the best source of information regarding ovulation prediction kits. These professionals are able to advise you on the products suited to your needs and indicate those that are not based on modern technologies; they have often accumulated years of experience with patients who have used these devices and can therefore share it with you.
Step 2. Talk to the pharmacist
He has a deep knowledge of the products he sells; may offer suggestions, answer questions, or dispel any doubts about ovulation tests. He should also be aware of other patients' experience and judgments regarding certain devices and brands.
Step 3. Read some reviews or studies made by consumer associations
Some magazines, such as Altroconsumo, are reliable and publish the results of research or consumer reviews on almost every product. Some reports are only available by signing up for a subscription, but in other cases you can read detailed articles at no cost to you. You can also do some online research on a particular ovulation test and read other women's opinions.
Step 4. Contact the company that makes the kit
Most of these devices have the manufacturer's contact information on the packaging. Write down a few phone numbers as you do some research; then call each company for more product information, ask questions, and ask for help with any concerns you may have.
Step 5. Talk to friends and family about it
Ask a few questions among acquaintances to find out which kits have proved most useful for other women. Try to figure out if any particular brand seems to have been more effective for friends or relatives who have succeeded in having a baby. These people may give you tips on how to best use the various tests and know what to expect.
Advice
- Some pathologies can give positive readings of the ovulation texts. Polycystic ovary syndrome, early ovarian failure, and menopause, for example, can interfere with results.
- If you don't get a positive result with a test, you may be tempted to repeat the test with another stick; however, this is not recommended. The main causes of negative readings during the month are improper use of the kit or the absence of ovulation for that month.
- If you're not ovulating, keep retesting for at least two to three months and then make an appointment with your gynecologist. If you are ovulating but unable to get pregnant, go to the gynecologist after 12 months of trying if you are under 35 or after six months if you are older.
