Ovulation is the part of the menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from the ovary. Luteinizing hormone (LH) is what triggers your ovary to release an egg each month. Once your body reaches a certain threshold of LH, also known as your LH peak, you can assume ovulation will occur in the next 24-36 hours. After the egg is released, it only lives for 24 hours. This is why it is so important to test for ovulation – you don’t want to miss your most fertile days!
So what are the possible reasons you can’t identify your LH peak?
What does no LH peak mean?
If you have been ovulation testing and unable to find an LH peak, it could be due to two different reasons.
- The first being you simply missed your LH peak while testing. Inconsistent testing can easily result in a missed LH peak. It’s important to ensure you’re testing daily after your period ends – consistency is key! In addition, some women can have a rapid onset LH surge that peaks quickly within as little as a few hours. You may benefit from testing twice daily as you could possibly have a rapid onset surge!
- Another possibility you’re missing an LH peak could be because you are not ovulating. Ovulation cannot occur without an LH peak because LH is the hormone responsible for triggering your ovary to release an egg. Without that LH surge, your ovary doesn’t get the message.
Keep in mind that it can take a couple of cycles to get the hang of ovulation testing and identifying your peak – so don’t feel discouraged if you’re not able to find it the first cycle!
How should I track my next cycle?
To ensure you are tracking your cycle efficiently:
- Utilize ovulation predictor kits (OPKs)
- Test LH daily after your period ends
- Observe fertile signs such as change in cervical mucus and cervical position
- Confirm ovulation with basal body temperature (BBT) shift
Ovulation tests are effective at detecting your LH surge. Studies have shown that using ovulation tests increase chances of pregnancy by two menstrual cycles compared to those who do not use ovulation tests. By testing daily between 10am-8pm starting the day after your period ends, you will be more likely to identify your LH peak while also ensuring you do not miss it with inconsistent testing. Keep testing even after you think you’ve reached your LH peak to ensure it is your true peak – your LH levels will return to baseline after your LH peak. Aim to test for at least 5 consecutive days per cycle – consistency, consistency!
Near ovulation, cervical mucus tends to become more thin, clear, and stretchy (like raw egg whites) making it the perfect consistency for traveling sperm. The cervix will also become soft, high, and open which is another indication of high fertility.
Charting your BBT daily, in addition to LH testing, is so helpful because it can confirm ovulation occurred. To efficiently track BBT, you need a basal body temperature thermometer. After sleeping for at least 3 consecutive hours, check your temperature immediately upon waking before getting out of bed every single day. Try to check at the same time each day to ensure accuracy and look for the spike in temperature that should occur after ovulation.
Premom helps you find your LH peak more easily
Take the guesswork out of charting by logging your ovulation symptoms, LH tests, and BBT into your Premom app consistently each week! Premom’s in-app camera makes reading your ovulation tests and identifying your unique patterns quick and easy. It uses all of the information about your unique cycle and hormones to pinpoint your most fertile window in hopes of helping you get pregnant.
If you have been following all of these tips while tracking for a few cycles and are still having difficulty understanding your ovulation patterns or identifying your LH peak, schedule a virtual consultation with any of our medical providers directly through your Premom app. We are here to support your TTC journey and aim to equip you with the knowledge to get pregnant faster!
References
- Johnson S;Stanford JB;Warren G;Bond S;Bench-Capon S;Zinaman MJ; Increased likelihood of pregnancy using an app-connected ovulation test system: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of women’s health (2002). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31483187/. Accessed November 21, 2022.
- Soumpasis I, Grace B, Johnson S. Real-life insights on menstrual cycles and ovulation using Big Data. Human reproduction open. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7164578/. Published April 16, 2020. Accessed November 21, 2022.
- Johnson S;Stanford JB;Warren G;Bond S;Bench-Capon S;Zinaman MJ; Increased likelihood of pregnancy using an app-connected ovulation test system: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of women’s health (2002). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31483187/. Accessed November 21, 2022.
