How Accurate Are Ovulation Tests?

When trying to conceive, you need the most accurate ovulation test available to pinpoint exactly when your ovulation will occur. There are many options, so how do you know which is the best? Which ovulation test is most accurate?

How accurate are ovulation tests

Today we’re breaking down the best ovulation tests you can use to get pregnant, and what makes these Amazon best-seller ovulation tests a top choice for physicians when recommending products for their patients’ fertility journeys.

In this blog you will learn: 

  • How accurate ovulation tests are
  • What ovulation test is best
  • How do ovulation tests work
  • How to read ovulation test results
  • How using multiple ovulation tracking methods can improve your accuracy

Double lines, smiley faces… What ovulation test is best?

When we talk to physicians about ovulation tests, we often hear the response, “We want to see the LH progression!”. They are referring to the gradual darkening of ovulation tests. Luteinizing hormone (LH) increases just prior to ovulation. When we monitor the rise of LH levels using urinary ovulation tests, we are able to observe the last, highest surge of luteinizing hormone – known as the LH peak – that triggers the release of an egg about 24 hours later. 

While some digital ovulation test brands simply flash a blinking icon or stagnant icon depending on when two separate LH thresholds have been met to predict your ovulation, other tests observe the amount of LH present during your cycle; going beyond just a negative or positive ovulation test

Premom ovulation tests and Easy@Home ovulation tests go a step further by observing the subtle increases in LH, allowing you to both observe the rise of your LH and feel confident when your peak day is reached. You will see more than just a positive or negative test. You can visualize how high or low your hormones are throughout your cycle.

When you download the free Premom ovulation tracker app you can scan your ovulation tests and see low, high and peak LH results indicated, as well as a graphic representation of the LH progression.

Which ovulation test is best

Doctors love to see the LH progression of Premom and Easy@Home ovulation tests because it allows them to see how your body is naturally cycling. By using these ovulation tests and recording the results using your phone’s camera into the Premom app, you can easily see what your body is doing. Furthermore, your doctor can identify early on if there may be any complications with your fertility.

 

How to Take an Ovulation Test

  1. Start using ovulation tests the day after your period ends
  2. Test two times daily for the first 3 cycles you test
  3. Take your ovulation tests between 10am and 8pm
  4. Dip the strip to the max line, wait for the dye to rise (approx. 5-10 seconds)
  5. Lay the strip on a flat surface for at least 5 minutes
  6. Use the automatic camera feature in the Premom app to capture your test result
  7. View the pattern of your tests plotted in the “charts” page of the Premom app
  8. Keep ovulation testing until you see a surge in LH. You will see this as the last, darkest double line. This is your “Peak day” and tells you that ovulation will occur in about 24-36 hours
  9. Have sex the 5 days leading up to ovulation day, and ovulation day.
  10. After you see the LH peak, keep testing for an additional 3 days to observe the decrease in LH levels, ensuring that you have identified your true peak.


You might also like: Do’s and Don’ts of Ovulation Testing

 

How to Read an Ovulation Test

We know that sperm live up to 5 days. So, by using ovulation tests to predict ovulation, you can time intercourse during the 5 days leading up to ovulation and ovulation day. This allows yourself the best chance of getting pregnant. 

Your ovulation tests begin to register as low or high as you approach your LH peak. You keep testing until you see the last, highest day. This is when your “test” line will be as dark or darker than the “control line.”  You will know it’s the last one because the next test you take will have a lighter test line and lower T/C ratio. This last, darkest ovulation test is marked in your app as your Peak day and you’ll likely release an egg in about 24 hours – meaning it’s your last chance to have intercourse before your fertile window closes. 

The app assigns your Easy@Home test a T/C ratio based on the comparison of your test line color to the control line color. A peak is typically recognized at 0.8. Premom quantitative ovulation tests quantify the amount of LH present, but are still using the same methodology of Easy@Home ovulation tests. The most important observation is the “Peak Day'' – or the last, darkest day. There is no perfect T/C ratio or LH level. Women can ovulate successfully at a variety of LH levels. The most important thing is just observing LH when it is at its peak.

 what is an ovulation test

Which Ovulation Test is the Most Accurate?

Ovulation tests are easy-to-use, cost-effective, and accurate in detecting the LH surge. The most accurate ovulation test is the one you use consistently. Whether your cycle is regular or irregular, you may not always ovulate at the same time each month. Testing every day, starting after your period ends through your ovulation day, helps you determine when you will ovulate. If on one cycle you didn’t find your LH peak, that doesn’t mean you are not ovulating, but it could mean you missed it by not testing enough!

Get the Most Out of Your Testing

You want to get pregnant fast and you want accurate results. We know that combining ovulation testing with basal body temperature (BBT) tracking allows women to predict when their ovulation will occur and then to confirm you have ovulated using BBT. When these two techniques are used and logged together in the Premom app, women get a better picture of their fertile window and can more accurately predict their fertile window in their next cycle. They can also improve the accuracy of their ovulation and optimize their intercourse timing. Get started on your pregnancy journey by downloading the Premom App today.

 

Download free Premom App

 

About Author

Dr. Patti Haebe is a results-obsessed naturopathic doctor. She specializes in pre-conception preparation, fertility, and hormone optimization. She is committed to root-cause healing through therapeutic supplementation as well as targeted diet and lifestyle modifications.  Her virtual practice, Ocotillo Integrative Medicine, provides integrative consultations worldwide via webcam for those looking to incorporate natural, proactive approaches to their healthcare and fertility journey. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Haebe right through your Premom app!

 

References

Kerin J. “Ovulation detection in the human.” Clin Reprod Fertil. 1982 Mar;1(1):27-54. PMID: 6821195.

Su HW, et al. “Detection of ovulation, a review of currently available methods.” Bioeng Transl Med. 2017 May 16;2(3):238-246. doi: 10.1002/btm2.10058. PMID: 29313033; PMCID: PMC5689497.

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