Using Ovulation Predictor Kits When Trying to Conceive
Are ovulation predictor kits useful when you're trying to conceive?
Ovulation predictor kits are at-home tests that can predict ovulation, the moment during your menstrual cycle when the egg is released. It is the most fertile time during your monthly cycle.
Ovulation predictor kits detect the increase of LH (lutenizing hormone) in your urine, which usually tells you ovulation is approaching. They can be expensive, but they are a fairly effective method of ovulation prediction—they can detect the surge in LH that usually occurs 24 to 36 hours before ovulation.
However, at-home kits are not considered as reliable as high- and (even low-) tech ovulation prediction tests that detect estrogen in the urine or analyze changes in the cervical mucus—the medical world's current "gold standard" of ovulation prediction.
Unfortunately, at-home ovulation predictor the tests can't tell you when to start having sex when you are trying to conceive. Ideally, you should be engaging in regular sex before the surge in LH even appears—the best time to try to conceive is three to five days prior to ovulation.
A word to the wise: The fact that you have an increase in LH does not always mean you're ovulating. LH can rise with or without the release of an egg. And to make matters even more confusing, some women can experience a series of LH surges before the "real" one—it can throw your timing totally out of whack.
Talk to your doctor about the best methods for ovulation prediction for you. If you've been trying to conceive for several months without success, your doctor may opt to measure your estrogen levels in your urine.
report abuseOvulation predictor kits detect the increase of LH (lutenizing hormone) in your urine, which usually tells you ovulation is approaching. They can be expensive, but they are a fairly effective method of ovulation prediction—they can detect the surge in LH that usually occurs 24 to 36 hours before ovulation.
However, at-home kits are not considered as reliable as high- and (even low-) tech ovulation prediction tests that detect estrogen in the urine or analyze changes in the cervical mucus—the medical world's current "gold standard" of ovulation prediction.
Unfortunately, at-home ovulation predictor the tests can't tell you when to start having sex when you are trying to conceive. Ideally, you should be engaging in regular sex before the surge in LH even appears—the best time to try to conceive is three to five days prior to ovulation.
A word to the wise: The fact that you have an increase in LH does not always mean you're ovulating. LH can rise with or without the release of an egg. And to make matters even more confusing, some women can experience a series of LH surges before the "real" one—it can throw your timing totally out of whack.
Talk to your doctor about the best methods for ovulation prediction for you. If you've been trying to conceive for several months without success, your doctor may opt to measure your estrogen levels in your urine.
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