One way to predict ovulation is to use home tests. These tests react to the luteinizing hormone in urine, which starts increasing 24–48 hours before the egg is released, peaking 10–12 hours before it happens. Ovulation tests measure LH, or luteinizing hormone, to determine when you’re most fertile. Tests will detect when that hormone is at its peak, predicting when you’re most likely ovulating. As for sensitivity levels, a test with a 20-50 IU/L(international units per liter) will typically capture the surge of LH. Before taking a test, don’t drink a lot of water (this can dilute the test). Make sure not to urinate for about four hours before taking the test.

We have selected these ovulation tests for their price, accuracy and reliability. Both these tests look for the presence of L.H. in urine. You can test for ovulation at any time of the day, but experts suggest the morning, as it may give you the best results. If your typical menstrual cycle is 28 days, you would perform an ovulation test 10 or 14 days after starting your period. "Ovulation occurs 14 days prior to the onset of menstrual bleeding (the period)," says Dr. Gersh. "For [people] with a 28-day cycle, it usually occurs 14 days into the cycle (mid-cycle)." We think the Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test Kit is the most accurate ovulation test on our list. It gives you a high chance of pinpointing your most fertile days and purports to be in excess of 99% accurate at detecting the LH surge. How we chose our recommendations Most home ovulation tests are based on detecting a surge of luteinizing hormone in urine, which occurs 24 to 48 hours before an egg is released from its follicle. There are also test systems that can indicate increased levels of estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G) in the urine. I used the advance one, I had a chemical pregnancy in cycle one and was wanting to maximise chances after that, it was very helpful, I ovulated a couple of days later than expected, pregnant 4th cycle (now 16 weeks) and dates spot on with ovulation test."(Tried and tested by Mumsnet user HeyBlaby) Our verdictThis test kit from Clearblue scores highly for accuracy with a promise of being 99% accurate. It’s also easy to use – simply urinate on one of the 20 tests in the kit and then insert it into the reusable monitor for your results, which should appear within three minutes. How much you spend depends on how confident you feel reading test strips or whether you'd rather get a straightforward result like a smiley face. Maternity clothes can split opinion - some say they aren't necessarily, others have a wardrobe full. It's worth noting that maternity clothes have been specially designed with the changing pregnancy body in mind, and therefore will be able to accommodate a growing bump more comfortably than regular clothes.

Su HW, Yi YC, Wei TY, Chang TC, Cheng CM. Detection of ovulation, a review of currently available methods. Bioeng Transl Med. 2017;2(3):238-246. doi:10.1002/btm2.10058 There is a third way to test for ovulation, which involves taking your temperature daily and plotting it on a chart. A rise in body temperature that lasts three days indicates ovulation. For example, your shortest cycle was 20 days. The luteal phase lasts for about 10–16 days. Starting at the end of your cycle (day 20) and subtracting the 16 days of the luteal phase, the predicted ovulation may be expected on day 4. Start doing tests three days before that, on the first day of your cycle. A clever ovulation kit which comes with its own app, Femometer Ovulation Test Strips are rated by Mumsnetters and by independent reviewers for their accuracy and simplicity. An ovulation test can tell you when you’re most likely to conceive & help you understand your cycle

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At-home ovulation tests are available to buy in pharmacies and are usually found sharing a shelf with pregnancy tests. They work by detecting the sharp rise in the level of luteinising hormone (LH) in your urine, which occurs before ovulation. Ovulation tests are easy to use and, satisfyingly, give you results within minutes. Are at-home ovulation tests accurate? Many women are unsure about ovulation and what job their hormones do in controlling it. It is estimated that although 90% of women know what ovulation is, there still is a lot of confusion on how this relates to their fertility. What is ovulation? Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the ovary. […] These ovulation tests from Wondfo have neither bells nor whistles, but they will help you determine when you’re most fertile. There are 50 strips included, so they’ll last you quite a while.

Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy care and child play content. High-sensitivity tests (10 IU/L) are more likely to detect an increased level of luteinizing hormone, even if the peak is low. Ovulation tests that react to luteinizing hormone are usually done a few days before the expected ovulation. When you’re trying to conceive (TTC) it can be useful to know when you’re ovulating, which is the most fertile point of your monthly cycle. Ovulation takes place when an egg is released from one of your ovaries. As ovulation spans only a few days each month, it’s a relatively short window for scheduling in DTD (doing the deed). You can chart BBT body temperature to find when you've ovulated, as your temperature will slightly rise at this time. If you take your body temperature every day, you should notice a pattern with three consecutive higher temperatures. Over time, you can use the data to predict when you're most likely to ovulate.

When should you start using ovulation tests?

Positive for L.H. surge– If two colour bands are visible and the test band is of equal or greater colour intensity (darker) than the control band, this is a positive result and a good indication that the L.H. surge is occurring. You should ovulate within the next 24-36 hours. Sexual intercourse is advised at anytime after the first positive test.

First, you must determine the length of your menstrual cycle. This is the number of days from the first day of your menstrual bleeding to the day before your next bleeding begins again, count the first day of bleeding as day 1. Calculate what the usual length of your menstrual cycle has been the last few months. Once you have worked out the length of your cycle refer to the chart to determine on which day of your menstrual cycle you should begin testing. All our tests contain a small desiccant tablet which is included to absorb moisture and should not be eaten. As it is not possible to become pregnant outside of your fertile 2-3 days each cycle, which is around ovulation. It is therefore very important that you know when you are ovulating. Ovulation typically occurs around day 14 of your menstrual cycle. Count the first day of your last period as day 1. There are […] Here, we feature some of the best ovulation tests as well as information about how to choose the right one for you. One to UK's most popular is Clearblue, used by millions of women – it has a reputation for being reliable and easy to read. Depending on the test you choose, you can even predict up to 4 of your most fertile days every month. (See more details below.) How do ovulation tests work?

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There are only a few days each cycle when you can get pregnant, so knowing these can help maximize the chances of conception, but what methods are out there? As the pill disrupts your natural hormone balance it may take a few months for your periods to return to normal. You may want to wait until you have had 2 normal periods before starting to use this ovulation test. Please be aware that pregnancy and breast feeding could affect the results of this test. As home to the largest online network of UK parents, Mumsnet users are a vast source of knowledge for all things parenting and pregnancy-related, from the best prenatal vitamins to help maximise the chances of conception to the top-ranking pregnancy books to turn to for advice, as well as the best TENS machines for pain relief during labour and the parenting books which will guide you through the years to come. We've combed through the Mumsnet boards to find the best ovulation tests and monitors recommended by our users and cross-referenced with online reviewers and pregnancy experts across the internet. These ovulation test strips are specially designed to work with the Premom app. It'll automatically read and compare results, and you won't need to keep any old samples that can start to smell funky!The results can be read in under 5 minutes, too, so you won't have to wait around on a busy morning.