Ovulation Predictor Kits to Pinpoint Egg Release

Using Ovulation Prediction Kits for Fertility Predictor, Timing Sex

Nov 7, 2009

Women trying to get pregnant often rely on ovulation predictor kits to pinpoint the exact time of ovulation. Timing sex to ovulation increases the odds of conception.

There are many ovulation prediction kits on the market today; most work by testing urine for ovulation, but there are also saliva ovulation tests. Urine ovulation predictor tests, also known as OPKs, measure luteinizing hormone (LH), the hormone that rises in response to the maturing of a egg from the ovary.

Measuring the LH Surge With OPKs

Luteinizing hormone (LH) starts to rise about 24-36 hours before a woman ovulates. This makes OPKs very helpful in timing sex to get pregnant, since the best time to have sex when trying to get pregnant is two days before ovulation through the day after ovulation.

The best OPK test is one that registers LH levels of 20mIU/ml. Some ovulation predictor kits don’t register until the LH rises to 40 mIU/ml. The problem is that some women don’t have a strong LH surge, and may never reach 40mIU/ml. There are many brands on the market; check the box for information on their sensitivity levels.

To use an OPK properly, start testing at least five days before the presumed day of ovulation. For women with very irregular menstrual cycles, this can be difficult to determine. A positive LH surge is indicated when the test line is darker than the control line. OPKs need to be read within the allotted time, usually just a few minutes; they may not be accurate if they sit too long before reading.

Problems With Using Ovulation Prediction Kits

OPKs don’t work for everyone. Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, have a higher than normal LH level all the time. Women who are perimenopausal or in premature ovarian failure also have higher than normal LH levels. They may always have a positive result on the test. This is a problem if they don’t tests the entire month, but wait until mid-month to test. They may assume they’re ovulating when they’re not.

OPKs can also get expensive if testing several times a day for a week or more every month. Since less expensive tests may not register at the lower LH level, they’re not always a bargain. It’s not always easy to determine if a line is darker than the test line, especially if a few minutes have passed. For women with fertility issues such as endometriosis or PCOS, there’s another problem with OPKs. They only identify that an egg is maturing; they can’t tell whether or not the egg was actually released.

Saliva Ovulation Tests; an Alternative to Urine OPKs

Saliva ovulation tests are an alternative way to check for ovulation. OvaCue is a well known brand, but not the only one.The kit to test saliva for ovulation is initially more expensive, but it can be re-used as often as necessary; just wash the lens. Saliva ovulation kits measure salt levels in saliva, which rise as estrogen rises. At the beginning of the month, only a few little dots are seen through the viewing piece. As ovulation get closer, what looks like ferns start to appear, and at the time of ovulation, ferning covers the whole viewing slide.

Saliva tests have to sit for about five minutes before being read. One advantage to saliva tests is that they can be done anytime. The disadvantage is the cost of the kit, but over time, it may more than pay for itself.

A more expensive fertility predictor is a small computer that measures both LH and estrogen levels are another alternative to OPKs. Clearblue Easy is one such monitor; there are others. All work the same way. Women use them starting on day one of their menstrual cycle. Information is stored in the computer and analyzed; these computers give a little more advance notice on ovulation; usually about five days.

Pinpointing Ovulation With Ovulation Predictor Kits

Monitoring ovulation naturally is quite possible, but using OPKs simplifies the process. Most of the methods on the market to help predict ovulation do an adequate job for women who have no underlying conditions that might affect the results. They can be very helpful in timing sex more accurately to achieve pregnancy without seeing a doctor.

The copyright of the article Ovulation Predictor Kits to Pinpoint Egg Release in Family Planning is owned by Sharon Perkins. Permission to republish Ovulation Predictor Kits to Pinpoint Egg Release in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.