Before answering, let's take a brief look at fertility and how ovulation tests work.
Ovulation tests detect a sharp rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, which occurs about halfway through the cycle, just before ovulation. Ovulation, as you probably know, is the process by which an egg is released from the mature follicle. LH causes ovulation, helping to break down the follicle wall and release the egg into the fallopian tube. Because LH is the number one factor for ovulation, ovulation tests are the number one reliable indicator of its peak, when women are fertile.

The basics of ovulation tests:

• Ovulation tests detect luteinizing hormone (LH), which peaks suddenly, quickly, and for a short time, just before ovulation.

• A positive result in an ovulation test is an indicator of a woman's fertile days.

• A positive result indicates that ovulation will occur within the next 24 to 48 hours.

• You need to schedule your sexual contacts on the day of the first positive result, as well as the next 2 days.

• A positive result is when the result line is as intense or more intense than the control line.

• LH is produced by your body in the morning, so you should use the tests after the first hours of the night, until the evening.

• Hold your urine for about 2 hours, without consuming a lot of fluids, before using the test.

• Because the increase in LH is sudden and in some cases lasts less than 24 hours, some women choose to get tested twice a day. This is what we also recommend.

• Clomiphene citrate (brand name Clomid / Serpafar) can cause a "false positive result". That is why you should start ovulation tests 2-3 days after you finish the medicine, so that it has left your body and the LH that will be detected by the test is yours and not that of the medicine.

• Ideally, you should have an ovulation test at the same time each day and remember not to miss a single day as this may cause you to miss the hormone peak.

• Follow the instructions for use and make sure that you do the tests daily, according to the table which is in the instructions. Women with erratic cycles should start the tests immediately after the end of the period and probably do a large number of tests. But women who, for example, have an "ideal" cycle of 28 days begin the tests on the 11th day.

Can I have a positive result and not ovulate?

Ovulation tests are a very reliable way to predict ovulation. So if you find the positive ovulation test and therefore have a peak of LH hormone, it is technically almost impossible not to ovulate.
Many women who trust ovulation tests to predict it, do 2 things to make sure that ovulation has actually taken place:
1. They continue the tests untli they get the negative result and thus know that ovulation has taken place since the hormone has dropped again. Note here that the tests may be positive for 1 or 2 consecutive days (this is normal) but should be negative again on the third day in a row. If they continue to be positive for more than 48 hours, this is a sign of hormonal disorder. It may be a random event of temporary hormonal imbalance but if it continues in the next cycle or is long (for example ovulation tests show positive for 5-6 consecutive days) then it would be good ideia to talk with your gynecologist in order to solve it.
2. Morning temperature measurement. If the temperature rises a few tenths (eg 36,9 οC) the day after the positive test (and stays elevated), this is also a good way to make sure you are ovulating.

Can I have a negative result but still ovulation happens?

No. In order for ovulation to occur, the LH must necessarily peak. However, as mentioned above, the peak of LH can take a few hours (eg 8 hours) and thus not be detected between 2 tests performed at a distance of 24 hours. In this case, yes, you may not find a positive test result and still produce eggs. Therefore, as mentioned above, it is good to do more than 1 test daily during the days when you are likely to ovulate, so you can be sure that you will not miss your positive ovulation test.

 

Keep these tips in mind and it is only a matter of time before the coveted result comes!

--------------------

See all of our blog posts, by clicking here.