An ovulation test is done to determine whether a woman is in her ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, which is when there is a greater chance for pregnancy. This test is usually done by women who are trying to get pregnant.

The ovulation test is simple and easy to do at home. Similar to a pregnancy test, a urine sample is collected, and the tip of the test stick is dipped into the sample. This test detects the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine, which becomes increased during the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle.

If you have questions about how to perform this test or about getting pregnant, you are advised to consult a gynecologist, who will perform a thorough assessment and guide the woman on the best practices to increase the chances for success.

How to take

The ovulation test, both the strip and the digital test, are simple and quick tests, and should be carried out as follows:

1. Test strip

A test strip ovulation kit will usually come with several sticks that are disposable and used only once. When performing an ovulation test using a test strip, you can either urinate directly on the strip, or collect a sample of urine in a sterile container and dip the tip of the stick into the urine.

After exposing the test strip to urine, place the stick on a flat surface and wait at least 5 minutes to observe the result.

Care when taking the test: it is important to take a strip ovulation test with the strip every day at the same time, ideally between 10 am and 10 pm. You should not use your first urine in the morning to take the test and you should not reuse the strips.

Furthermore, you should avoid consuming fluids for at least 2 hours before taking the test, as diluted urine may not accurately measure the amount of the LH hormone.

2. Digital ovulation test

A digital ovulation test will typically come with a digital reader and several test sticks that are inserted and removed after each use. To start a digital ovulation test, remove the digital reader from its packaging, removing its protective cap and insert a test stick into the end. until you hear a click. The digital reader will typically display a message like "test ready" when the test is ready for use.

Then, urinate one the test meter for 5 to 7 seconds, being sure to pointing it downwards so that the digital reader does not get wet. You can also urinate into a sterile bottle and dip the test stick into the sample.

Then place the test on a flat surface and monitor for results. The display will show a message or symbol for up to 3 minutes to indicate when it is reading a result.

Other care: Be sure to follow the instructions that come with the packaging, as digital tests can vary depending on their brand.

Furthermore, you should avoid urinating for at least 4 hours before taking the test, so that the urine is more concentrated. This digital test can be done with any urine of the day, but ideally it should be repeated at the same time.

Positive result

The result of an ovulation test will vary depending to the concentration of LH circulating in the woman's body. The way that the result is displayed will also vary depending on the type of test completed:

Test strip: a positive result will present as two lines on the test stick, one meaning that the test is working, and the other meaning that LH hormone is present in high quantities. The presence of two lines of the same intensity indicates a positive test, while a test with just one line, or one dark line and one lighter line indicates a negative test.
Digital test: the digital test will display a direct message in the form of a happy face or words, like "positive result" or "you are ovulating" or "negative result"

These tests are capable of detecting the ovulatory peak which is the phase of the cycle where LH levels are at their highest, which is when there is the greatest chance for pregnancy.

It is important to highlight that a negative result does not necessarily mean that the woman is not in the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, as ovulation can occur over one to three days. For this reason, women can perform an ovulation test once a day over a period of several days.

Cervical mucus

Some women can monitor their cervical mucus to determine when they are ovulation. With a clean hand, insert the tip of your index finger into the vagina and remove a small amount of mucus. Then rub this mucus between your index finger and thumb and observe its color and consistency.

Ovulation is likely occurring when cervical mucus is clear, fluid and not sticky, like egg whites. However, ovulation tests are more accurate, as mucus can be more inconsistent and difficult to interpret. Read about other ovulation symptoms that can occur during this phase.