Girls, hello! Lately, “advanced” girls often come to our appointments and ask to confirm their readiness to get pregnant, showing the only positive ovulation test they have taken, a photo. It is not right. I suggest you figure out exactly why it’s wrong.
What is considered an accurate positive ovulation test when using test strips? This is when testing is carried out in dynamics and among all the strips there is one or more with two bright control transverse stripes. This indicates that ovulation will occur within 12-48 hours.
Ovulation test positive photo (for different cycle lengths)
Now I'll tell you why this is so .
We remember that a woman can become pregnant only in a very short period of time during the menstrual cycle after the release of a mature egg from the ovary (ovulation).
Everything seems simple at first glance - enjoy sex and, sooner or later, everything will work out... but no! The lifespan of an egg is only 12 to 24 hours. But, usually, only when it comes down to it, the question comes up: “How to determine when ovulation will happen? ".
What to do if ovulation is not detected?
It is worth understanding that there is no reason to panic yet. If you cannot determine the moment of ovulation, this does not mean at all that you will never be able to become a mother. It happens that it is impossible to immediately determine ovulation. Then just wait a little.
After an examination, the gynecologist sometimes discovers that there is no egg ready for the process of conception, or that your case is non-standard. Then it will be necessary to undergo the recommended tests, and without fail, ultrasound folliculometry.
Changes in the body also indicate the arrival of the cherished day. If you read the reactions that occur correctly, it is not difficult to determine the moment.
- Various processes in the chest. Starting from barely noticeable tingling in the nipples and ending with swollen mammary glands.
- Sudden changes in mood from positive to negative.
- Unusual sensations in the stomach. Feeling of slight pain or stabbing and pulling pressure on the perineum.
- Large amount of mucous leucorrhoea.
- Suddenly the desire for sexual activity arises.
The occurrence of such symptoms is not at all necessary, but if you notice them, there is a high probability that the day has come to act. Therefore, it is advisable to urgently go to the pharmacy and buy the device.
Ovulation calculator calculate
Today we will talk about the most common and accessible methods at home - determining ovulation using urine and saliva tests.
- Conducting a urine test - test strips, jet test, test cassettes
How do they work?
Each test must have a reagent that is sensitive (sensitivity is 20-25 mIU/ml) to the LH hormone (luteinizing hormone). When the “required” minimum amount of the LH hormone reaches the reagent, the second line on the test will begin to appear and we are talking about those very “ghosts” that are discussed on all forums. As the concentration of LH in the blood increases, the second test strip will become brighter and brighter. It will be the brightest about a day before ovulation.
For example, with a 28-day menstrual cycle this is approximately half of the cycle, with a 35-day cycle it is approximately the 22nd day.
That is, if you see test results like this
plan hard, because you remember that the lifespan of an egg is only a day. If you did not manage to get into this so-called window, then you will have to wait for the next cycle and the next ovulation. That is, if you see such dynamics in the tests
then, most likely, you are too late, because within two days the concentration of luteinizing hormone in the blood will drop so much that the test will again be negative.
- examination of saliva with a mini microscope (magnification approximately 100 times). What does a saliva ovulation test look like?
This miracle invention has gained such popularity because of its low cost, reusable use, and additional control method to ovulation tests. The principle of operation is simple - the pattern of dried saliva at the time of ovulation will change from this to this:
A large amount of the hormone estrogen will lead to a temporary retention of potassium and sodium in the body and we will see a pattern of fern leaves.
Yes, you noted correctly, the principle of operation of this method is based on the concentration of another female hormone - estrogen. But the essence is the same - we expect ovulation within 1-2 days.
It is important to carry out testing over time and look at the severity of the signs of approaching ovulation - the brighter color of the second strip, so it makes sense to buy a package of tests that contains several test strips at once.
For example, when planning, I personally ordered packages of as many as 100 pieces on Aliexpress or e-bay, because... I was very afraid to miss the cherished day with my long cycles. Like these ones
Reasons why ovulation is not detected
It happens that the process is done according to the instructions, but the strip is silent and does not show anything. You need to determine the day to conceive a child, but for some unknown reason nothing happens. Why?
Many ladies refer to the prevailing opinion that they were sold defective products. This also cannot be ruled out, but we must not forget - in this case, both the first and second stripes will not be visible. Very often, the reason for false indicators is that the test is used incorrectly.
Sometimes the absence of indicators in some cycles can be regarded as normal. After all, do not forget that the process of ovulation does not occur every month. The older you are, the more often anovulatory cycles will occur. This is explained by the fact that over time, the supply of germ cells in the ovaries becomes less and less, and therefore the likelihood of pregnancy decreases.
Taking certain medications also has an effect. There is no point in taking measurements when you are taking oral contraceptives. Their principle of action is based on suppressing ovulation. This is how couples manage to protect themselves from unwanted conception.
And the last, most common reason is that the time was chosen incorrectly. Due to individual body structure, the incorrect interval may be calculated. And it won’t even be a matter of correct application of the computational formula. If menstruation is irregular, it is quite difficult to avoid mistakes.
Positive ovulation test when to conceive
How I determined when to start testing. From the length of my cycle - 35 days, I took 17 days.
Example:
- My cycle started on October 30th.
- I counted down 35 days. I received the date December 3rd.
- From December 03 it took 17 days. I received the date November 17th.
And I started doing ovulation tests (yellow marks). The tests were negative and only on November 20 the second line on the test turned out to be the brightest.
As a result, if you look at my chart “after the fact”, I calculated everything correctly and did ovulation tests at the time - after November 21, BT (basal temperature) went up, which indicates that ovulation had occurred:
Read in more detail and see examples of how to chart ovulation (basal temperature) .
Negative reviews
It so happened that my husband and I had our first child very quickly, I didn’t even know what ovulation, cervical fluid, “egg white”, basal temperature and much more were. other.
But then, time passed, we wanted a second baby, but everything didn’t work out for us and we had to learn all this rich information. Thanks to the “encyclopedia” book, which has collected all the information that is published in parts on the Internet.
So, thanks to the book, I learned to understand that ovulation occurred, but when it happens remained a mystery to me (for some people the temperature rises 2 hours after ovulation, and for others maybe 2-3 days after ovulation ). And I decided to conduct tests so that I could know for sure the day of ovulation.
In a cosmetics magnet, I saw ovulation test strips at a very cheap price - only 99 rubles for 5 test strips (while other ovulation test strips in the pharmacy start at 400 rubles for 2 pieces). In general, I bought 5 packs almost without hesitation.
If you have an irregular cycle, when to do the test?
Analyze several of your cycles by number of days (the more cycles you analyze, the better) and calculate the average number of days. For example, I take the data of my 11 cycles and calculate the average length in Excel using the “AVERAGE” formula:
but, as you can see, I have a cycle of 284 days (pregnancy) and it needs to be excluded from the calculation, otherwise the data will not be informative and the average cycle length will be as much as 57 days:
We exclude the long cycle and get an average cycle length of 34 days:
Ovulation test how to do it correctly
Girls, we always read the instructions for any tests and remember that an incorrectly conducted study can show the result exactly the opposite. For example:
- During the day, fluctuations in the LH hormone in the body are normal, especially in the morning and evening. And, if you test at different times every day, the result may not be correct. Try to test during the daytime to avoid these diurnal fluctuations as much as possible;
- not long before the test you went to the toilet a little;
- you drank heavily 4 hours before the test;
- if you are taking/have recently taken hormonal medications, such as hormonal contraceptives;
- you have serious hormonal imbalances, for example with PCOS, etc.
When you examine saliva with a mini microscope, apply the saliva to a clean glass and allow it time to dry. And only then look at the picture of the pattern.
If no stripes appear on your test after use, it is most likely not a high-quality test or an expired test.
How to use
After purchasing the test, carefully study the instructions for independent use and follow the recommendations. They also remember the generally accepted rules for using the presented tests, which is carried out in the following sequence:
- Urine collected in the morning cannot be used for analysis, since it contains a minimal amount of luteinizing hormone - it is produced in large quantities during the day.
- Before collecting urine, you should not urinate for 2-3 hours. Before bowel movement, drink as little liquid as possible. This action is necessary to obtain a concentrated portion of urine.
The used strip and urine are immediately discarded, avoiding contact with the skin of the hands. The sachet containing an absorbent substance to gently remove moisture contained in each package is discarded.
False negative and false positive test
What is a false negative test? This is when the testing rules are not followed and the test has one strip or a slightly colored second one, but the egg is still released.
What is a false positive test? This is when the strip turns color and the hormone level is not enough for ovulation. Such failures can occur in every woman and this is the norm, if it does not happen constantly. Again, look at other signs of ovulation - BT chart, discharge, saliva, position and shape of the cervix.
A false positive test is also considered before the expected period during pregnancy, because the hormones hCG and LH have a similar structure and are perceived by the test reagent as the same.
Positive reviews
My husband and I have been planning a second child for a long time, and therefore, to help us calculate the days of ovulation, I bought this test.
This is such a convenient way to plan a pregnancy. It can also be used for those who do not plan to conceive a child. By calculating the days of ovulation, you can calculate safe sex.
I used other tests before. More expensive. And then this one caught my eye, our Russian manufacturer.
Everything is explained in great detail in the instructions. Even such nuances that you cannot take morning urine, as in some pregnancy tests. There is a sign for the menstrual cycle and the start of the test. In general, everything is very detailed.
Even a completely ignorant person will understand everything.
I received a positive result. The stripes are quite bright. Everything is clearly visible. I'm happy with the test.
Now all that remains is to try and wait for the stork.
How many times have I bought tests for crazy money? What for? I just didn’t know that our Russian manufacturer has long had all types of tests at low cost.
The average cost of such packaging is 90 rubles. For those who ovulate spontaneously and every month on different days (either on the 14th day, or even on the 20th day), tracking is quite an expensive matter. And sometimes you have to use two packs in a month to be sure to catch it. )) I’ll tell you that buying these tests (even two packs at once) will not hurt your pocket as much as buying, for example, Eviplan (the price of which, for a minute, is about 700 rubles per pack!) Outwardly, you can’t distinguish all these tests unless you won't see the packaging. The feeling is that they are stamped at the same factory, only our Russian suppliers decided not to be too impudent and do not add value to some pieces of paper with a drop of reagent.
In general, I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get pregnant and at the same time not pay through the nose for air. Buy our tests, they are no worse, and maybe even better!
I learned about these tests when my husband and I started planning a child. And since I have an irregular cycle and my husband’s shift work, I find it difficult to catch the right moment. Then I decided to monitor ovulation with the help of tests.
The variety of these tests in the pharmacy really surprised me. And since I also attend folliculometry as a safety net, I decided to try a more budget-friendly option. These tests cost at least 77 rubles in our pharmacy, and the maximum I’ve seen was up to 100 rubles. There are 5 tests in the package - just for the number of fertile days.
In general, this manipulation is carried out in contrast to pregnancy tests using evening urine; the concentration of the LH hormone is brighter in it. The test is considered positive when both stripes are the same color. If the tests were unable to catch ovulation, then in the next cycle I would recommend folliculometry. And these tests should be done from the first signs of ovulation, and everyone has it at their own time.
So I advise you to try this brand - at least my results coincided with folliculometry. And although pregnancy has not yet occurred, the fault here is not in the tests, but in health problems, I still hope that the tests will not continue to deceive me and I will not have to spend money on folliculometry.
Good health and fulfillment of desires to all
When we were planning a child, I bought ovulation tests. Initially, I took others, namely Frautest (5 ovulation tests plus one pregnancy test as a bonus). Their price is not cheap, and sometimes not a single pack was used in a month.
When I saw these ovulation tests, I decided to buy a pack to try. Their price is low. There are five tests in the package. At first I didn’t have high hopes for them, but after trying them I changed my mind. I determined ovulation correctly from them. Afterwards I started buying only them and recommended these ovulation tests to my friends. Why overpay for a brand?
Conception after ovulation or when to have sex when planning
To obtain reliable data and be able to calculate ovulation as accurately as possible in any of your cycles, try to take into account several signs of ovulation that were discussed above, and not just test strips, pay close attention to how ovulation affects discharge , listen to your body.
If you are tracking ovulation to plan pregnancy, then have sex every other day from the moment the color appears on the tests. And don’t abuse this 24/7, because... A man’s sperm are renewed in about 72 hours, let the sperm “gain strength”)).
What does the result say?
A negative test indicates that the girl’s body does not have the required concentration of luteal hormones. Externally, the test is similar in design to a pregnancy test and works on the principle of pregnancy tests , namely, it gives a result after contact with urine. Negative indicators are also the same: one red horizontal mark appears on the stripes.
There are three main groups of tests: test strips, tablet and inkjet devices. Test strips are the most popular.
The principle of their operation is simple:
- the indicator drops into a small amount of urine;
- after 5 minutes you can evaluate the result.
The coloring of the second strip means that the test is positive. Sometimes the second stripe is barely noticeable, and such a result is considered weakly positive. In this case, it is recommended to repeat the diagnosis after 48 hours.
