Importance of an Ovulation Test

An ovulation test therefore predicts when a woman will ovulate. If test result is positive from the test, then the woman will become fertile over the next 3 days. Peak fertility is expected at 36 hours post the LH surge.

In this context, knowing when the concerned woman ovulates or is most fertile will maximise potential for conception. Going through unprotected sexual intercourse during this ovulation window, increases chances of conception and pregnancy. Hence, the test is crucial in accurately anticipating the ovulation window.

The primary function of an ovulation test is to predict and pinpoint ovulation window of a woman. The unfertilised egg has a very short life span of 24 hours and ovulation occurs only once in a month. Therefore, it makes a considerable difference knowing specific days and timings of ovulation as this will greatly help women in becoming pregnant. This is particularly so with either infertile women or couples. The test therefore is the need of the hour.

There are two types of ovulation tests available in the market. Both are equally effective. These are test strips and midstream tests. For doing a test through test strips, the woman needs to collect her urine in a cup and then immerse the test strip in it for several seconds. The midstream tests are a variant to the first ovulation test. In this case, the woman needs to hold the test strip in the stream of urine. Results are obtained within 5 minutes. Both tests operate on basis of Luteinizing Hormone (LH). Essentially, any ovulation tests work through the detection of LH. The ovulation test comes with a control band and test band. The control band identifies if the test is working and has a colour baseline to interpret test results. The test band either confirms or negates ovulation based on intensity of the test colour band achieved.

When a menstrual cycle begins, Follicle Stimulating Hormones [FSH] are produced by the body. The FSH has the effect of encouraging the formation of a follicle on one of the ovaries. It is this follicle that in fact contains and of course, nurtures the ovum. After follicle has matured sufficiently, a surge of LH results in the follicle bursting thereby releasing the ovum into the fallopian tube which is the moment of ovulation.

LH is produced during the menstrual cycle though in small quantities. However, midway through the cycle, LH increases in a dramatic fashion for a short period of time. This is commonly referred to as the LH Surge. These increased quantities of LH are easily detected by an ovulation test which has anti-LH antibodies in the sensitive ovulation test membrane. In fact, the ovulation test also determines lower levels of LH though detection of higher levels is beneficial to the woman in planning for pregnancy.

An ovulation test therefore predicts when a woman will ovulate. If test result is positive from an ovulation test, then the woman will become fertile over the next 3 days. Peak fertility is expected at 36 hours post the LH surge.