Ovulation test strips
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- easy@Home ovulation test strips, 50 pack. Best for: Daily testing across a whole cycle. See options on Amazon
- Pregmate ovulation test strips. Best for: People who want an app to log results. See options on Amazon
- Clearblue Digital Ovulation Test. Best for: People who prefer a digital readout to reading lines. See options on Amazon
How ovulation tests work
MedlinePlus explains that an ovulation home test detects a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. That rise signals the ovary to release an egg, which is when pregnancy is most likely. The kits are sold at most drug stores. For women with a 28-day cycle, the egg is normally released between days 11 and 14 after the start of the last period.
LH urine tests are not the same as fertility monitors, MedlinePlus notes. Fertility monitors are digital handheld devices that predict ovulation from saliva electrolytes, urine LH or basal body temperature, and can store information for several cycles.
The test itself involves normal urination, with no pain or discomfort. Strips are commonly sold in 25 to 50 packs, which suits testing daily for several days each cycle.
When to start testing
| Your cycle | When to start | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Regular 28-day cycle | Day 11, counting day 1 as the first day of your period | MedlinePlus |
| Other cycle lengths | About 3 to 5 days before expected ovulation; ask your provider about timing | MedlinePlus |
| Irregular cycles | The kit can help you tell when you ovulate, but a surge may be harder to detect | MedlinePlus |
MedlinePlus says kits most often come with five to seven sticks, and you may need to test several days to catch the surge. Missing a day of testing can mean missing the surge. Bulk strip packs make daily testing across a cycle easier.
How to test and read results
- Collect or dip. Urinate on the stick, or place it in urine collected in a clean container.
- Avoid heavy drinking first. MedlinePlus says do not drink large amounts of fluid before testing.
- Read it. The stick turns a color or shows a positive sign when a surge is detected. Use the booklet in your kit to read the lines, since tests differ.
- Positive means soon. A positive result indicates an LH surge, a sign ovulation may occur soon, often in the next 24 to 36 hours.
Pregmate, one strip maker, says its strips aim to catch the LH surge right before ovulation and that it offers an optional app for logging results. Rarely, MedlinePlus says, false-positive results can occur.
Medicines that affect results
MedlinePlus lists medicines that can change LH levels: estrogens, progesterone and testosterone can decrease them, and estrogens and progesterone are found in birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. Clomiphene citrate, a medicine used to help trigger ovulation, can increase LH levels. The test may also be used to help adjust doses of certain infertility drugs, under a provider's guidance.
Pairing strips with other signs
Ovulation strips predict the release; basal body temperature confirms it afterward, because temperature rises after ovulation. See our basal body thermometer guide for charting. MedlinePlus also describes cervical fluid that becomes slippery, stretchy and clear like egg white near ovulation, and notes that sex every other day or every third day works as well as every day when trying to conceive.
Some kits include pregnancy test strips too; see our pregnancy tests guide for when to test.
When to talk to a provider
MedlinePlus says to talk to your provider if you cannot detect a surge or do not become pregnant after using the kit for several months; you may need to see an infertility specialist. MedlinePlus describes the test as most often used to find when a woman will ovulate to help her get pregnant, so it is not designed for preventing pregnancy. For general lubricant guidance when trying to conceive, see our personal lubricant guide, and note that MedlinePlus says some lubricants can interfere with conception.
What to look for when you buy
easy@Home ovulation test strips, 50 pack
Best for: Daily testing across a whole cycle
MedlinePlus says you may need to test for several days, and missing a day can mean missing the surge.
Watch out: Avoid drinking large amounts of fluid before testing.
See options on AmazonPregmate ovulation test strips
Best for: People who want an app to log results
Pregmate says its strips target the LH surge and offers an optional app for logging.
Watch out: Read results with the kit's booklet.
See options on AmazonClearblue Digital Ovulation Test
Best for: People who prefer a digital readout to reading lines
A digital test shows a clear result instead of comparing line shades.
Watch out: Follow Clearblue's timing instructions for your cycle.
See options on AmazonQuestions people ask
- When should I start using ovulation test strips?
- On day 11 with a 28-day cycle, or 3 to 5 days before expected ovulation, per MedlinePlus.
- How long after a positive ovulation test do you ovulate?
- MedlinePlus says usually within 24 to 36 hours, though not for every woman.
- Do ovulation tests work with irregular cycles?
- They can help, but MedlinePlus says a surge may be harder to detect with irregular cycles.
- Can medicines affect ovulation test results?
- Yes. Estrogens, progesterone and testosterone can lower LH; clomiphene can raise it.
- Should I drink a lot of water before testing?
- No. MedlinePlus says not to drink large amounts of fluid before the test.
Sources
- Ovulation home test (medlineplus.gov), MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Pregnancy - identifying fertile days (medlineplus.gov), MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Pregmate Ovulation Test Strips (pregmate.com), Pregmate