How (and Why) to Use At-Home Ovulation Tests To Get Pregnant

So, you want to have a baby. Where to start? It’s not always as easy as it seems. But Ob/Gyn Erica Newlin, MD, says ovulation test strips may be able to help.

What is an ovulation test and how does it work?

Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) tell you when your body is most fertile. This helps you figure out when to have sex for the best chances of getting pregnant.

“Especially if you’re struggling to get pregnant, you may want to consider ovulation predictor kits,” Dr. Newlin says. “They can help you determine the right timing for intercourse.”

There are many types of ovulation tests, including some with digital displays. But analog versions — small paper strips about the length of a pinkie finger — work just as well. No matter what type you use, the gist is the same: You dip the ovulation strip in your urine and wait for a reading. (More on the specifics in a moment!)

Ovulation strips assess the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. Your body produces this hormone to stimulate your ovaries, which triggers them to release an egg. This is called ovulation.

And that’s where OPKs can come in handy.

“Your LH level rises in the 24 to 48 hours before you ovulate,” Dr. Newlin explains. “It’s during this surge that your body is most fertile. That’s when you should be having sex to maximize your chances of getting pregnant.”

OPKs can also be helpful if you’re trying to get pregnant via intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Why you would want to use one

Studies show that ovulation strips are up to 99% effective in helping you figure out when you’re most fertile. Why does this matter? Because each month, there’s only a small window of time when you can get pregnant. This is known as your “fertile window.”

Once an egg ovulates, its lifespan is short — just about 24 hours. You want to know when it’s going to happen so you can have sex at the right time to try to conceive.

While an egg’s lifespan is only 24 hours, male sperm has a slightly longer lifespan, which means you have longer than a one-day timeframe to work with.

Sperm (which is found in semen) can survive in your body for about 72 hours. So, if you have sex or inseminate yourself before you ovulate, that sperm will be ready and waiting once an egg becomes available.

OPKs tell you when that should happen.

“In addition to telling you when your LH levels are surging, ovulation strips also clue you into the fact that a surge is coming,” Dr. Newlin further explains. “So, you have a couple of days to have intercourse before the egg is actually released.”

What they can and can’t tell you

OPKs can help you understand:

• When your LH levels are rising
• When you’re likely to ovulate
• When you’re most likely to be fertile
• When to start having sex to try to conceive

“Ovulation predictor kits may be particularly helpful if you don’t have regular cycles, or if you have longer cycles due to a disorder like PCOS,” Dr. Newlin points out. “They can help you determine the timing of ovulation, which will be different from the standard 28-day cycle.”

But using ovulation strips isn’t a guarantee of pregnancy. They’re just a tool to help you understand when you have the highest likelihood of becoming pregnant. OPK strips can’t tell you:

• The exact date when you’ll ovulate
• The quality of your eggs
• Whether you have any fertility issues
• Whether you’re pregnant

How to use an OPK

There are a few things you need to know before you start using ovulation testing strips.

• Know your cycle. On average, ovulation happens on day 14 of a 28-day menstrual cycle. But everyone is different, so your schedule may vary, especially if your cycle is longer or shorter than 28 days. Before starting OPKs, use an ovulation calendar to get a sense of the timing of your menstrual cycle.
• Start testing a few days before ovulation. Don’t waste ovulation strips by testing every day! Once you know the average length of your cycle, start testing three to five days before you expect to ovulate.
• Test at the same time each day. You may want to do it first thing in the morning, when you haven’t yet drunk enough liquid to dilute your urine sample.
• Follow the instructions carefully. The details vary depending on the product you’re using, so be sure to pay careful attention to the instructions that come with your OPK.

So, how do you use OPKs? Again, each product is different, but basically, it’s usually something like this:

1. Get prepped. Head to the bathroom and wash your hands. Then, open the package and remove the strip.
2. Pee in a cup. Ovulation strips react to your urine, so you need to either pee in a cup or pee directly onto the test strip. But the latter can get messy!
3. Test your ovulation strip. Dip the tip of the ovulation strip into your urine for a few seconds.
4. Read the results. Most displays have two possible lines: the “control” line, which shows up every time, and the “test” line, which gets darker as you’re about to ovulate. Because each product is different, confirm what a positive result looks like for the type you’re using.
5. Time sex (or insemination) accordingly. If your OPK says you’re within your fertile window, that means it’s time to get down to business. Good luck!

Once you’ve ovulated, your strip will go back to showing just one line. If you’re not pregnant, expect your period to come within the next two weeks, and then the cycle will start again.

When to see a doctor

Using ovulation predictor kits can help you better understand trends in your menstrual cycle — and even identify areas of concern.

“If you don’t ovulate, your ovulation kit will not turn positive,” Dr. Newlin says. “If you never see two lines on your ovulation strips, make a doctor’s appointment to further explore any fertility issues.”

When you’re trying to conceive, the rule of thumb is to give yourself at least a year to get pregnant if you’re under age 35 and ovulating regularly. But contact a healthcare provider with any concerns you might have along the way.

“If you have irregular menstrual cycles, or you have questions about using OPKs, or you’re just confused or worried, make an appointment with your provider,” Dr. Newlin urges. “We can talk you through it.”