Best Ovulation Strips

Many factors must align for couples who want to conceive a child successfully; this is why the process of becoming pregnant can be complicated and stressful for some couples. There are many new and innovative technologies that are currently, or have been recently developed that work towards making the process of conceiving a child easier, and more predictable as well.

 

Ovulation strips are an affordable product, and they are commonly available for purchase. Ovulation strips allow couples to plan the most effective time to try to conceive. To utilize ovulation strips to their full potential. However, it is important for couples to understand what ovulation strips are, how they work, and which ovulation strip might work best for them.

 

What Is An Ovulation Strip?

An ovulation test essentially predicts when a woman will be most fertile, or most likely to become pregnant. When a woman is ovulating, she is at a point in her menstrual cycle, in which the egg has just been released from one of the ovaries and is making its way to attach itself to the wall of the uterus.

 

Women are fertile for five days before ovulation but are at peak fertility in the last three days before beginning to ovulate. If a couple is aiming to become pregnant, then they should plan to have sexual intercourse during the few days before the woman begins to ovulate.

 

Most couples, however, do not know exactly when this peak period of fertility takes place. Additionally, for women who have irregular menstrual cycles, predicting ovulation can become a significant challenge, especially when distracted by thoughts of trying to conceive among the other daily stresses of life.

 

Ovulation tests are meant to tell couples when a woman is near ovulation, and are recommended as a highly helpful tool in conception due to the fact the process of ovulation cannot be physically seen or felt.

 

Ovulation test strips, time and again, prove themselves to be one of the most affordable and reliable options available for aiding in the conception of a child, and there are many different types of ovulation test strips available to women that help predict when she will ovulate.

 

Other methods of predicting ovulation involve the processes of tracking basal body temperature and recording cervical mucus patterns. These methods, however, can prove faulty, as these variables are hard to measure and compare between different pregnant women. If using the science of predicting ovulation through temperature, women must take their basal body temperature at the same time every day, making sure to track each temperature reading on a chart.

 

The alternate method of recording cervical mucus patterns requires women to get a little more personal than they may be comfortable doing by examining vaginal discharge and recording any details to determine high fertility days within the menstrual cycle. Many women find that these two methods are undesirable, inconsistent, too complicated, or too demanding. Ovulation test strips make for a great alternative.

 

Ovulation strips work by measuring the amount of the luteinizing hormone (LH) in a woman’s body. This hormone is responsible for the release of a woman’s fertilized eggs every month. If an increase in LH is detected on an ovulation strip, this means that the woman is about to ovulate, or in the process of ovulation, and is at the most fertile point in her menstrual cycle.

 

The test itself bears a similarity to pregnancy tests that are available for purchase, in that ovulation strips are dipped into the woman’s urine for several seconds, before being placed onto a clean and dry surface to allow results to develop. Two colored bands appear on the test strip when it is ready for reading. Shading of the band of color depends on the brand of ovulation strip manufacturer and is what tells the woman whether she is in the process of ovulation or not.

 

How To Choose The Best Ovulation Strips

When choosing the most appropriate brand of ovulation strip, there are a few questions to consider.

The first question has to do with the object of money. On the more expensive end of the spectrum are test kits that include a digital monitor used to read and record results. Most other ovulation strips, however, are a very affordable option in predicting the days in which a woman is ovulating. Many of these test strips come in multiples so that a woman can test several times at a relatively low cost, and throughout her menstrual cycle.

 

Another question to consider when selecting a brand of ovulation strip is whether or not the instructions given on the package are clear and concise. Some brands may not provide clear instructions for those trying to utilize the technology to its full potential.

 

Consumers need to make sure that they know how the test works, and how to read the results, or they may find that their money has been wasted. Those having trouble, or who are still unsure how to use an ovulation strip, can refer to a qualified doctor or midwife, or contact the manufacturer directly, to ask the necessary questions that will ensure proper use.

 

False Predictions

A few precautions should be considered when using ovulation test strips to predict fertility. No test is deemed to be one hundred percent accurate, so women hoping to conceive should take caution with their hopes. Sometimes an ovulation strip detects a surge in the luteinizing hormone, but for some reason, no egg was released.

 

In this case, the woman may appear to be at a fertile point in her menstrual cycle, when in reality she is not. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a condition that causes women produce increased levels of testosterone. Women with this condition commonly use ovulation strips and read false results due to irregular spikes in the luteinizing hormone.

 

An additional note to consider is that ovulation tests work best when taken around the ovulation period of the menstrual cycle. When first beginning the process of conception, women should use ovulation tests strips regularly, especially if the woman has a history of irregular menstrual cycles.

 

Understanding the menstrual cycle, and utilizing tools like ovulation strips, can help couples immensely on their journey towards parenthood. While ovulation strips offer an affordable and relatively simple testing process, it is important to understand that other options are available, if there is extreme difficulty in the process of conception.

 

Working with a fertility doctor can give couples additional insight, in additional to other valuable tools that can help couples to plan a healthy and successful pregnancy.