OBGYN and fertility expert Dr. Gleaton breaks down how the time of day might affect the accuracy of your ovulation test.
By Dr. Kenosha Gleaton, Chief Medical Advisor, Natalist
If you’re trying to get pregnant, you’re likely going to start using ovulation tests. Fortunately, these jargon-free instructions make them easy to use, taking out the guesswork and increasing your chances of conceiving.
Why do I need ovulation tests in the first place?
Ovulation tests are extremely helpful when you’re trying to get pregnant, as they can predict when you (you guessed it) are ovulating. Your eggs only live up to a day after they’re released, leaving a rather short period of time for the magic to happen and for fertilization to occur. If you use ovulation tests correctly, they’re 99% effective in detecting the proper hormone surges and helping you find the ideal time to try to conceive.
What is the best time of day to take an ovulation test?
Many women exclusively test for ovulation and pregnancy in the morning, however it’s not the time of day that’s important, but how diluted your urine is. This is also why it’s important you avoid grabbing that water bottle before taking an ovulation test. The more concentrated your urine is, the higher the chances are of accurately detecting luteinizing hormone, AKA the ovulation hormone. The best thing you can do is to test at the same time each day until the test line is almost as dark as the control line. At that point, try testing twice a day just to make sure you don’t miss your surge.
Want to learn more? Read the full article on Natalist.com
