Table of Contents
- Overview
- Results
- Risks
- Prevention
- Images
An ovulation home test is used by women to help identify the time in the menstrual cycle when they're most likely to become pregnant
The test works by detecting a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. Such a rise, or surge, signals the ovary to release the egg. This at-home test is often used by women to help predict ovulation.
These kits can be bought at most drug stores.
Alternative Names
Luteinizing hormone urine test (home test); Ovulation prediction test; Urinary LH immunoassays; At-home ovulation prediction test; LH urine test
How the test is performed
Ovulation prediction test kits usually come with five to seven sticks. You may need to test for several days to detect a surge in LH. The specific time of month that you start testing depends on the length of your menstrual cycle. For example, if your normal menstrual cycle is 28 days, you'll need to test on day 11 -- that is, the 11th day after you started your period.
You will need to urinate on the test stick, or place the stick into urine that has been collected into a sterile container. The test stick will turn a certain color or display a positive sign if a surge is detected. A positive result means you should ovulate in the next 24 to 36 hours, but this may not be the case for all women. The kit's instruction booklet will tell you how to properly read the results.
If you miss a day, you may miss your surge. You may also miss recording a surge if you have an irregular menstrual cycle.
Images
Review Date: 06/02/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget
Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
