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Fertility & Ovulation Predictor Tests
"Know when you ovulate"...

Typically taking place during the middle of the menstrual cycle, ovulation is defined as the release of the mature egg (ovum) from the ovarian follicle. Once released, the egg is capable of being fertilized for 12 to 24 hours. If the released ovum or egg is fertilized (usually in the fallopian tube) and implantation takes place in the uterus, the result is pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, it will disintegrate after 24 hours and will be passed from the reproductive tract during menstruation (along with the shedding of the endometrium), which begins about 15 days or so after ovulation.

Fertility and Ovulation Prediction

Ovulation is the period of peak fertility. Your most fertile period starts about 4 days before ovulation, and ends about 24 hours following the release of the egg. Because the sperm can live in a woman's body for 5 days or so, a woman's fertile period is actually longer than the 24 hour live-span of the ovum. To increase your chances of conceiving and becoming pregnant, predicting the days of peak fertility - and more specifically predicting the date of ovulation - is key. To maximize the your chances of becoming pregnant, Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com suggests a number of proven methods, including ovulation testing, using a saliva ovulation predictor test, fertility charting with a basal thermometer, and examining physical phenomena like changes in cervical mucous, cervical position, and discomfort in the lower abdomen (mittelschmerz).

Timing Intercourse: The best or most fertile time to get pregnant is the period of before and during ovulation. A woman is most fertile during the time following the LH surge, when the mature ovum is released from the follicle: ovulation. The best way to determine your most fertile time is to pay attention to your body, fertility chart with a basal thermometer, spot the physical signs of ovulation, or use testing tools like ovulation tests or ovulation microscopes.

Different diagnostic kits use different methods of pinpointing your most fertile time. An urine lh kit tells you when you are about to ovulate by detecting elevated levels of the hormone LH. Saliva ferning scopes detect the increase in the hormone estrogen (or estrogen surge). A computerized or digital fertility monitor (Clearplan Easy, Clearblue Easy) employs both luteinizing hormone and estrogen in determining when you are most likely to become pregnant.

Luteinizing Hormone, Ovulation and Ovulation Tests

Ovulation Tests: Luteinizing hormone in elevated quantities facilitates ovulation. During the rest of the menstrual cycle, only a small amount of LH is produced, but in the middle of the cycle LH briefly and dramatically increases. This increase is called the "LH surge" and precedes ovulation. Conception is most likely to occur within thirty-six hours following the LH surge. The LH Ovulation Test (ovulation predictor kit) is specifically designed to detect your LH surge - the time when you are likely to ovulate.

Saliva Ovulation Tests: Saliva ovulation tests predict ovulation in a similar way, by detecting fluctuations in hormone levels. However, saliva ovulation tests (ovulation microscopes like Fertile Focus), detect changes in the hormone estrogen. Before ovulation takes place, a gradual estrogen increase takes place. With the ovulation microscope, you predict fertility by viewing the visual changes that take place in your saliva throughout your cycle. Just prior to ovulation, women experience this "estrogen surge", which is less sudden than an LH surge any thereby helps you predict ovulation as much as 72 hours in advance. The ovulation saliva test allows you to observe crystal patterns that become present in your saliva due to this increase in estrogen. The crystal pattern is called "ferning" (as the patterns resemble fern fronds), and when you see strong ferning patterns, you know you are fertile and ovulation will take place in the next few days.

Both types of tests exhibit different strengths. LH urine ovulation tests indicate that ovulation is about to take place in the next 24-36 hours, and ovulation microscopes all you to predict ovulation and fertility a few more days in advance, allowing you to plan sex 2 to 3 days before ovulation to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

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