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Pregnancy Test / Ovulation Predictor Guide
Guide to Predicting Ovulation & Testing for Pregnancy

Who would have thought!?

Trying-to-Conceive? Have you been trying for a while? Don't lose heart. You are not alone! Having a baby is not as easy as we thought it would be - when we were 20. Now we are a little older, and actively trying, and it turns out that we may need to fertility chart?!? Use ovulation tests? Spit on a microscope lens? Pee on a stick? Who would have believed...

So the question is: How long should it take? What tests do you need? How do you know if and when you're ovulating - your time of peak fertility?

Your most fertile days are the four to five days prior to ovulation and the day of ovulation. If you have a 28-day cycles then, the fertile days are day 15 and days 10-14. Those are the best days to time intercourse in a 28-day cycle. With cycles that are shorter or longer, fertile days change accordingly. In longer cycles ovulation happens later, and earlier in shorter cycles. Progesterone and estrogen levels may influence the length of the phases prior to and after ovulation (the later is called your luteal phase).

Now, an ovulation test, opk, or ovulation predictor test tells you when to time intercourse, to find those lucky days! How? By detecting the lh surge which takes place a few days before ovulation. A positive on an ovulation test says: My body is getting ready to ovulate, release my ovum, and I am now fertile. Time to make love... Ovulation tests work by detecting lh in urine samples. Testing is accuracte, but follow instructions and know when to begin testing. For lh tests, do not use a morning urine sample; a sample collected between late morning and early evening is recommended.

Home Pregnancy Tests

Today's at-home pregnancy test is accurate - over 99% accurate in clincial settings. Our tests are FDA-Approved, are brand new, and have the maximum-allowable 2-year expiration dates. With any diagnostic kit, we urge you to read our instructions and faqs to optimize test performance! At-home pregnancy tests are about 99% effective when used as instructed. That's the same accuracy rate as most urine pregnancy tests performed in a doctor's office.

To use our pregnancy tests, simply dip the test into a urine sample or urinate directly onto the midstream format test tip: the kits are designed to detect a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG is released into the body by the placenta when a woman is pregnant. hCG hormone also causes some of the symptoms associated with early pregnancy such as breast tenderness.

hCG levels and the rate of hCG production differs among women. However, our tests can begin detecting pregnancy at 7-10 days past ovulation (DPO) on average. If the test is negative this early, we do recommend follow up tests. Below you will find some basic tips and guidelines for pregnancy testing:

• Use your first morning urine when possible (when hCG levels are most easily detected). If not, hold your urine for at least 4 hours.
• Do not drink excessive amounts of fluids before the test, which may increase the volume of urine. This could dilute the hCG level in the urine sample.
• Read the directions included in the test thoroughly! Accuracy is a coefficient of proper procedure!
• Some fertility drugs containing hCG may interfere with the test results.
• In addition, if there is a problem with the pregnancy, such as an ectopic pregnancy, hCG levels may be low. See your doctor if you are unsure about the test's results.

With a little luck, you will soon see a BFP - a big fat positive (test line)!

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