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You have decided to start a family, congratulations! The key to conceiving a child is knowing when you are fertile. Women are only fertile for about 24 hours each cycle, men, on the other hand, are fertile 24/7.
Home ovulation tests can help you know when you’re fertile. Read our review of the top picks and what else you can do to conceive a child successfully.
Article Overview
What Is Ovulation?
When does ovulation occur? Ovulation is the third phase of the menstrual cycle and occurs around two weeks before menstruation begins. This phase in the female menstrual cycle is when an egg travels through the fallopian tube. It then can be fertilized by a sperm and the woman can become pregnant.
The life span of a typical matured egg is only 24 hours, so unless it meets sperm within this 24 hour period, it will die. Sperm can live five days in a woman, so if sperm is present at all during that 24 hour period, conception can occur. However, since the egg only survives 24 hours it is typically the day before, and the day following ovulation that conception occurs.
What Do Ovulation Test Kits Track?
Ovulation predictor kits detect the presence of the luteinizing hormone, also known as LH, in urine. LH increases just before a woman ovulates, which is the most fertile time of the month to conceive. This spike in LH is known as the LH surge and is the hormonal change that releases the egg.
Best Ovulation Predictor Kits
Before we get into our ovulation kit reviews, we want to point out a few tips on how to get the most accurate results for your ovulation cycle.
- The best time to take the ovulation test is between 10am and 8pm (ideally between 2pm and 2:30pm) unless otherwise noted
- Ovulation predictor kits have expiration dates on them, pay attention to these dates
- You do not need to begin using the tests until approximately day 10 of your period; however, this can vary from each woman
- Use an ovulation calendar, aka track your ovulation monthly, to help you more easily predict when you will ovulate.
Now, let’s get to reading about the best ovulation calculator so you can become a parent soon.
Easy@Home Review
#1
Easy@Home is our pick for the best ovulation test.
To use these Easy@Home test strips, dip the strip in urine for 3 seconds. Within two to five minutes you will have your results. One line should always appear, this is the control line. If a second line appears and is faded, the test is negative. However, if the second line looks as dark as the control line, it means you are ovulating.
These Easy at Home ovulation calculators predict ovulation 24 to 48 hours in advance. These tests are FDA approved and report 99.8% accuracy. The biggest complaint is that people get false positives with these fertility calculators.
Pricing & Tech Specs
- $15.98 ($0.32 / Count) for 50 tests
- Recommended to use the test in the afternoon, although you can take it anywhere from 10am to early evening
ClearBlue Review
#2
ClearBlue has an excellent reputation and is our #2 pick for best fertility monitor.
To use ClearBlue’s ovulation test you need to first insert a test strip into the test holder—it will click into place. Place the stick in your urine stream for five to seven seconds or collect a sample and submerge it for fifteen seconds. Keep the stick pointing downwards or lay it flat while you wait for it to calculate your ovulation—this will take about three minutes. A blank circle means you are not ovulating, and a smiley face indicates your two most fertile days, you can now try for a baby within the next 48 hours to maximize your chances.
ClearBlue is over 99% accurate. The only “negative” we found is that, depending on the time you take the tests, sometimes it misses your LH surge. We suggest taking the test first thing in the morning to maximize accuracy.
Pricing & Tech Specs
- $36.49 ($1.82 / Count) for 20 tests
- Take test any time of the day
Wondfo Review
#3
Wondfo rounds out our top three by taking the #3 spot for best ovulation predictor. Wondfo strips are FDA approved and 99% accurate.
Immerse the test strip in urine for three seconds, then lay flat and read your results in five minutes. There should be one line, which signifies the control line and that the test is working. If there is a second line that is as dark as the first line, it means you are ovulating. If there is no second line, or if it is rather faint, it means you are not ovulating yet.
The biggest complaint we saw was that some Amazon buyers received fake Wondfo strips. So, make sure you’re ordering the genuine product (our link above takes you to the manufacturer’s product sale).
Pricing & Tech Specs
- $14.99 ($0.30 / Count) for 50 tests
- Take the test mid afternoon
Know Your Body
You don’t have to be trying to get pregnant to use ovulation tests. Victoria from FemmeHead was tracking her ovulation to learn more about her body. She also has a good method for documenting her ovulation, so be sure to check it out.
Other Ovulation Test Reviews
Read the rest of the ovulation kits we reviewed by clicking one of the links below or scrolling down. Just because they didn’t make our top three doesn’t mean they won’t work for you.
AccuMed | ClinicalGuard | First Response
AccuMed Review
To use these ovulation test strips, you immerse the test into urine for three seconds. The results are read five minutes later. One line means you are not ovulating, and two lines mean ovulation will occur. If two lines appear, ovulation will occur 24-48 hours later.
AccuMed is FDA approved, and the results are over 99% accurate. The only negative we could find is that users state the second line is sometimes faint, so it may be difficult to tell if you’re ovulating or not.
Pricing & Tech Specs
- [amazon_textlink asin=’B00R55X77G’ text=’AccuMed’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’earthsfriends-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’374a1f39-e8c3-11e6-b582-15221e551bf5′] for 50 tests
- Most accurate if used first thing in the morning
ClinicalGuard Review
To use the ClinicalGuard ovulation test strips submerge the strip into urine for three seconds. Be sure you do not immerse the strip into the urine past the max line. Remove the strip from the urine and let is set for five minutes. After five minutes you can read your results. One stripe should always show up, this is the control line, which tells you the test is working. If a second line appears, it means you are ovulating and fertile. Keep in mind the intensity of the second line may vary depending on the amount of LG detected in the urine.
The downside? At the time of writing, 12% of reviews on Amazon were one star and most of them said the strips didn’t work for them.
Pricing & Tech Specs
- $16.49 ($0.24 / Count) for 50 tests
- Does not state what time to use the strips
First Response Review
The First Response Ovulation Test has more precise instructions than its competitors. It comes with seven ovulation tests that predict the two days each month when you are most likely to become pregnant. It also has a pregnancy test to detect all forms of the pregnancy hormone.
The First Response test claims a 99% accuracy rate. However, many users are displeased with their experience, which is why they are not among our top picks.
To use, hold the test in your urine stream for five seconds. Wait three to five minutes, and you’ll have your results. If either test reads with two lines, then you are ovulating or pregnant (depending on which test).
Pricing & Tech Specs
Other Ways To Track Ovulation
Are you struggling to get pregnant? There are other signs you can track throughout your cycle that tell you your body is fertile. These signs of ovulation include the following:
- Chart your basal body temperature – a temperature shift occurs
- Cervix position – during ovulation the cervix is soft and higher up
- Check your cervical fluid – fluid that looks like egg whites is a sign that you are approaching ovulation or are ovulating
- Use a calendar – a fertility calendar can be used to track all of this information to help keep your data organized, any calendar will do
- If pregnancy, use a conception calculator to find when your success occurred
If, after using a home ovulation kit, you’re still struggling with conceiving a child, consider both partners seeing an OBGYN and making sure everything is in check. Charting your basal body temperature, cervix position and cervical fluid takes practice. Don’t feel defeated; it is easy to get confused. Talk with your doctor about what else you can do to have a child.
And once you do become a parent, check out our parenting tips, including a guide to starting a baby on solids and using washable cloth diapers.
Why are you tracking your ovulation?
