How to Optimize Your Fertility with Ovulation Testing

If you’ve been trying to conceive without success, you may be feeling frustrated, discouraged, and even a little bit hopeless. The good news is that there are things you can do to increase your chances of conceiving. One important step is to start tracking your ovulation.

What is Ovulation?

Ovulation is the process by which your body releases an egg from one of your ovaries. This usually happens around day 14 of your menstrual cycle, but it can vary from woman to woman and cycle to cycle.

The released egg then travels down your fallopian tube towards your uterus. If you have sex during this time, the sperm can fertilize the egg, and you may become pregnant.

How Can I Tell When I’m Ovulating?

There are a few different ways to tell when you’re ovulating. You can keep track of your basal body temperature (BBT) or use an ovulation predictor kit (OPK).

Basal Body Temperature: Your BBT is your temperature when you first wake up in the morning. It’s usually lower than it is the rest of the day but starts to rise after ovulation. You can track your BBT with a special fertility thermometer. Look for a small increase—usually less than half a degree—a week or so after ovulation. Keep in mind that other things, like illness, can also affect your temperature, so it’s best to use this method in combination with others.

Ovulation Predictor Kits: OPKs work by detecting luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine. Just before ovulation, there’s a surge of LH in the body, which causes the ovary to release an egg. OPKs are easy to use and relatively accurate but can be expensive if you need to use them for several months in a row..

By tracking your ovulation, you can take control of your fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant. Basal body temperature and ovulation predictor kits are both effective methods for tracking ovulation. If you have any questions or concerns about fertility or conception, don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare provider for guidance.