You may find it unappealing to track your basal body temperature and cervical mucus on a daily basis, but you still want to know when you are ovulating in order to maximize your chances of getting pregnant. While the OV-Watch Fertility Predictor is no longer available, you may consider using an ovulation predictor kit if you have been trying to conceive for a few months without success.
Ovulation tests detect a surge in the luteinizing hormone (LH), which occurs a day or two before ovulation. This can be helpful to know when to time having sex. However, there are a few words of caution when it comes to ovulation tests:
- While ovulation tests detect a surge in the LH hormone, they cannot confirm whether ovulation actually takes place a day or two later. In some cases, women may have a surge in the LH hormone, but an egg is not released. This is known as Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome (LUFS).
- Ovulation tests are only accurate when taken around ovulation. Ovulation kits oftentimes only come with about a week’s worth of tests, which may not be enough to cover the time frame during which you could ovulate. Even further, it may be more difficult to know when to begin taking ovulation tests for women who have irregular cycles. As such, it is best to wait with testing until you notice fertile-quality cervical mucus.
- Some women experience false LH surges during which the luteinizing hormone has small peaks before it fully peaks. This could lead to you to time intercourse too early. Such false LH surges are common in women with the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
If you have used ovulation predictor kits for a couple of months and are still having difficulty conceiving, you may consider charting your basal body temperature and cervical mucus either exclusively or in combination with ovulation predictor kits. Your body provides valuable insight into your fertility. An awareness of these signs can promote your efforts to conceive.
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Compiled using information from the following sources:
1. Weschler, T. (2002). Taking charge of your fertility. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
