Ovulation is the middle of the menstrual cyclewomen, during which the egg matures and prepares for fertilization. During this period, the egg leaves the ovaries and moves to the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs. When does maturation occur and how can an ovulation test determine this? These questions worry many women planning a pregnancy. Depending on the length of the menstrual cycle, ovulation can occur on the 10th-16th day from the beginning of menstruation. However, such a calculation is very approximate and is only suitable in cases where the cycle is stable and repeats at equal intervals. In this case, the female body works exactly like a clock. It is worth considering that when the ovulation rhythm changes due to abortions, after childbirth, after the age of 40, determining the "x" hour can become very problematic. Maturation of the egg, which is ovulation, does not occur in healthy women during pregnancy and with the complete fading of menstrual function during menopause. In the presence of certain diseases of the reproductive system, ovulation may be absent. To choose the best time to conceive a child, it is advisable to know the exact period of ovulation. When is the probability of pregnancy the highest? Fertilization will be successful if the man's sperm enters the woman's body exactly at the time when the egg leaves the ovarian cavity. It is worth considering that sperm can remain active for several days, so pregnancy can occur even if unprotected intercourse occurred shortly before ovulation. However, the chances of achieving pregnancy with the ejaculation of male semen exactly at the time of egg maturation are high. This period is determined in several ways: by calendar calculation, taking into account the day of the beginning and end of menstruation, by measuring basal temperature rectally, using ovulation tests, by subjective signs of the woman's well-being. The absence of ovulation becomes an insurmountable obstacle to conception and requires drug treatment.

How does the ovulation test work?

Among other methods for determining ripeningegg cells, the most practical and one of the most accurate is considered to be the use of a test to determine ovulation. What is the basis for the action of these strips? The fact is that during each menstrual cycle, at least one follicle matures in the ovaries, resulting in an increase in the amount of female hormones in the body - estrogens. As the follicle develops and increases, the amount of hormones increases. At the moment when the level of estrogens reaches the level necessary for ovulation, another hormone is released in the woman's body - luteinizing (LH). Within 24-48 hours from this moment, the ovulation process occurs, when the egg is released and rushes into the fallopian tube to meet the sperm. The test reacts to the appearance of luteinizing hormone in the urine and reflects its presence. When should you use the test? It is worth clarifying that the time required for the development of the follicle is individual for different women. Accordingly, the test should be started on about the 11th day from the 1st day of the beginning of the last menstruation. Usually, the maturation phase of the egg lasts 12-16 days. Accordingly, if the cycle is on average 28 days, then you need to use the test strip on the 11th day, and if the cycle length is 32 days, then use it from the 15th day from the beginning of the menstruation. If the cycle is unstable, it is worth taking the shortest period between menstruations over the past 6 months to calculate ovulation and start testing as early as possible so as not to miss the cherished period. With periodic long delays and irregularity of the onset of menstruation, monitoring changes in hormonal levels using test strips should be done daily, starting from the 11th day of the cycle until ovulation is determined. If the ovulation test is used daily, and even better twice a day, during the expected period of maturation of the egg, then this method shows excellent results, especially in combination with ultrasound.

Types of tests for ovulation

For home use, non-device types of tests are used, which are presented in several varieties.

Test strips are an economical option, the mostpopular pregnancy test. It is a thin strip of paper material impregnated with a special reagent that reacts to the presence of LH in a woman's urine. Despite the cost-effectiveness, test strips have a number of disadvantages. The study must be carried out very carefully, immersing the test in urine to a certain depth for a long period of time from several minutes to half an hour. If the instructions are not followed even slightly, the result may be incorrect. The presence of ovulation is determined by the appearance of a second contrast strip on the test.

Tablet tests also look similar to the cassette onestests for pregnancy. It is a test strip enclosed in a plastic case with a window for observing the results. They are also used to determine the release of LH into urine. Tablets are more expensive than strips, but are much more effective: to determine the ovulation it is enough to moisten the test in the urine and within 5 minutes to evaluate the result.

Jet tests today are considered the most reliable and modern. To determine the presence of ovulation with an accuracy of 98% is easy: it is enough to moisten the test in the urine and after 1 minute the result will be reflected.

Electronic tests differ from others in thatTo determine the presence of chlorides in the body, a woman uses saliva. This method is the most accurate and has no competitors. The saliva is placed under the lens, and the result is estimated by the characteristic pattern on the saliva, which can be observed through a microscope or a special sensor. One of these devices and a detailed instruction on the characteristics of possible saliva patterns are contained in the kit with the lens. This type of tests is the most expensive and effective.

Reusable tests are a set with a set of simple test strips for each day.

It is worth noting that any ovulation testdetermines the presence of LH in the body, which is necessary for ovulation to occur, but in rare cases this does not guarantee the occurrence of ovulation. This is possible if a woman has abnormalities in the health of the reproductive system. When buying a test, special attention should be paid to the expiration date of the device, the quality of the packaging, and the storage conditions. A high-quality certified product must have a stamp with the date of manufacture, as well as the batch number. Otherwise, there is a high probability of running into a fake.

Application of the test

Experts recommend testingsystematically during the period when ovulation should occur. The tests should be carried out daily, at the same time of day. It is considered optimal to use tests twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. This is due to the fact that the period favorable for conception lasts only 24-48 hours: the sooner a woman finds out about the approach of ovulation and has sexual intercourse, the higher the probability of successful conception. To increase the effectiveness of the study, it is recommended to refrain from urinating for 4 hours before the test, and also to limit fluid intake during this period. These measures are aimed at improving the concentration of LH in the urine and increasing the reliability of the study. If the test is used once a day, it is advisable to use it in the morning, immediately after waking up. The test results are evaluated in comparison with the control line. Depending on the type of device used, it can be in a special window or directly on the strip soaked in the reagent. The control line is always displayed and does not serve as an indicator of ovulation, it is necessary to determine the intensity of hormonal release. So, if the second strip is paler than the control one, then the hormone is present in the urine in insufficient quantities for ovulation to occur. But if the second strip is the same color or darker than the control one, then the hormone has been released and ovulation is about to occur or is already occurring. From this period, you need to count the hours during which the probability of pregnancy during intercourse is highest.

Probability of errors

Unfortunately, there may be cases where the test maymake a mistake. In some cases, it is impossible to reliably determine the onset of ovulation due to hormonal imbalances, when the test shows a hormone release, but the egg does not mature for some physiological reasons. An increase in LH levels in the body is not a 100% guarantee of ovulation. Tests can show false results not only in the presence of diseases, but also with a sharp change in climate, stressful situations, a strict diet, or the cancellation of hormonal drugs. The presence of other hormones can also affect the test results. Thus, a pregnant girl can take a test and detect ovulation, which will be a consequence of an increase in estrogen in the body, as well as an increase in the level of hCG. Before purchasing an ovulation test, you should carefully study the principles of action of this drug and choose the appropriate type. It is necessary to strictly follow the instructions, correctly carry out the procedure and evaluate its results.

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