Let's get to know the basics of ovulation test kits and how they work. Get this straight, using ovulation test kits will not help you conceive. However, they can help you know when you should start getting sexy busy with your partner to get preggers!
There are basically two sorts of ovulation test kits in the market: a) those that test your urine and (b) those that test your saliva.
What Are They For?
Ovulation test kits or also known as Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPK) help you to identify your fertile window. While it doesn't help you conceive, it's a great way to find out whether you're already ovulating. This way, it helps increase your chances for success when you're trying to conceive.
These can come in handy if you and your husband are already planning to add a new member to your family!
Types Of Ovulation Test Kits
As mention before, there are two types of ovulation predictor kits to help you determine whether you're ovulating. You can try either for when you and the hubby are set to try conceiving!
To put both ways in more detail, here are the two types of OPKs you should know:
Urine-based ovulation test kit
Yes, they also call it a pee stick for obvious reasons. It can detect the surge of a Luteinizing hormone (LH) in your body that naturally happens up to one or two days before you start ovulating.
Know this, a small amount of LH will always be in your blood and urine at all times. However, before you start ovulating, the amount of LH can hike up to two to five times its normal level.
Saliva-based ovulation test kit
Just as the name suggests, the saliva-based test will test your saliva. Test my saliva for? You ask. Well, the answer is for rising salt levels. As oestrogen levels go up, guess what? The salt content of your spit will follow suit and increase too.
What are two major benefits of a saliva-based ovulation test kit? It's a one-time-only purchase, as the lens can be washed and reused, and the fact that it's convenient to use at any place or any time. You don't have to wait for a full bladder, and you're never going to run out of saliva!
Both types of ovulation test kits are easy to find. You can get them at Guardian or Watson stores across Singapore.
Although take note that if you happen to already have a microscope and slide at home - for whatever reason - you can test your saliva through this method as well!
But while saliva-based ovulation test kits are just as helpful, most doctors prefer the urine test to the saliva test.
How Accurate Are These Tests?
The accuracy of ovulation test kits is found to be high most of the time. But you might find them less reliable if you have very irregular periods, have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or are taking certain medications like fertility drugs, birth control pills and antibiotics.
So do remember that they're not 100 per cent accurate. But overall, OPKs can be extremely helpful as they are both effective and completely safe to use.
To know more about them, you can watch the video below to see how accurate ovulation test kits are:
