Ovulation Testing: Are You Giving Yourself Your Best Chance to Get Pregnant?

Way to go on preparing yourself for your journey toward pregnancy! 

You’ve purchased your ovulation tests, you’re tracking with the free Premom ovulation tracker app to help you time intercourse, and you’ve started testing right before predicted ovulation.  

You’re setting yourself up for success . . . right?

Possibly not.

Our research indicates that many users actually aren’t testing enough.  A recent Premom study into the frequency of ovulation testing and the likelihood of finding “peak” indicates that those who test longer throughout their cycle have an increased chance of finding peak (and therefore ovulation day). 

How Much Ovulation Testing is Enough Testing?

Users who tested through at least ⅓ of their cycle greatly increased their chance of finding a LH peak. Use the chart below to find the suggested number of testing days according to your average cycle length. 

Why Can Testing More Often Help You Better Find Your LH Peak?

1. Your initial app prediction may not be accurate. Your initial ovulation prediction is just that -- a prediction!  It can take a little time for you and the app to learn your own personal fertility cycle pattern. Your first ovulation prediction in the app is based on statistical data, but over time Premom learns and adapts to your own unique pattern based on the results from your ovulation tests.  We recommend testing all the way through your cycle at least once (generally after your period flow), particularly when you are new to testing or have just started testing again after important events like coming off of birth control and stopping breastfeeding. Learn more about the 2 main ovulation testing patterns in the blog “How to Get Pregnant Fast.”
2. You may be testing too early -- or too late! Your ovulation day can change from cycle-to-cycle. It can fluctuate by a few days -- or even more, particularly during periods of stress. Some women frequently have irregular cycles, but ovulation day can vary for anyone, even those with more regular cycles. If you are having trouble finding your peak, extending your testing window (as well as considering increasing your testing to 2 or more times a day) can improve your chances of catching that surge before ovulation day. 
3. Your first peak may not be your true peak. In the published study “Relationships Between the Luteinizing Hormone Surge and Other Characteristics of the Menstrual Cycle in Normally Ovulating Women” it was found that only 48% of the cycles studied had a single peak. 11% had a plateau pattern, 33% cycles had 2 peaks, and 8% had more than 2 peaks! Particularly if you tend to have irregular and/or longer cycles you may need to test longer to ensure you have found your true peak.  Learn more about multiple peaks and why they can happen in “Surges and Peaks: Gradual Onset.”

Give Yourself The Best Chance to Get Pregnant Fast

Make sure you have plenty of time to get comfortable with your ovulation tests and learn your cycle pattern, and also be prepared for the unexpected. It’s a good idea to confirm you ovulated with a BBT (basal body temperature) thermometer. Once the app has identified your spike and coverline from your BBT Tracking, you can confidently stop ovulation testing for the cycle. It’s recommended to track your BBT daily; in the same Premom study mentioned above, users who tracked BBT for at least 80% of their cycle were 77% likely to find their BBT spike (even more likely when greater than 80%).

Let Premom guide you through best testing practices and be your accountability partner through the free 9 Cycle Guarantee Program.  You can monitor your progress in finding peak and targeting intercourse from cycle to cycle and can check in with a Premom Provider for further assistance after 6 cycles of trying.  Premom continually strives to provide the most up-to-date tools and information to support you on your journey to motherhood.