Positive Ovulation Test: When Should You Have Sex?

When planning a family, knowing the best time to start the journey depends on many different factors: Are you in a good financial state? Do you have enough room in your home to expand your family? Are you fertile and ready to get pregnant? A positive ovulation test can help with the latter.

Positive Ovulation Test

For those who want to know the perfect time to conceive, taking this test can act as a guide. Your chances of becoming pregnant will be maximized with ease, so you won’t have to keep wondering if the moment is right.

Sex During Ovulation is the Best time to Conceive 

Quite simply, when you are ovulating, it is the best time to have sex because you are going to be most fertile. This period happens monthly, normally once per menstrual cycle. Your hormones begin to change which then triggers your ovaries to release an egg.

A pregnancy only occurs when the sperm is met with a fertilized egg, so keeping track of your ovulation is essential when planning for a baby.

The LH (luteinizing hormone) will normally surge 1-2 days prior to ovulation. This is how the test determines if you are fertile or not. After you have sex, the sperm can remain active for up to 5 days, explaining why it is possible to become pregnant even days before suspected ovulation.

When Should You Use a Positive Ovulation Test Kit?

When you Notice an Increase in Cervical Mucus: Determining when to test can prove to be tricky, especially if you don’t have a regular menstrual cycle. Pay attention to any vaginal buildup that starts to form. It is common to have discharge that is white or clear in color and has a somewhat sticky consistency. This is cervical mucus, and it is normal to experience this discharge.

When you start seeing the signs to begin testing, try to take the tests at the same time every day. This will improve the accuracy. Although the time of day does not necessarily matter, most suggest that you take it first thing in the morning. It is also recommended to not drink too many liquids up to 4 hours prior to testing.

Are Ovulation Tests Accurate?

The good news is that positive ovulation tests are highly accurate, up to 99%. They are quick to determine the spike in LH, and this is your ultimate indication that ovulation will be soon to follow. Keep in mind that the test is designed to pick up the hormone level, and not necessarily the exact day ovulation begins.

Once you receive a positive test result, the actual ovulation period could happen over the course of the next couple of days. There are a couple of conditions to be aware of that could also impact results. Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome, or LUFS, is when a woman notices a spike in her LH but never releases an egg.

Another one is PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, where small spikes of LH can be seen throughout the menstrual cycle creating uncertainty about when to conceive.

Be Aware of Medication that can Impact Results

Be aware that what you put into your body has the ability to impact test results. If you are on certain medications, taking a test could result in a false positive. A list of medications that are known to impact ovulation results include the following examples:

  • Danazol
  • Menotropins
  • hCG injections
  • Clomiphene citrate

If you are taking hormonal contraceptives, this could also impact results. Talk to your doctor if you have just recently stopped your birth control and wish to get pregnant. It could take up to a few months for your body to return to its regular cycle. It is important to have patience during this time when you are waiting for your period to regulate again.

How to interpret a positive ovulation test

Taking a positive ovulation test is simple and fairly self-explanatory. There are normally two kinds of tests, one that will require you to pee in a cup and use testing strips or a midstream kit. On most tests, there is a control line that is present from the beginning. This is to ensure you that the test is in working order.

A positive indication of ovulation comes in the form of an additional line appearing next to the control line. The line should be somewhat bold.

If the result on your ovulation test is negative, you will not see an additional line. It could take a few tries, so you might want to stock up on tests to ensure that you are able to get clear results.

When Should You Take a Pregnancy Test?

If all goes according to plan, you will have had sex with your partner upon finding out that you are ovulating. So when is an appropriate time to see if you are pregnant?

Don’t jump the gun when it comes to taking pregnancy tests. While it can be hard to remain patient, a pregnancy test normally will not provide accurate results until you have officially missed your first period.

There are some early detection tests on the market, but it is still suggested that you hold off on taking them. If you try too early, you may end up with a false negative. Just remember to keep stress to a minimum during this time and allow things to flow naturally.

It can be discouraging to find out that you are ovulating, try to conceive, and don’t end up getting pregnant. Consistency is important! If things do not work out one month, try again the next.

If you make sure that you have a routine, you will increase your likelihood of getting pregnant. Positive ovulation tests can be a crucial tool that will help you with building your family.

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