20/03/2009 by admin.

I decided to write about ovulation kits today. There is such a huge choice of ovulation kits available now, that it can be quite confusing which one to go for.

What are ovulation test kits ?

They all work by testing urine for the presence of Luteinising Hormone (LH). LH is the hormone that is released just prior to ovulation and the ovulation test kits detect the LH surge.

This is great because it gives you prior warning of when you are going to ovulate. Research has shown that if you have intercourse just prior to ovulation the sperm are waiting for the egg and that this can increase the chances of conception. This also gives you opportunity to have intercourse on the 3-4 most fertile days of your cycle which again increases the chances of conceiving.

Urine LH test kits are not to be confused with other ovulation detectors that tell you that you have ovulated but do not give you prior notice (ie basal temperature monitoring and saliva ovulation microscopes)

What types of ovulation kits are there ?

There are 3 basics types of urine ovulation kit. They are midstream ovulation kits, cassette ovulation test kits, and ovulation test strips.

The midstream ovulation test kit is the most expensive type of kit. In a midstream ovulation test kit the strip is enclosed in a plastic casing and the user urinates directly on to ovulation tester.Advantages of the midstream test kits are that they are discreet. You do not need to collect a urine sample and they can be performed easily (by most women) in any toilet. Only fiddly bit for some can be directing the urine stream onto the tester without getting splashed with urine (I speak from experience-lol)

The urine is then absorbed by the test strip encased in the sampler and the result read after several minutes. Most tests are interpreted using the appearnace of two lines, except the digital ovulation test kits which give a definite yesy you have ovulated rather than two lines for you to interpret.

 Ovulation Test Cassette Kits are a mid price test. They are more complicated to use than the ovulation midstream or ovulation test strips, however there is less likelyhood of user error performing the test as you use a pipette to add exactly the correct quantitiy of urine. They are very popular with research labs or clinics performing multiple tests as they are highly accurate and give consistent results.

Ovulation Test Stips are the cheapest type of ovulation kits and for some the simplest. You simply dip the test strip into a fresh urine sample, and read the result, after the set time, by interpreting the appearance or not of two lines on the test strip.

Advantages to this type of ovulation test kit is that they are much cheaper to manufacture and therefore much cheaper to buy, although usually just as accurate. Disadvantages are that they require you to collect a urine sample into a container. If you are at work or out and about this is going to be trickier unless you have a very big handbag. If you are testing at work it may be simpler to use a midstream ovulation test kit !

My top tips for performing urine ovulation test kits

1) Always make sure you read the instruction for the ovulation test kit that you are using, before performing the test, as they do vary from test to test, and the time at which you read the result is of significance.

2) Use a timer if possible so you read the test at the correct time. This could be trickier if you are doing it in the toilet at work ! Some of those timers are very loud-lol

3) As you will be performing the ovulation tests over several days, try to perform the ovulation test at the same time each day

4) I have found that it is best not to have a drink for 2 hours before I perform a LH test

5) make sure the place you are performing the test is well lit-this helps in two ways-you can see what you are doing so the likelyhood of getting urine all over the floor or all over you is reduced, and it makes interpreting the test much easier if you can see it properly.

6) If you are testing over several months, it may be worth trying different type or brand of ovulation test kits each month until you find the one that suits your needs & your budget the best.

Posted in Ovulation, Ovulation Kits, LH Tests, LH Surge, Ovulation Prediction, Ovulation Tests | 1 Comment »

05/11/2008 by admin.

How to take your Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

1. Taking Your BBT Temperature

Your Basal Body Temperature is probably best taken orally (simplest in my opinion ), by placing the thermometer under your tongue. BBT temperature refers to a ‘resting’ or ‘base’ temperature. That means that your BBT must be measured before activity, after at least four hours of sleep. Take your BBT temperature first thing each morning (ideally at the same time each morning) - as soon as you wake up and before you get out of bed or have a cup of tea! Other things such as hot drinks, infections, illness etc can affect your BBT reading.

2. Charting Your BBT Temperature
Starting on day one of your menstrual cycle - the first day of your period - begin recording your BBT temperature using graph paper. Each morning, record your temperature. Plot each day’s BBT on the a graph. Your temperature rise may be sudden, gradual, or in steps. The pattern may vary from cycle to cycle.

3. Predicting Ovulation
Typically a rise of at least 0.4 to 0.6 degrees centigrade or  will take place at ovulation, though for different women the temperature increases may be sudden or gradual. Over time, charting you BBT will help you predict ovulation.

It is important to remember that the rise in your BBT (basal body temperature) does not tell you when you are most fertile or about to ovulate. It tells you when you already have ovulated. Women are most fertile in the few days before their peak temperature.

Click here to see Digital Thermometers suitable for BBT

Posted in Fertile Time, Signs of Ovulation, Basal Body Temperature, BBT, Ovulation, Natural Fertility Methods | 12 Comments »

04/11/2008 by admin.

I think I’m  ovulating -how can I tell ?

Cervical mucus is clear, sticky & kind of stringy just before ovulation-this is called Spinbarkeit mucus (I think-I will check spelling later) and signifies the most fertile time of the cycle. This slippery  stretchy cervical mucus resembles uncooked egg whites.

It is this clear, wet & stringy ’egg-white type’ cervical  mucus, which helps the sperm move freely from the vagina, through the cervix, and into the uterus in search of an newly released egg. This is the most fertile time in a woman’s cycle.

p.s I looked it up online and it looks like this fertile cervical mucus is called Spinbarkeit mucus although I found a couple of different spellings-not sure which was in right.

Posted in Signs of Ovulation, Fertile Time, Cervical Mucus, Ovulation, Natural Fertility Methods | No Comments »

31/10/2008 by admin.

Ovatel Ovulation Microscope

Ovatel is a simply designed plastic saliva ovulation detector microscope that requires no batteries, with 54x magnification .
Ovatel uses natural back light for viewing. The Ovatel ovulation microscope is 98% accurate.

Calista Ovulation Microscope

The Calista saliva ovulation microscope is 98% accurate. Each Calista is supplied with batteries.

Calista Ovulation Microscope has a  powerful 67X magnification lens.

Babystart Focus Ovulation Microscope

The Babystart Focus ovulation microscope is 98% accurate. Each babystart Focus Ovulation Microscope is supplied batteries.

Babystart Focus looks just like a quality metal case lipstick.

Babystart Focus Ovulation Microscope has a  50X magnification lens.

Donna Saliva Ovulation Microscope

The Donna Saliva Ovulation Microscope is 98% accurate.

The Donnna ovulation microscope has a 68X Power Magnification lens

ISIS Ovulation Microscope

The ISIS ovulation microscope is 99% accurate. Auto on/off light function via a photo electric cell in the barrel

Easy to change batteries. 60x lens magnification.  Quality metal/enamel case that looks just like lipstick.

Click here to see all these ovulation microscopes and for more info

Posted in Ovulation, Ovulation Microscopes, Ovulation Prediction, Ovulation Tests | No Comments »