When do i start taking ovulation tests

The best time to take an ovulation test is with the second morning urine – roughly between 10 am and noon. The ovulation predictor test looks for a hormone called LH or luteinizing hormone in your urine. LH hormone surges 24 to 36 hours before you ovulate. If the surge occurs first thing in the morning, it can take 4 hours for the hormone to be detected, so your first morning urine may miss it. Below we look to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about when to take ovulation tests.

How many days after your period should you take an ovulation test?

Day one is the first day of your period. If you have 28 day cycles, test between days 10 to 18. If your cycles are longer but regular, like 32 days, start 32 minus 28 or 4 days later – days 14 to 22.

See a Fertility specialist (Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility or REI MD) if you’re not pregnant after up to a year of trying and you’re 34 years old or under, or not pregnant after six months of trying if you’re 35-39. See a REI soon if you have irregular cycles, or if you’re 40 or older. Even with a fertility specialist, conceiving can take time, so please do not wait too long to seek help.

When to Take an Ovulation Test: Morning or Night?

Morning is generally the best time of day to take an ovulation test, although you can take it at any time. For best results we recommend testing on the second morning urine, which for most people is between 10am and 12am.

Why Take an Ovulation Test with the Second Urine of the Day, Not First?

The hormone that ovulation tests look for to signal ovulation is luteinizing hormone (LH). This hormone can take 4 hours to come out in your urine, which is why it might be missed on the first urine of the day.

When to Take an Ovulation Test After Period?

For women with 28 day menstrual cycles, the best time to take an ovulation test is 10 to 18 days after your period. If your cycles are longer but regular, like 32 days, start 32 minus 28 or 4 days later – days 14 to 22. If your cycle is different or irregular we recommend speaking to a fertility specialist about the best time to take an ovulation test.

Should I Drink a Lot of Fluid Before Taking an Ovulation Test?

We don’t recommend drinking too much fluid in the 4 hours before you take your ovulation test. This helps ensure that your urine and luteinizing hormone levels are concentrated.

Can you get Pregnant Even if Ovulation Test is Negative?

It’s not likely. If the ovulation test was administered correctly and the luteinizing hormone peak has yet to occur, there is little to no chance of getting pregnant. However, there’s an extremely low chance of a false negative result with the kit to consider – but again, those are rare.

For any help with Ovulation Tests or other fertility questions – Contact Overlake Reproductive Health on (425) 646-4700

An ovulation home test is used by women. It helps determine the time in the menstrual cycle when getting pregnant is most likely.

The test detects a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. A rise in this hormone signals the ovary to release the egg. This at-home test is often used by women to help predict when an egg release is likely. This is when pregnancy is most likely to occur. These kits can be bought at most drug stores.

LH urine tests are not the same as at home fertility monitors. Fertility monitors are digital handheld devices. They predict ovulation based on electrolyte levels in saliva, LH levels in urine, or your basal body temperature. These devices can store ovulation information for several menstrual cycles.

Ovulation prediction test kits most often come with five to seven sticks. You may need to test for several days to detect a surge in LH.

The specific time of month that you start testing depends on the length of your menstrual cycle. For example, if your normal cycle is 28 days, you'll need to begin testing on day 11 (That is, the 11th day after you started your period.). If you have a different cycle interval than 28 days, talk to your health care provider about the timing of the test. In general, you should begin testing 3 to 5 days prior to the expected date of ovulation.

You will need to urinate on the test stick, or place the stick into urine that has been collected into a sterile container. The test stick will turn a certain color or display a positive sign if a surge is detected.

A positive result means you should ovulate in the next 24 to 36 hours, but this may not be the case for all women. The booklet that is included in the kit will tell you how to read the results.

You may miss your surge if you miss a day of testing. You may also not be able to detect a surge if you have an irregular menstrual cycle.

DO NOT drink large amounts of fluids before using the test.

Drugs that can decrease LH levels include estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone. Estrogens and progesterone may be found in birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy.

The drug clomiphene citrate (Clomid) can increase LH levels. This drug is used to help trigger ovulation.

The test involves normal urination. There is no pain or discomfort.

This test is most often done to determine when a woman will ovulate to assist in difficulty in getting pregnant. For women with a 28-day menstrual cycle, this release normally occurs between days 11 and 14.

If you have an irregular menstrual cycle, the kit can help you tell when you are ovulating.

The ovulation home test may also be used to help you adjust doses of certain medicines such as infertility drugs.

A positive result indicates an "LH surge." This is a sign that ovulation may soon occur.

Rarely, false positive results can occur. This means the test kit may falsely predict ovulation.

Talk to your provider if you are unable to detect a surge or do not become pregnant after using the kit for several months. You may need to see an infertility specialist.

Luteinizing hormone urine test (home test); Ovulation prediction test; Ovulation predictor kit; Urinary LH immunoassays; At-home ovulation prediction test; LH urine test

Jeelani R, Bluth MH. Reproductive function and pregnancy. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed.: Elsevier; 2022:chap 26.

Nerenz RD, Jungheim E, Gronowski AM. Reproductive endocrinology and related disorders. In: Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2018:chap 68.

Updated by: John D. Jacobson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.