How to Use an Ovulation Kit

If you are trying to get pregnant, you may want to use an ovulation kit to determine when you are your most fertile. Ovulation kits work by detecting a surge of luteinizing hormones (LH) in your urine. Although the LH is always present in your body, it will rise about 24 to 48 hours before ovulation. These kits are 99 percent accurate in detecting this LH surge, according to the American Pregnancy Association. This means you should have sexual intercourse with your partner whenever you receive a positive result from your kit.

Instructions

• 1

  Purchase an ovulation kit. Head to a drugstore to check out the ovulation kits for sale. According to BabyCenter.com, most kits will provide the same level of reliability, which means you should choose a brand that gives you the most tests for the cheapest price.

• 2

  Read your ovulation kit's instructions. Although all of the kits will measure your LH levels, the instructions may vary from brand to brand. Some kits ask you to collect your urine in a cup; others ask you to urinate directly onto a test strip.

• 3

  Determine what time of day you want to test your ovulation. Try to test your urine around the same time each day for the best results. In general, try to pick a time between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

• 4

  Prepare for your test. Two to four hours before you plan to take the test, reduce the amount of liquids you drink. Diluted urine can make it harder for the kit to measure your LH levels.

• 5

  Take the test. Depending on your kit, either void directly onto the test strip or dip the strip into a container of your urine. If possible, avoid using your first morning void, which will be more concentrated and may skew the results.

• 6

  Read your results. After about five minutes, you should be able to view your test results. In most kits, your results will appear as two colored lines. First, identify the control line (you may need to reread your kit's instructions). Second, look at the test line and see whether it's lighter or darker than the control line. If the test band is lighter than the control line, then your LH surge has not yet occurred. If the test band is the same color or darker than the control line, then your LH levels are surging.