What is LH?
LH stands for Luteinizing Hormone, which has its peak roughly 48h before ovulation. Therefore, an increased LH is a strong indication that ovulation may soon occur, but not a confirmation that ovulation has or will occur. LH-tests are optional to do, and not a requirement for using Natural Cycles.
Why should I do LH tests?
Measuring LH is great for narrowing down your ovulation, whether you are using NC° Birth Control or NC° Plan Pregnancy. NC° Birth Control users get roughly 5% more green days in a cycle with positive LH tests, and NC° Plan users benefit from the extra accuracy in pinpointing ovulation and their most fertile days.
The results:
Keep in mind that a positive LH test does not confirm that ovulation has, or will happen, but indicates that the body is initiating ovulation. A temperature rise must follow the positive ovulation test to confirm that ovulation has occurred. If you had a positive LH test but no placed ovulation yet, it might be due to a lack of sufficient temperature rise. It is important to keep measuring according to our guidelines.
A negative LH test does not mean that you're not fertile, or that ovulation will not occur. This only means that no LH surge has been detected at the time you tested, so it is encouraged to keep testing. You may need to test more often, 2-3 times a day to catch the surge. Ovulation will occur even if you've only gotten negative LH results - just remember to measure your temperature properly.
To see examples of positive and negative LH tests please read this article.
Where can I buy LH tests?
You can order LH tests in our webshop. You can also find LH tests in your nearest pharmacy.
