What is LH?
LH stands for Luteinizing Hormone, which has its peak roughly 48 hours before ovulation. An increased LH is a strong indication that ovulation may soon occur, but not a confirmation that ovulation has or will occur.
You can detect an increase in LH by taking LH tests, commonly known as ovulation tests or OPKs (Ovulation Prediction Kits).
How can I interpret LH test results?
A positive LH test indicates that the body is initiating ovulation. It is, however, important to keep in mind that it does not confirm that ovulation has, or will happen. A temperature rise must follow the positive ovulation test for the Natural Cycles algorithm to confirm that ovulation has occurred.
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 was detected at the time you tested, so it is encouraged to keep testing.
Why should I take LH tests?
Measuring LH can be helpful for narrowing down your ovulation day each cycle, 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 recorded in the app, and NC° Plan Pregnancy users benefit from the extra accuracy in pinpointing ovulation and their most fertile days.
LH tests are optional to do, and not a requirement for using Natural Cycles.
Where can I buy LH tests?
You can order LH tests in our webshop or directly in the app by going to the top menu > Buy extra supplies! You can also find LH tests in your nearest pharmacy.
Please click into these links to understand how to take an LH test and how to read the results.