What is LH, and how does it relate to ovulation tests?
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 ovulation tests, also known as LH tests or OPKs (Ovulation Prediction Kits).
How can I interpret ovulation test results?
A positive ovulation test indicates that the body is initiating ovulation. However, it’s important to keep in mind that it doesn’t 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.
If you get a negative ovulation test, this doesn’t mean that you're not fertile or that ovulation won’t occur. It only means that no LH surge was detected at the time you tested, so you can keep testing.
Why should I take ovulation 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 cycles with positive ovulation tests recorded in the app, and NC° Plan Pregnancy users benefit from the extra accuracy in pinpointing ovulation and their most fertile days.
Ovulation tests are optional to use, and not a requirement for using Natural Cycles.
Where can I buy ovulation tests?
You can order ovulation tests in our webshop or directly in the app by going to the top menu > Buy extra supplies! You can also find ovulation tests in your nearest pharmacy.
Please click on these links to understand how to take an ovulation test, how to read the results, and how each result affects ovulation detection.