An LH test is done by analyzing the levels of luteinizing hormone in the urine with a test strip. You can buy the LH test strips in our webshop* or at your local pharmacy. The tests are commonly known as "ovulation tests" or OPKs (ovulation prediction kits).
LH is always present in the body, that is why you can often see a light second band on the strip when testing. With that said, it is only when both lines are equally strong that the test is considered positive (Natural Cycles branded LH tests - please check the manufacturer's information if using another brand of LH tests). LH tests are optional and not a requirement for the algorithm.
An increased LH is usually found within 24-48h before ovulation. Natural Cycles app lets you know by indicating "LH" in the prognosis on the days you should take an LH test, and you see these in the Month and Today view. These indications are optimized so that you have to take as few tests as possible without missing your peak. You can always take as many tests as you feel you need to. Just enter the test results in the app as usual.
How to do the Natural Cycles LH test:
*If you use LH tests from a different brand, always follow the directions of the manufacturer*
1. The test strip and urine have to be at room temperature before testing.
2. Remove the test strip from the sealed pouch.
3. Immerse the strip into the urine with the arrow pointing towards the urine. Take the strip out after 3 seconds and lay the strip flat on a clean, dry, non-absorbent surface ( such as the mouth of the urine container).
IMPORTANT: Do not allow the urine level to exceed the MAX (marker line); otherwise, the test will not perform correctly.
4. Read results in five minutes. Do not read results after more than 5 minutes.
You can repeat this procedure as many times a day as you wish to. If you see a second colored band, but it's not strong enough to be considered positive, it can be a good idea to test a few hours later.
Positive Natural Cycles LH-test:
Negative Natural Cycles LH-test:
Below you can see three negatives LH results and lastly a positive result:
* You can order LH tests in our webshop using the following links according to your country or region: