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Ovulation
Predictor Kits Ovulation predictor
kits (OPKs) are a wonderful way of discovering when you are about to
ovulate. But, not all doctors and health professionals advocate
them. There are many factors that affect the effectiveness of OPKs.
To some women, they
are a godsend, helping them to know when to have intercourse or to
plan an inter-uterine insemination. To others, it can be costly and
misleading.
The main reason for OPKs is to predict when ovulation should occur
within a 12-48 hour time span. An OPK detects a surge of luetenizing
hormone - the hormone that prompts the ovaries to release an egg.
However, some women may have days of luetenizing surges, and an OPK
would continually show a surge. Most kits' instructions advise to
test until you see the first positive surge, then to have
intercourse within the next 48 hours. Some women - I am one - will
have a surge for 3 full days before actually ovulating. You need to
keep these things in mind when using OPKs. Of course, charting is an
excellent way of confirming when ovulation has occurred. It may take
a month or two to find out how your body does and to correctly use
OPKs.
The drawbacks to OPKs are if you are not sure about when ovulation
occurs, you are advised to start testing at a certain day in your
cycle - for example day 12 - and to test until you see the surge.
With me, according to my shortest and longest cycles, I was supposed
to start testing on day 10. The first month I tried OPKs I had to
buy 2 kits before I finally saw my surge on day 19 and ovulated on
day 22. So the guesswork can be very expensive.
Also, the many different brands of OPKs can leave a woman very
frustrated. Be sure to read all the instructions. Some brands say
that a positive surge is when the result line is as dark as the test
line, others say the line has to be darker. OPKs are like pregnancy
tests - some can be urinated on directly and others require a cup
and dropper. Some kits suggest to use middle-of-the-day urine, while
still others require first-morning urine.
If you plan on using an OPK, be sure to follow all instructions and
to test at the same time every day. Some practitioners suggest to
use an OPK every 12 hours, especially if preparing for an
inter-uterine insemination. This is because of the fact that the egg
sometimes only lives as little as 12 hours. Although OPKs are a good
way to tell when ovulation occurs, charting all the fertility signs
can be as accurate, or more accurate, and saves you money.
Another interesting thing about OPKs is that they can be substituted
for home pregnancy tests. While this has not been proven, to my
knowledge, I do have a friend who tried this and it indeed worked.
It seems the hormones produced in pregnancy are similar to the
luetenizing hormone - at least it prompted a positive OPK test
result. When I had the chemical pregnancy in August 1999, I tried
this with an OPK and had a positive result the same day I had a
positive pregnancy test. I suppose in this respect OPKs are cheaper
than home pregnancy tests, in that you receive at least 5 tests.
There are also ovulation predictor monitors, also known as fertility
monitors, which can be used indefinitely. They predict and detect
luetenizing hormone and rising estrogen. From my understanding, they
cost anywhere from about $179 to $300 and you have to buy test
strips every month - which costs varies - the one I saw was 30
strips for $50.
Lori Ramsey is the CEO of
Tootlebug
Company
©2006 by Lori Ramsey
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