Can a Optimistic Ovulation Check Point out Being pregnant?

You may’ve heard that ovulation exams can flip optimistic when you’re pregnant. That is generally true, however confirming a being pregnant is not the meant function of ovulation exams, says Matthew Casavant, DO, a board-certified OB-GYN with South Lake OB/GYN & Superior Surgical procedure. This is what to know when you’re attempting to conceive.

Can a Optimistic Ovulation Check Imply You are Pregnant? 

Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) may generally flip optimistic if you’re anticipating, however they should not be used as being pregnant exams. What’s extra, you need to by no means assume you are pregnant merely based mostly on a optimistic OPK, no matter if you take one.

“A optimistic ovulation take a look at doesn’t point out being pregnant, however as a substitute, signifies a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), which happens proper earlier than ovulation,” says Dr. Casavant. “In some circumstances, this LH surge might be detected even when pregnant resulting from hormonal fluctuations.”

Why Would possibly You Get a Optimistic Ovulation Check Whereas Pregnant?     

A pregnant individual may see a optimistic consequence on an ovulation take a look at as a result of the ovulation hormone (LH) and the being pregnant hormone (hCG) have an identical chemical construction. Ovulation exams can’t detect the variations between them, says Dr. Casavant. Which means that, when you’re pregnant if you take the ovulation take a look at, it’d flip optimistic.

“A optimistic ovulation take a look at when pregnant may happen as a result of each LH and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone detected by being pregnant exams, share related molecular buildings. In uncommon conditions, an ovulation take a look at may decide up hCG resulting from its chemical similarities, resulting in a false indication,” he says.

Be aware that you need to by no means use an ovulation take a look at to verify being pregnant, and in case your ovulation take a look at is optimistic, you shouldn’t assume you are pregnant with out affirmation.

How Do Ovulation Check Kits Work? 

As you method the center of your menstrual cycle (when ovulation normally happens), you can begin taking every day ovulation exams. Each OPK model will work in another way, so it is essential to comply with producer directions, however most will look one thing like this:

1. Acquire your urine in a cup or different container. It is usually really helpful to make use of second-morning urine, not like being pregnant exams, which name for first-morning urine.
2. Dip a take a look at strip into the urine.
3. Wait the really helpful period of time for outcomes.

Many ovulation exams show two strains: a management line and a take a look at line. The take a look at line will progressively get darker as your physique approaches ovulation. As soon as the take a look at line turns into darker than the management line, this means you’ll probably ovulate inside the subsequent 24 to 36 hours. 

You are probably to conceive on the day of ovulation and the 5 days beforehand, so you will wish to have intercourse as soon as the ovulation take a look at turns optimistic (and perhaps earlier than this, too).

Variations Between Ovulation Assessments and Being pregnant Assessments

Since they’re each urine exams that can be utilized to detect hormone ranges, it’s simple to assume that ovulation exams and being pregnant exams are the identical factor. However that’s not the case.

Ovulation exams detect the LH surge to foretell ovulation, whereas being pregnant exams measure hCG ranges, a hormone produced after implantation, says Dr. Casavant. The exams aren’t interchangeable.

What To Do If You Would possibly Be Pregnant 

Whatever the outcomes of your ovulation take a look at, you need to take a dwelling being pregnant take a look at when you assume you may be pregnant. Your physician may also carry out an hCG blood take a look at within the workplace to verify a being pregnant.

In the event you discover out you are pregnant, you need to take prenatal nutritional vitamins, remove alcohol, quit smoking, and make different way of life adjustments for a wholesome being pregnant. You must also schedule common prenatal checkups together with your OB-GYN.