Understanding Infertility
OPKs, Temping and Charting
OPKs
Ovulation Prediction Kits (OPKs) are one of the first steps to tracking your fertility. Your “fertile window” is usually considered to be the few days leading up to ovulation and the day after the egg is released. This is usually around 2 weeks after the beginning of your period. Once the egg is released from the ovary, it only has 24 hours to become fertilized. If this does not happen, the egg will dissolve, leaving no chance for conception that month.[1][2]
OPKs are at home tests that can tell you when the egg is being released from the ovary. For the test strips, if the test line is darker than the control line, the body is producing the luteinizing hormone (LH) – a sign of ovulation.[3] For the electric tests, a flashing smiley face means upcoming ovulation and a solid smiley face means peak ovulation (LH surge.)[4]
It is important to note that these tests will not tell you if and when you ovulate. They can only tell you if your LH is surging, which can indicate ovulation. In some cases, LH can surge but an egg may not release. In these instances, a doctor’s help may be needed.[5]
Temping and BBT Charting
Temping, or taking your basal body temperature (BBT), can also give you a good idea of when you ovulate. BBT is the lowest body temperature within a 24 hour period. Temping is a fairly easy process that only requires a basal thermometer (which is different than a regular thermometer) and a chart or charting app. There are a few charting and tracking apps, such as Glow or Fertility Friend, that will chart digitally for you.
To take your BBT, use a basal thermometer to check your temperature as soon as you wake up in the morning. If you take a later reading, your chart will become inaccurate. Before ovulation, BBT should be in the 97F (36.1C) range. The day after ovulation, the temperature will jump .5-1F due to excess progesterone produced after ovulation. This number will stay higher until a period occurs again.
Although BBT charting and temping can be helpful to pinpoint ovulation, there are many factors, such as colds, stress, lack of sleep and alcohol consumption that can cause an inaccurate reading. Additionally, as the egg only lives 24 hours after ovulation, it may be hard to time intercourse. Due to these reasons, BBT charting is not the most effective.[6] However, charting is a piece of the puzzle and can give a decent clue to if you are ovulating.
[1] Brusie, Chaunie, Dishman, Kimberly. 2016. “Ovulation: When Am I Most Fertile?” Healthline. 2016. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/ovulation-when-am-i-most-fertile#fertile-window.
[2] Grunebaum, Amos. 2012. “How Long Does the Egg Live?” BabyMed. 2012. https://www.babymed.com/conception/how-long-does-egg-live.
[3] “Ovulation Test Strips - How Do They Work To Predict Ovulation?” n.d. Babyhopes.Com. Accessed April 30, 2018. https://www.babyhopes.com/articles/ovulation-test-strips-work.html.
[4] “Digital Ovulation Test.” n.d. Clearblue. Accessed April 30, 2018. http://www.clearblue.com/ovulation-tests/digital.
[5] “Can You Have an LH Surge but Still Not Ovulate?” n.d. Ava Women. Accessed April 30, 2018. https://www.avawomen.com/avaworld/lh-surge-pregnancy/.
[6] “Myth: Basal Body Temperature Is Key to Determining Ovulation.” 2005. Parenting. 2005. https://www.parenting.com/article/basal-body-temperature-key-determining-ovulation.