The American Pregnancy Association says that ovulation predictor tests and fertility monitors help determine expected ovulation by identifying luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. Other monitors test for an increase in electrolytes in saliva, which may indicate ovulation is imminent. Ovulation is the release of the egg from an ovary and is the ideal time to try to conceive.
ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor
The American Pregnancy Association recommends the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor to track ovulation. The monitor is easy to use. Start by programming the first day of menstruation into the monitor. A test stick is supplied to check for luteinizing hormone in the urine. Simply wet the stick, place it in the test slot, and wait for the results. The monitor tracks the monthly cycle to indicate when ovulation is most likely. Every time a test stick is inserted, the level of hormones present is calculated and a fertility status is shown on the monitor. Some LH is always present in urine, but it surges for 24 to 48 hours before ovulation. Depending on the results of the test, the chances for conception are shown. The monitor will indicate if the chances of conception are low, high or peak.
Almost 150 users at Amazon.com rate this test kit/monitoring system as five stars. They give it high marks for accuracy and ease of use. Some found the programming a bit confusing and thought the monitor expensive.
Researchers at the University of Montana verified that results from the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor coincide with estrogen and LH laboratory measurements.
The monitor can be used repeatedly but the test sticks must be replaced monthly if conception doesn't take place.
OvaCue Digital Fertility Monitor
The website Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com recommends the OvaCue Digital Fertility Monitor because of its 98 percent accuracy rate and its FDA approval. Unlike the ClearBlue, the OvaCue uses saliva to detect changes in electrolytes caused by an increase in estrogen, thus predicting ovulation. There is no urine to test, so there is less mess and no test sticks to replace.
The website displays reviews from four users who rate this ovulation predictor with five stars, citing ease of use, accuracy and the fact that they didn't have to keep replacing the test sticks as their favorite features. The OvaCue Digital Monitor is more expensive than the ClearBlue. It can be used repeatedly, with nothing to replace each month.
ClearBlue Easy Ovulation Test Pack
For a less-expensive ovulation predictor, Consumersearch.com rates the ClearBlue Easy Ovulation Test Pack the best ovulation test strips. These strips are similar to the test sticks used in the ClearBlue Monitor, but they only show LH levels and need to be compared to previous test-strip measurements. A rise in LH levels indicates that ovulation is imminent.
ConsumerReports.org says that these test strips are the most sensitive out of all 11 tested and that they can predict ovulation for nine out of 10 women.
Of the 129 reviews for this product at Diapers.com, many women said it worked the first time they tried it and praised it for its ease of use. Some complained that the test line and the control line are too similar in color, and therefore hard to read.
These strips come seven to a package for a one-month's supply.
