How to use LH strips to predict ovulation

Did you know you can use LH strips to predict ovulation if you’re naturally cycling or trying to conceive?!

Using LH strips can be soooo helpful not only when one is trying to conceive but also when you are wanting to test for ovulation due to irregular cycles or amenorrhea or even trying to avoid pregnancy naturally. Using BBT is another great method for predicting ovulation, although admittedly, testing LH is easier and not subjected to different wake times, lack of sleep, etc.

Using LH strips is often something I recommend for my patients receiving acupuncture and/or herbal medicine here at my acupuncture clinic in Longmont.

Finding out which day you are ovulating, as well as getting to know your body and the specific symptoms around ovulation that you experience also serves as a helpful diagnostic clue as to why your cycles are irregular, absent, painful, etc. It’s another tool that we can use which provides more information about your menstrual cycles and overall health.

For instance, if you have a 28 or 30 day cycle, but you learn through LH testing that you are ovulating on day 9- that could be a sign that you have a very short follicular phase and hormonal imbalance that needs to be addressed for optimal health and fertility.

Ovulation should come midway through the cycle- around day 13-16 in women with regular healthy cycles. If your ovulation is coming later and later, or early and earlier- know that this is something that can be helped through acupuncture, herbs, and diet.

Why LH matters:

Luteineizing hormone is the hormone that is predominant mid cycle around ovulation. The rise in LH (or the surge of LH), releases a mature egg from the ovary and catalyzes the process for ovulation to begin.

So How Does One LH Test?

I buy LH strips either at the drug store or online. Personally, I have found this brand to be reliable and get them from either target or Amazon. Similar to pregnancy tests, they are little strips that you dip in your urine to track your LH levels. LH tends to surge about 24-48 hours prior to ovulation.

The benefit of LH strips are their ease of use. You just need to pee in a cup and dip it into urine for about 5-10 seconds and then just lie the strip flat for 5 minutes. Once the five minutes is up you should have your results. Be careful not to dip the strip in too deep!

If your cycle is on the shorter side (shorter than 28 days), you should test for ovulation as soon as day 8 or 9, and test every day until you get a positive test. If your cycle is 28 days, I would start testing on day 11 or so. Though, there is no exact science to this and in the beginning when your cycle is unpredictable, its best to test as much as you are able (without stressing yourself out!)

How do I know if my LH test is positive?

A positive test is indicated when the test line is darker or as dark as the control line. If the bottom (or test line) shade is lighter to any degree, then it’s considered a negative result.

LH is often best tested twice a day (morning and evening) to make sure that we don’t miss an LH surge (as they can be quite short!). According to Modern Fertility, “people who test multiple times a day are 71% more likely to detect a surge than people who test once a day”.Some sources say that testing in the afternoon or from 12-6pm is also the best time to catch your LH surge.

For those TTC, catching those LH surges is important for trying to improve your chances of conceiving. If you are trying to conceive, try on the day of your LH surge or the day after for the best chances.

If you suspect you might not be ovulating and haven’t gotten a positive test for several months and are feeling disheartened, know that acupuncture and/or herbal medicine, as well as dietary and lifestyle factors can definitely help address issues with ovulation or other hormonal disruptions. 

Have questions about LH testing?!

Comment below or book an appointment to find out how I can help you conceive or achieve a regular menstrual cycle.

photo from: https://essenty.com/swapitsavvy/lh-testing-to-avoid-pregnancy?p=29948&avs=7.01