Getting pregnant can be harder than you think. Many people can have up to 10 fertile days or as little as 4. At home, Ovulation Kits are thought to identify the most fertile period in your cycle. What do they actually mean? Can you get pregnant with a flashing smiley face?
Can You Get Pregnant With a Flashing Smiley Face On Your Ovulation Test?
Can you get pregnant with a flashing smiley face on your ovulation test? Seeing a flashing smiley face means you are in a high fertility phase. You should start thinking about spending extra time with your partner during this period as there is a high chance of ovulation between 12-36 hours after. There is a small chance that you could conceive during this time and there are anecdotal stories of this happening to women. Read further to find out when you are more likely to reach your peak fertility during your cycle.
Ovulation Kits (OPK)
There is nothing worse than trying for a baby to find a negative result on your test. It can be heart-wrenching and shatter your hopes of ever becoming a parent.
You seem surrounded by babies yet yearn for your own, but why? Why hasn’t it happened to you yet?
If this sounds like you or someone you know rest assured it is in fact hard to get pregnant!
According to leading manufacturers Clear Blue the average woman may be fertile for 0-4 days. Not a very big window when you think about it!
Tracking your most fertile periods can help boost your chances but are Ovulation Pregnancy Kits effective?
How Do Ovulation Pregnancy Kits Work?
Ovulation pregnancy kits are now more popular than ever. As women are taking more control of when they want children, manufacturers of many leading pregnancy tests have created the OPK (ovulation pregnancy kits.)
They are similar to a pregnancy test however rather than testing for the HCG hormone (pregnancy hormone) they are clever enough to detect a change in your Luteinizing (LH) and Oestrogen levels (OL).
When your LH rises it is a signal that your ovaries are about to release an egg, ovulation then occurs shortly afterward.
When a woman is becoming fertile these hormones will increase so having a testing kit to identify changes in your cycle makes deciding when to have intercourse in order to become pregnant much easier.
The results may show your fertility in the form of a smiley face or if you have a strip test, a dark line similar to a positive pregnancy test.
Best Time To Test – How to Use it
The method of using an OPK is very similar to a pregnancy test. You will have to test your urine. Either with a dipstick or placing the testing pad in your midstream wee.
If you are about to ovulate then a darker line from the control line will show or if you opted for a digital test a smiley face will flash.
When a solid smiley face appears your body is at peak fertility. This is the best time for becoming pregnant so ensure you make time for baby making. You should opt to have sex during the high fertile days and most importantly on the peak day of your cycle.
Peak fertile days may be scarce in your cycle but it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong. Hormones can fluctuate so the test will only show a solid smiley face if it detects strong levels of both hormones. Testing with your first-morning wee means it is better concentrated. Probably the only time you don’t want to be hydrated!
Many people ask ‘Can a flashing smiley mean pregnant?’ Of Course, the only way to identify a pregnancy is with an actual pregnancy test. The answer is the same for the question can flashing smiley after ovulation mean I’m pregnant? Ovulation tests cannot detect the HCG hormone so if you think you may be pregnant see your doctor.
Can You Get Pregnant on Flashing Smiley Face?
A flashing smiley face indicates that your LH levels are rising meaning that your eggs are growing big and strong and preparing to be released. However, for some women, their hormone surge may be too low for the test to detect which means that the test could still be showing a high fertility day but yet they have already ovulated and so never get the Peak Fertility reading.
This happens in around 8% of cycles according to Clearblue. So it is possible to get a flashing smiley face on ovulation test and fall pregnant.
How Effective are OPKs?
Using an OPK can increase your chances of becoming pregnant but there is no cause for alarm if it hasn’t happened to you yet. Some researchers found that it didn’t make a significant difference at all.
Obviously, the more sex you have during days 8-19 of your cycle the more chance you will have to catch your fertile period but many women are not clockwork with their cycles hence the need to turn to OPKs.
A flashing smiley face means you are within the high fertility period but a solid smiley means you have hit the peak. Many women never hit the peak but can be within a high fertile range for up to 10 days, if this is something you resonate with then it could be that ovulation isn’t going to happen this month. This can be typical for most women but if it happens for 3 consecutive months then it is best to consult your doctor.
10 days flashing smiley face, pregnant? Unfortunately not, this means your body is having a great oestrogen surge, but it does not however mean you are pregnant. The best option would be to stop testing this cycle and try again next month.
Cost – Are They Worth it?
The paper dip strips are the cheapest around and results are to be determined by the user, hence not as reliable as the more expensive ones.
The other end of the price scale gives you a digital display that clearly indicates your best fertile window.
Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor is the most sought-after test as it is easy to use and gives a clear indication of results. More on the expensive side but when desperate to conceive many women prefer taking the guesswork out of their test results.
Pros and Cons of Using an OPK (Ovulation Pregnancy Kits)
As with any product you buy there will always be pros and cons. To give you a better idea of whether an ovulation kit is worth it, we have gathered some pros and cons.
How Can You Boost Fertility?
Whether you already have a child or not, boosting fertility can be done. There are several ways to help prime your body for that natural conception you crave.
- Diet – Maintaining a healthy diet packed full of lean meats and vegetables can help prime your body for ovulation and address fertility issues.
- Weight – Your weight has a lot to answer for when it comes to regular menstrual cycles. If you are under or overweight it can lead to irregular menstruation. A BMI between 20- 24 is thought to be perfect.
- Avoiding tobacco and Alcohol – Both can affect your chances of conceiving significantly. Both products and the use of recreational drugs can prevent ovulation from happening at all.
- Vitamins – It’s never too early to start your prenatal vitamins. Taking extra vitamins prepares your body to welcome a growing fetus and prevents neural tube defects.
- Hydration – Proper hydration has positive effects on your cervix. It also improves blood flow and can boost your mental capabilities.
- Stress levels – No one likes stress! Neither does your reproductive system. Ironically if you have been trying for some time your stress may stem from the lack of positive pregnancy tests. Be sure to engage in mindful techniques to help you manage your stress levels.
- Sex- Without sex, you won’t get pregnant naturally so make sure you and your partner make time for you both. Romance each other and don’t make it a chore!
Wrapping Up
Can you get pregnant with a flashing smiley face? It is highly likely you can conceive when you have a flashing smiley face but this will only determine when you are about to release an egg.
Many women may not hit a peak in their fertile window the chances then become slim as no egg may have been released.
Ovulation kits cannot determine when you ovulate but managing the hormones are a good indicator of when pregnancy is most likely to occur.
If you are concerned at all, speak to your doctor for further advice. I wish you all the luck on your journey!
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