Understanding your own body and being in tune with when ovulation is occurring can become a stressful task. This is why so many women turn to at home Ovulation kits but understanding what results they give can be even more confusing. So how can an ovulation test be positive then negative next day?
Ovulation Test Positive Then Negative Next Day – Why?
Your body makes the luteinizing hormone on a continuous cycle. Your ovulation kit will always show two lines. As your LH levels rise the darker your test will appear, this indicates that your body is preparing for ovulation.
Getting a positive ovulation test then negative next day just means that your hormone surge is over, yet you could still be fertile!
Ovulation Tests
It can be an exciting time for you to finally start trying to make a family. But the preparation can become exhausting. A woman only has a small fertile window which is why ovulation testing kits have become so popular. The issue with these kits is that they can be confusing to read. In this article, we are going to point you in the right direction regarding how to use an ovulation test kit and why you may get confusing results especially when your ovulation test is positive one day and negative the next.
What Are Ovulation Tests?
Ovulation tests are also known as ovulation predictor kits. They look similar to pregnancy tests but they are used to identify when you are near ovulation by identifying a surge in your Luteinizing hormone.
In your cycle, you will go through a follicle phase. Once these follicles mature they are responsible for sending a signal to your pituitary gland through estrogen. It is only when your pituitary gland receives the go ahead will it release a surge in LH. The surge of LH makes it possible for your ovaries to release an egg. So it is very much a team effort going on inside every cycle.
It only takes a slight miscalculation or a break in this link that could prevent you from getting pregnant but let’s be fair it is a very small window where you are at your most fertile state.
An egg is only viable 12-36 hours after ovulation so if you are trying to conceive then using an ovulation kit can help you indicate when you need to get some loving from your partner. The conception torch is then handed over to his sperm to find and fertilize your egg.
When is The Best Time To Use Them?
It is best to start using an OPK straight after your period. This will help you indicate what your tests will look like before ovulation and hopefully it will make it easier to recognize when your surge is likely.
There are times when ovulation kits are not as trustworthy as we would like.
- If you suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome then you already have high levels of the Luteinizing hormone so it is more difficult to identify a surge.
- A woman doesn’t always have one surge during a month so you may be tricked into thinking you have ovulated when you haven’t.
- As you need to take these tests regularly they come in at a cost.
Of course, you probably know with a pregnancy test we always say to take them with your first morning wee. This isn’t the case with ovulation kits your chances of identifying a surge are during your mid morning toilet break.
It is important to recognize that a surge can be short which is why some women prefer to test in the morning and evening.
Confusing Ovulation Test Results – What Do They Mean?
There are many ranges of OPKs on the market. Some have strip line indicators, others have smiley face displays.
As mentioned we always have the Luteinizing hormone present but it is the surge in this hormone that indicates a positive test.
‣ Positive
For a test to be positive if you are using a line indicator test then you will be looking for your test line to be darker than your control line. Or if you have chosen a digital brand then the smiley face will remain solid on the display.
As soon as you see this then it is proof that ovulation is imminent. This is the start of your fertile window which will only last from 24-36 hours.
It is time for you and your partner to get to it on the baby making train!
Even if you have been trying to conceive it is important to understand that seeing a positive ovulation test may not make you want to rip each other’s clothes off and that is fine! Obviously, intercourse has to take place during your fertile window but don’t lose heart if your partner isn’t in the mood.
‣ Negative
A negative test will show a testing line that is faint compared to the control strip. Or if using digital the smiley face may continue to flash.
If your cycles are irregular then you may not have a surge every month. As we grow up we learn that ovulation is around 2 weeks after a period but this isn’t always the case which is why we recommend using the OPKs from day 1 of the end of your period.
‣ Confusing Results
Let’s be honest our bodies are a minefield of hormones and cocktails of surges especially around ovulation and menstruation. This is when many women may turn to a friend for advice when reading their results. If you are on social media then you may find conception groups with women in a similar situation to yourself who can give an opinion on whether you’re identifying a surge or not.
If your ovulation test was positive then negative the next day then it doesn’t matter. What is important is when you get that first positive test. Having a surge means that ovulation is due and your fertile window is open. As your levels increase and decrease at varying rates you could test positive for a day or four. What matters most is that you identify that first moment any result afterwards is irrelevant as you already know your window is open. The length of time your test remains positive doesn’t show when ovulation has occurred so the rule of thumb would be to start trying once that test is positive.
After Getting a Positive Result
We know that a positive result is an indication that your fertile window is opening. Yet you still want a connection, love, and romance with your partner. I get it! When you are trying to conceive especially after a long time it can become a part of the business rather than making love.
If you or your other half doesn’t feel up to getting down and dirty that is totally acceptable. Here are some figures to help understand your chances of getting pregnant after a positive result, data has been collected and summarized from several studies:
- Your highest chances of getting pregnant are from 5 days before ovulation and the day of it.
- 27% chance 3 days prior to ovulation.
- 33% chance 2 days before.
- 41% chance 1 day before.
- 20% chance day of ovulation.
- 8% chance post ovulation.
The proof is in the numbers you are more likely to conceive prior to ovulation hence why tracking your LH levels can give you the best possible chance of starting a family. Seeing a positive ovulation test then negative next day doesn’t mean that you missed your chance.
When to Seek Advice
As mentioned you can seek advice from other women who are going through the same as you. Reaching out to support groups either in meetings or on social media can help keep your stress levels low and make what you are doing feel more of a normal process. With many women holding off making a family nowadays more and more of us are starting to control when we wish to conceive.
If you have been doing your OPKs for some time and cannot identify a surge then you can talk it over with your doctor. They can monitor your hormone activity closely or refer you to a specialist.
If you have clocked your fertile window and are yet to become pregnant after a few months of baby making then you could also seek their professional advice.
Wrapping Up
It is important to remember that getting a positive ovulation test then negative next day is considered normal. No two women are the same and no two cycles are the same so you must respond to that first positive result. Anything after this is just indicating that your surge is over and not that you are no longer fertile.
Ovulation kits are great as they provide you a way of indicating a better estimate of your fertile window.
I guess the best advice would be, spot the positive then hop on the baby making train a few times to give yourself the best chance of fertilization.
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