Ovulation Test Online: Should You Use an App To TTC?

There are many apps for our iPhones and laptops to complete any task, from ordering a car, to scheduling a meeting and requesting food delivery. You may assume that it would be a good idea to take an ovulation test online or use an app for that. However, when it comes to determining your fertility window, relying on smart phone may not be so smart after all! In this blog, we review the basics of how to conceive, what is your fertility window and how to increase your chances of getting pregnant!

Ovulation Test Online: How Can it Tell if I’m Ovulating?

When you get your period, it’s considered “Cycle Day 1” of your  menstrual cycle. Women’s menstrual cycles can differ in length, but average at 28 days.  Typically, women ovulate anywhere from cycle day 11 to 21. Ovulation is when your body releases an egg from your ovary that is ready to be fertilized for approximately 12 to 24 hours. Before we explore taking an ovulation test online, let’s discuss other ways to detect when you’re ovulating that you could be using. They are:

• Ovulation Prediction Kits. These can be purchased at your local drug store or online  and are not expensive. Directions are included in the kit, but in general, they are designed to  detect a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge using a urine sample. The LH surge triggers ovulation, which lets you know that it would be an ideal time to have sex.
• Basal Body Thermometer (BBT). You can also buy these at your local drug store or online. For the most accurate results, you will want to purchase a thermometer that measures to 1/10th of a degree.You would record your BBT every morning throughout your cycle and document it. It’s important that you do this at the same time each morning when you wake up before getting out of bed to ensure accuracy. When you track a slight increase in your body temperature, this would indicate you are likely ovulating.
• Documenting Cervical Mucus. This entails tracking your vaginal secretions, which is something that some individuals may not be comfortable with. Cervical mucus can provide insight into your overall vaginal health, ovulation and more. When you’re trying for a baby, you need to look for mucus that looks similar to egg whites, is stretchy and almost clear. This not only indicates you are ovulating but also that the consistency is ideal for the sperm to swim in.

When it comes to taking an ovulation test online, while you can enter the first day of your period, track your cervical mucus and temperature, and even when you’ve had sex. An app can’t pick up when you have had an LH surge. Most ovulation tracking apps tend to give you an approximation of when they think you’ll be ovulating, so they aren’t the most reliable form of information to depend on when you’re trying to conceive.

Ovulation Test Online: Does it Detect Ovulation Issues?

Another very important aspect to consider before relying upon an ovulation test online is if you’ve noticed you’re having trouble conceiving or your period is irregular. Again, while an ovulation test online can give you an idea of when you may be ovulating, it’s can’t properly diagnose or necessarily alert you if you may have a medical issue. If you have any of the following concerns, you should consult with a fertility doctor:

• Are under the age of 35 and have been actively trying to conceive for at least one year
• Are over the age of 35 and have been actively trying to conceive for at least six months
• Have missed periods or experience irregular periods
• Are concerned that you may not be ovulating
• Have needed treatment for tubal damage or endometriosis
• Have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Have had a history of pelvic infection, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) pelvic pain
• Have had two or more miscarriages (also known as Recurrent Pregnancy Loss)

Ovulation Test Online: A Guide but Not a Replacement for a Doctor

Ultimately, if you have any concerns or simply if you want to gain insight into your reproductive health, the best course of action is getting a fertility assessment by a doctor. Particularly as a woman gets older, her egg quality decreases and the likelihood of having an embryo with a chromosome abnormality increases. If you have been using an ovulation test online but haven’t conceived yet, meeting with a reproductive endocrinologist and undergoing a fertility workup can potentially shine a light on what can help you build a family. There are so many options now from IUI to IVF.  IVF with Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A or PGS) will help increase the chance of a successful pregnancy. A test called Endometrial Receptivity Analysis (ERA)can determine when your endometrium will be at its most receptive to an embryo and guide the timing of a frozen embryo transfer.

Having the benefit of speaking to a physician in person to review your medical history, family building goals and getting a fertility work-up done may be the additional steps you need to have a family. And soon, instead of taking an ovulation test online, we hope you’ll be ordering baby clothes through online shopping!