Home ovulation tests

Assuming a couple does not have any obvious health issues that may affect their fertility, easy-to-use home ovulation kits, such as the Clearblue Digital Ovulation Test, can help to determine when a woman is at her most fertile. The tests work by detecting the body’s production of LH, which surges rapidly and peaks 24 to 36 hours before ovulation.

Packs contain a number of testing strips, and a test should be done once daily, using the first urine after sleep, starting from between day five and 20 of a woman’s cycle. The actual start day will depend on her known cycle length, and so all test instructions should be read carefully.

Some fertility tests also monitor oestrogen levels and can therefore indicate a wider fertility window (four days instead of just two), as levels of oestrogen rise a few days before ovulation. These are identified as her days of “heightened” fertility, whereas the surge in LH that occurs just before ovulation is when a woman’s fertility is at its peak.

Home pregnancy tests

Home pregnancy tests are convenient, easy to use and can be used in the privacy of the home. They are also able to provide fast, accurate results – some as early as four days before a woman’s period is due. Available tests include First Response Early Result and Clearblue Early Detection Pregnancy Test.

All tests work on the same basic principle, by detecting levels of hCG – the hormone produced when a fertilised egg implants into the wall of the uterus. While it’s possible to detect hCG before a woman’s period is due, levels rise with each day of the pregnancy, so the later the test is taken, the more accurate it is. If a woman tests early and gets a negative result but still does not get her period, she may need to take a second test. Advise customers to read the instructions carefully and not to use tests past the expiry date. There is usually a helpline to call if they have any questions about the test or the result.