If you’re trying to conceive, ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) are more accurate than period tracker apps, says Carolina Sueldo, MD, a board-certified fertility specialist and founder of Ceibo Fertility Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. OPKs work by detecting hormone levels. While some monitor metrics using wearable devices, most test for luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. This hormone triggers the start of ovulation. So, if an LH surge is detected, it usually means ovulation is going to occur in the next 36 hours, explains Karenne N. Fru, MD, an Atlanta-based OB-GYN and founder of Muna Fertility. If intercourse is timed during this short window, it could increase your chances of getting pregnant, she adds. But with so many on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose. That’s why we dove into the research and consulted experts to narrow down the very best ovulation tests, then put them to the test, with 10 editors testing 18 different ovulation kits at home. Of these, seven wowed us on attributes like accuracy, ease of use, and more—and two even led to pregnancy! Here’s how they stacked up. Ovulation tests all share the same goal—to help you understand when you’re most likely to conceive. Most require a urine sample at home to detect the ovulation hormone, though some involve wearable devices that collect metrics to pinpoint ovulation. Here are the different types of ovulation tests to choose from: We asked women’s health and fertility experts for the most important features when choosing an OPK. Here’s what the experts recommend prioritizing: Our Top Picks Best Overall Ovulation Test: Best for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Most Convenient Ovulation Test: Best Budget Ovulation Test: Best Ovulation and Pregnancy Test Combo: Premom Ovulation and Pregnancy Test Strips Kit at Amazon ($20) In This Article Types of Ovulation Tests What Healthcare Providers Want You To Know Our Picks How We Tested the Ovulation Tests How to Take an Ovulation Test When to Take an Ovulation Test Our Experts FAQ Why Trust Verywell Health Pros Tests for multiple hormones Instructions are clear and easy to follow Smiley symbols are easier to read than lines Cons You have to repurchase the entire system when you run out of test sticks When you get a peak fertility result, you can’t retest for 48 hours Yielded errors when we peed directly on the stick Type: Digital | Sensitivity: 40 mIU/ml | App Integration: No | Additional Hormone Tracking: Estrogen If you’re wondering which ovulation test experts recommend, it’s this one. This Clearblue ovulation test is not only easy to use and read, but it also checks for both LG and estrogen, which makes it more accurate, explains Dr. Ryan. Plus, one of our editors with an irregular cycle became pregnant while using this ovulation test. She ovulated later than expected, and had it not been for this OPK, she wouldn’t have caught the unexpected LH surge that led to pregnancy. We had better results when dipping the tip into a urine sample rather than peeing directly on it. The best part about this OPK is the easy-to-read results. One of three symbols will appear—a circle for low fertility, a flashing smiley face for high fertility, and a non-flashing smiley face for peak fertility. ClearBlue recommends testing until you get a peak fertility result, which indicates an LH surge and the time you’re most likely to get pregnant. You’ll need to know which symbols to look for, but we found this more straightforward than deciphering lines on traditional test strips. The results appear quickly, too, and they don’t disappear right away in case you missed them. On average, it took about 5 minutes for our results to pop up. The kit includes 20 test sticks (about $1.65 per stick), which could last several cycles. In comparison, we also tested the Mosie Baby Ovulation Predictor Kit, which only comes with seven test sticks. Even though we found it to also be straightforward to use, the cost works out to about $2.86 per test stick, and it only tests for LG. That means you get more accuracy for less money with the Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test. This kit includes a reusable holder, which signals sustainability and affordability. However, refills aren’t available, so you have to repurchase the entire kit when you run out of test sticks. We also found it frustrating that you can’t retest after getting a peak fertility result. While this saves test sticks, it’s frustrating when you want to double-check your results. We also ran into errors when we tried peeing directly on the stick. We recommend using a collection cup and dipping the stick in it, which is a little less convenient. Pros Tests for four hormones Suitable for women with PCOS or irregular cycles Predicts your six most fertile days Cons Refill wands are pricey It takes about 20 minutes to get the results Type: Test wands and monitor | Sensitivity: 0 to 30+ mIU/mL | App Integration: Yes | Additional Hormone Tracking: Estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G), Pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PDG), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) There are many ovulation tests to choose from, and Mira uniquely combines the advantages of a few of them. The kit includes ten fertility wands and a monitor. The wands are similar to test sticks since they’re sturdy, but rather than pee on them directly, you’ll dunk the absorbent tips into a urine collection cup. The actual testing process is nothing new, but here’s how Mira is different: You’ll insert the end of the Mira wands into the monitor, which tests for four fertility hormones and syncs the results to the integrated app. It takes a bit longer to get the results since it checks for LH as well as estrogen, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, but we found the visual data very satisfying. It was also very accurate. Our editor had blood tests taken while testing the Mira device, and the Mira results were in line with professional lab results. It successfully detected our editor’s LH surge during her cycle. There are even trials to back up its accuracy. Though this option is pricey, we can see how some women could use the additional data it provides. Ovulation tests that only detect LH surges are designed for women with regular cyclesbut may be inaccurate for some women, explains Dr. Fru. She adds that ovulation tests that check for multiple hormones aremore helpful for women withPCOSor irregular cycles. You only have to buy the system once to get the monitor, but the refill wands are pricey for packs of 20. It’s also the kit with the longest wait time to get the results. On average, we had to wait about 20 minutes for the results to become available. On occasions we wanted to retest, the process took about 45 minutes. Pros Easy to use No urine sample needed Collects a lot of data points Cons Pricey Not suitable for women with implanted electronic devices Requires daily charging Type: Wearable device | Sensitivity: N/A | App Integration: Yes | Additional Hormone Tracking: N/A You don’t need a fancy tool to track your cycle and ovulation, but it can come in handy. Our editor had manually tracked her cycle with pen and paper for years before trying out an app but found this wearable device from Ava easier and more accurate than any other method. In fact, this device helped our editor get pregnant. Using the Ava bracelet couldn’t be simpler or more convenient. Simply charge it during the day and wear it overnight while you sleep. When you wake up, the bracelet takes about a minute to sync to the app and load your results. This eliminates the hassle of collecting a urine sample, and we also found it alleviates some of the stress and mental load when trying to conceive. If you love the metrics that wearable devices provide, you’ll appreciate the Ava fertility bracelet. It collects a wealth of data related to your fertility as well as your overall health, such as sleep, stress, temperature, heart rate, and more. While ovulation sticks and tests are best at identifying an LH surge, this device pinpoints at least five of your most fertile days—not just your peak ovulation. Wearable fertility trackers may seem too good to be true, but research shows that they can accurately detect ovulation to increase the chances of conception. The Ava fertility bracelet doesn’t come cheap. You also have to stay on top of charging it every day, and it’s not suitable for those with implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers. Pros Generous amount of test strips Individually wrapped Quick results Cons Urine collection cups aren’t included Type: Strips | Sensitivity: N/A | App Integration: No | Additional Hormone Tracking: N/A Women’s health products and fertility tools can be pricey, so we explored some options that don’t break the bank. A 50-pack of Wondfo test strips come out to about $0.30 per test, which is one of the most affordable OPKs we tested. The Wondfo kit is basic and has no frills, but it did what we needed it to. The strips are individually wrapped, which was convenient when our editor was traveling. To use them, you dip the stick into a urine collection cup for about 10 seconds. We tested these strips over two cycles and found them consistent, accurate and available quickly. It usually only took about 3 minutes for the results to populate. The LH surges that were detected were in line with our editor’s usual cycle, so we didn’t question their accuracy. In comparison, the MomMed Ovulation Test Strips we tested came out to about the same price per test, but they weren’t always accurate. We had a few duds, leading us to the conclusion that they’re not consistent enough to meet our standards. We also tested Pregmate Ovulation Test Strips, which come out to about $0.50 per test, and even though all test strips are a bit messy, we found theirs messy to the point that we couldn't recommend them. The Natalist Ovulation Test Kit we tested comes with 30 strips (so about $0.76 per test), and at more than twice the price of Wondfo, we found it wasn’t as sensitive. Most OPKs require you to pee on a stick or dip the end of a test strip into a cup you’ve peed in. This kit falls in the latter camp, but you’ll have to provide your own cup, which can be messy and inconvenient. Pros Budget-friendly Instructions are clear and easy to follow Generous amount of ovulation and pregnancy tests Cons Strips are small and short Can be messy Collection cup not included Type: Strips | Sensitivity: 25 mIU/mL | App Integration: Yes | Additional Hormone Tracking: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) Women on their trying-to-conceive journey are all too familiar with ovulation and pregnancy tests. They’re not the same, and you’ll likely need both to conceive naturally. This kit provides 50 ovulation test strips and 20 pregnancy test strips, making it a convenient and affordable option. This kit doesn’t have any bells and whistles—it’s a basic kit, and we liked that about it. The instructions were easy to follow, and the results were available within less than five minutes. Though it’s a budget-friendly kit, you can log your results in the integrated app, which was a nice touch and not something we expected at the price point. Our editor, who has a very consistent cycle, found these ovulation tests spot on. The results were consistent with her usual tracking method, so we didn’t doubt its accuracy. Test strips are the most basic type of ovulation test, but they’re not for everyone. These strips were shorter and smaller than others we tested, making them messier. You can’t pee on them directly, so you’ll also need to provide your own collection cup. To determine the best ovulation kits, we enlisted a team of our editors to conduct firsthand testing. These editors tested 18 products, taking care to follow the provided manufacturer’s instructions. The testing window varied, but on average, we tested the products across one or two menstrual cycles. We then collected insights based on the following attributes: Prior to using an ovulation test, you should read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them, Dr. Sueldo says. Their accuracy often relies on how well you follow the instructions, so don’t skip that vital step. Though the instructions can vary, you can typically expect the following steps to taking a traditional ovulation test: In test strips, a second line that’s as dark as or darker than the control line indicates a positive result. Digital tests take the guesswork out of deciphering the lines. They have easy-to-understand symbols, such as a smiley face, to showcase a positive result. Ovulation occurs once per month, and the window is brief, so it can be difficult to detect. To increase your chances of detecting an LH surge, get familiar with your cycle and start testing a few days before your predicted ovulation. A regular cycle typically lasts between 28 and 32 days, though it can vary. In a normal cycle, ovulation typically occurs between days 11 and 21. Your cycle begins on the first day of your period, so start testing early on in your cycle. Dr. Ryan recommends beginning to test on day 9 or 10 of your cycle. When it’s time to test, the time of day can also make a difference. Test timing recommendations can vary per kit, so it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Some recommend testing first thing in the morning. Generally, it’s best to test earlier in the day when urine is most concentrated, says Katrina J. Heyrana, MD, an OB-GYN at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. Your second void of day is typically best, she adds. You want concentrated urine, so Dr. Heyrana recommends holding your pee for a couple of hours. You also want to avoid drinking large amounts of fluids before taking the test. Once you have a positive result that indicates ovulation, Dr. Sueldo recommends having exposure to the sperm that day and the following day. A positive result means it’s either time for intercourse or insemination in women trying to conceive, she says. A handful of physicians helped inform our research, methodology, and testing. The experts we spoke to include: What’s the difference between an ovulation test and a pregnancy test? Ovulation and pregnancy tests are similar, but they check for different hormones. Ovulation tests check for a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), which determines when you’re ovulating. Pregnancy tests check for the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine, which only develops when women are pregnant. Can I use ovulation tests to prevent pregnancy? Some women use ovulation kits to know when to avoid intercourse so as to prevent pregnancy. However, they shouldn’t be used as your sole form of birth control, Dr. Ryan says. This is because pregnancy is still possible outside of the window of ovulation since sperm can remain in the female reproductive tract for up to five days, she explains. How long after my LH surge will I ovulate? Ovulation tests predict ovulation within a 24- to 36-hour window, Dr. Ryan says. It’s possible for ovulation to occur the same day of or the day following a positive ovulation test result. If I get a negative result, does it mean I'm not ovulating this cycle? A negative ovulation test result means that an LH surge wasn’t detected, but this doesn’t mean you won’t ovulate in your current cycle. It could mean that you haven’t ovulated yet. It’s also possible that the test yielded a false negative. Lacey Muinos is a freelance health writer who regularly covers women’s health. With almost a decade of experience reporting on health products, she regularly consults medical experts to provide quality recommendations, and has interviewed board-certified OB-GYNs about everything from period products to endometriosis and fertility. Types of Ovulation Tests
What Healthcare Providers Want You To Know
Best Overall Ovulation Test
Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test
Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Best for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Mira Hormone Monitor Max Kit
Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Most Convenient Ovulation Test
Ava Fertility Tracker
Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Best Ovulation and Pregnancy Test Combo
Premom Ovulation and Pregnancy Test Strips Kit
Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
How We Tested the Ovulation Tests
How to Take an Ovulation Test
When to Take an Ovulation Test
Our Experts
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Trust Verywell Health
See Also
Best At-Home Fertility Tests for Men | HealthlineGain Better Insight Into Your Hormonal Health With Our 12 Picks for At-Home Fertility Tests of 2024The 7 best at-home fertility tests, reviewed by medical experts | Fortune Recommends HealthBest At-Home Fertility Tests in 2024