Ovulation Test Guide: Timing, Use & Recommended Brands

Ovulation tests are a simple and effective way to identify your most fertile days – especially if you’re preparing for an IUI (intrauterine insemination) treatment.

At our fertility clinic, we advise patients on ovulation tests every day and know what works in practice. That’s why we’ve reviewed and compared some of the most popular tests on the market – to help you find one that’s both reliable and easy to use.

In this post, we answer the questions we’re most often asked:

• Which ovulation tests do we recommend?

• When should you start testing?

• What does a positive ovulation test look like?

Which Ovulation Tests are Recommended?

Based on our many years of experience in fertility treatment, the following ovulation tests have proven to be reliable:

• Clearblue Digital (pink variant) – ideal for morning urine
• Other midstream/stick tests (tests in a plastic casing), e.g., the Storebrand Boots from Boots – suitable for afternoon or evening testing
• We generally advise against using strip tests, as they are often less reliable.

🟡 Important: This test should be used with your first, concentrated morning urine.

💡 Tip: You can also use Clearblue in the evening, as long as your urine is concentrated. To ensure this, avoid urinating for at least 4 hours beforehand.

Midstream/Stick Tests (e.g., Boots)

For midstream tests, the ovulation test from the brand Boots is a commonly used option and available in Boots stores.

🟡 Important: Don’t use concentrated morning urine for these tests – use a later sample instead (the so-called ‘second urine’).

Need Help Interpreting Your Test Result?

Send us a photo of the ovulation test by email to [email protected], along with the following information:

1. Time the test was taken
2. Cycle day
3. Usual cycle length

When Should You Start Testing?

Our IUI treatment is completely natural and hormone-free. That’s why it’s essential to identify the exact time of ovulation. We do this based on your cycle length over the past 6–12 months.

It’s perfectly normal for both your cycle length and ovulation day to vary by a few days. So, you’ll usually need to test over several days to catch your most fertile window and get a positive ovulation test.

📌 How to calculate your cycle length:

• Day 1 of your cycle is the first day of fresh menstrual bleeding

• The last day of your cycle is the day before your next menstrual bleeding starts

📌 How to calculate when to start testing:

Example: Your cycle length ranges between 26 and 29 days

• Start with the shortest cycle: 26 days

• Ovulation is expected about 14 days before your next period – around day 12 (26 minus 14)

• As ovulation can vary by +/- 2 days, start testing from day 10 (12 minus 2)

• If your longest cycle is 29 days, ovulation may happen as late as day 17 (29 – 14 + 2 days).

• So, you should test daily from day 10 through to day 17 – or until you get a positive result

Our Recommendation:

• Test twice a day – in the morning and evening (around 10–12 hours apart).
• If you’re travelling a long distance, a third test in the afternoon using a midstream ovulation test (not Clearblue) may help with planning and timing.

When Is the Ovulation Test Positive?

Clearblue Digital (pink):

• Positive: A smiling face appears
• Negative: A blank circle appears

Boots or other midstream/stick tests:

• Positive: When the test line is as dark as or darker than the control line
• Negative: When the test line is lighter than the control line

🟡 Important: Always read the test result within the time stated in the instructions. Reading it later may lead to inaccurate results.

Positive Ovulation Test – What Now?

Once your test is positive, ovulation will occur within the next 24–36 hours.

It is important that 12 hours before your positive test, you had a negative ovulation test, so we can be sure it is the first LH surge.

What to do now:

• Positive test in the morning (after a negative evening test):
  ➡ Come for insemination in the afternoon or the next morning
• Positive test in the evening:
  ➡ Come for insemination the following day

🛑 Do not continue testing after a positive test – it can be confusing.
➡ Contact us directly for an insemination appointment.

Insemination Appointment – We Are Ready When You Are!

We know that ovulation cannot be planned. That’s why we are available 365 days a year starting at 9:00 AM.

• Last insemination daily at 3:00 PM
• With acupuncture: Latest appointment at 2:30 PM
• For insemination with prepared partner sperm: Arrive by 2:00 PM

Email us as soon as your test is positive, and we will arrange an insemination appointment.

If you have a long journey, you may leave before receiving confirmation.

If your ovulation test is positive, you’re guaranteed an IUI appointment – as long as you contact the clinic by 9:00 am on the day of treatment.

Any Questions?

We are here for you:

• By email: daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• By phone: daily from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

🔍 If you are unsure about the test result, we are also happy to offer an ultrasound check to assess your cycle better.

Good luck with your testing – we look forward to welcoming you to the clinic soon! 🍀