Ovulation Predictor Kits – Do they actually work?

If you are trying to get pregnant and/or working hard to become more aware of your fertility, then you may have seen Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) in your local grocery store or pharmacy or even online.

Do OPKs actually work?

Yes… and No!

‘Ovulation Predictor Kits’ can be misleading given that the name of the product itself implies it’s a simple ‘do it for you’ kind of in-home test. It doesn’t *actually* predict ovulation. However, it is very accurate in detecting the presence of Luteinizing Hormone (LH), i.e. your brain hormone that facilitates ovulation. 

The presence of LH is not enough to “predict” ovulation 

There are drawbacks in using OPKs on its own when timing intercourse for conception (or abstinence).

• In a healthy menstrual cycle, in addition to elevated LH levels, peak estrogen levels also facilitate or trigger ovulation. Interestingly, the time during your menstrual cycle when estrogen is at its peak is when cervical mucus tends to become the most lubricative, stretchiest and most egg-whitiest.
• LH doesn’t always arrive (i.e. peak) before ovulation happens. Sometimes it can ‘peak’ earlier before ovulation happens or even after. Think of it as a party guest who thinks they’re the most important person in the room and they come as they please. Now this is important to note because if you depend on OPK test results for timing intercourse, you could seriously miss or unintentionally conceive around the time ovulation may actually occur!
• LH levels can be falsely elevated especially in people with PCOS. Producing LH is your brain’s attempt at ovulating and communicating with your ovaries, so in people with ovulation issues, we can see a lot more LH in their blood and in urine. This gives people false hopes that they are ovulating without other information. 

The Bottom (Positive OPK) Line

Although there are several drawbacks to using OPKs, try not to be discouraged when using them. They do work most of the time! It’s only a matter of whether or not we are acknowledging all other potential obstacles you may have in your health/fertility journey and valuing how our bodies really work. 

Have you used OPKs before and how did you find them? Was it easy to use and incorporate in your health plan? 

Some references for your interest

• Leiva, R. A., Bouchard, T. P., Abdullah, S. H., & Ecochard, R. (2017). Urinary Luteinizing Hormone Tests: Which Concentration Threshold Best Predicts Ovulation?. Frontiers in public health, 5, 320. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00320
• Guermandi, E., Vegetti, W., Bianchi, M. M., Uglietti, A., Ragni, G., & Crosignani, P. (2001). Reliability of ovulation tests in infertile women. Obstetrics and gynecology, 97(1), 92–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(00)01083-8
• Fehring R. J. (2002). Accuracy of the peak day of cervical mucus as a biological marker of fertility. Contraception, 66(4), 231–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0010-7824(02)00355-4 

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