Are you planning to get pregnant? Congratulations! While the news of pregnancy can bring immense joy, getting pregnant can be a long and exhausting process for many couples. According to data, 12-15% of couples struggle with infertility, which means they don’t get pregnant after a year of trying. This can lead to frustration and helplessness.
According to a new review study, timing sex with the help of a urine test can increase the odds of conception.
Understanding window for conception
The fertility window, when conception can occur, is about five days before to several hours after ovulation. There are several methods to help you figure out when ovulation is about to occur. This includes ultrasound, a urine test that measures menstrual cycle-related hormone levels, and fertility awareness‐based methods such as cervical mucus monitoring or using a period tracking app.
The new review study, a Cochrane review — a highly trusted type of review in the scientific community — analyzed seven randomized controlled trials to figure out whether timed intercourse with these ovulation tracking methods has any positive impact on conception.
Findings of the study
“The results suggest that if the chance of pregnancy following intercourse without using urine ovulation tests is 18%, the chance following timed intercourse with urinary ovulation detection would be 20% to 28%.” It’s unclear whether this method has an effect on the time it takes to get pregnant,” Fatherly quotes the authors.
Tatjana Gibbons, a doctorate student at Oxford University and lead author on the study, says in a press release, “The finding that a simple and easily available urine test can increase a couple’s chance of successful conception is quite exciting because it can empower couples with more control over their fertility journey and could potentially reduce the need for infertility investigations and treatments.”
More about urine ovulation tests
Urine ovulation tests are easy to get. They are available at most pharmacies and usually come with five to seven sticks in a box. If your menstrual cycle is typically 28 days, begin testing on the 11th day after your last period began, or three to five days before your expected day of ovulation based on your cycle length.
A positive result, designated by the stick changing into a certain color, usually indicates that ovulation will occur in 24 to 36 hours. Check the information that comes with the specific test to be sure on how to read the results.
Caveats of the study
It is important to note that several of the studies included in the review were funded by manufacturers of urine ovulation tests. Therefore, it is important to take the findings with a grain of salt.
