If you’re actively trying to get pregnant, there are plenty of ways to identify your most fertile times of the month. In addition to checking your cervical fluid, taking your basal temperature, and tracking your menstrual period, taking an ovulation test is one of the most accurate ways to determine your highest days of fertility.
If you’re wondering what to do when your ovulation test is positive, I have a few tips below.
What is an Ovulation Test?
Ovulation tests come as test strips or ovulation predictor kits (OPKs). These are tests that you can do at home to determine when you’re ovulating. Because you’re most fertile during ovulation, these at-home test kits can help dramatically increase your chances for success when trying to get pregnant.
The tests work by measuring levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. An increase in this hormone (LH) signals the ovary to release an egg. Once your levels get up to a certain level, the tests predict that ovulation will be happening within the next 12-36 hours.
You get your results by peeing on a stick or strip (or pee in a cup and dip the stick or strip into the cup) and waiting for the results to appear. Each test displays the results differently (a test line vs control line, digital yes or no, or even the exact amount of LH).
During the early parts of your menstrual cycle and at your least fertile times, you will get a negative test result. However, when you are most fertile, your ovulation test will be positive and congratulations- you’re ovulating!
What To Do When Your Ovulation Test is Positive
It’s so exciting to get that big fat positive (BFP) on your ovulation test because it signals that everything is working as it should in your body and you can get pregnant naturally. Here are some things to do when your ovulation test is positive and you’re trying to conceive.
1. Don’t Stress
Trying to get pregnant can be a very anxious time for many couples (especially the woman). If you’ve ever heard one story of infertility, you’re probably wondering if you’ll be in that statistic of women.
However, MOST women are able to get pregnant naturally and with no issues at all. Therefore, worrying and stressing over it will only cause undue pressure on your relationship and not help the situation at all.
When it comes to charting, having sex, and even conversations with your partner, try to take it easy and one day at a time. As soon as you loosen up and worry less, things will happen as they should.
2. Have Intercourse
This is a given because it’s the only way to naturally make a baby. So once your ovulation test is positive, you want to start having sex every day.
Depending on what ovulation predictor you are using, you’ll want to start having sex every day once the LH hormone starts increasing. Some of the tests are easier to read and you’ll start getting a smiley face, but it should still be easy for you to recognize the change in levels.
It’s important to have sex in the days BEFORE you ovulate because the sperm can live inside your body for a few days. If you have sex on the day you ovulate or the day or 2 after, you have a greater chance of missing your window.
You may have heard to have sex every other day, however, that is simply because having sex every day could cause undue stress on a relationship. As stated above, stress can actually interfere in the process and lessen the excitement of pregnancy.
It’s not necessary to have sex more than once a day because the sperm will stay inside the woman for a few days. This will allow the optimal time for an egg to be fertilized once released.
3. Try different positions
While there is also no proven evidence that certain positions help you to conceive, there are some old wives tales that believe it could help. Although sperm can swim fast and against gravity to get to where they are going without much assistance, you can position your body to guide the sperm in the right direction.
Some of the best positions are: Missionary, doggy style, legs on shoulders, wheelbarrow, and read about more positions here.
4. Ensure you’re properly lubricated
When a woman ovulates, most of the time her body makes the right lubrication to help the sperm get right to the egg. However, if you’re having sex a few days before ovulation or your body doesn’t produce enough natural lubricant, it can be helpful to get some special lube.
Actually, certain lubricants can actually harm sperm or cause them to get stuck and not make it all the way through the canal. They may contain unsafe ingredients (like parabens) or ph that is harmful to sperm.
When trying to conceive, always look for a lubricant designed specifically to be fertility-friendly. These can “provide a protective environment for sperm as it makes its way through the female reproductive tract,” says Dr. Rizk. “These lubricants also mimic the consistency and viscosity of cervical mucus, making it a great match for sperm.”
Baby Dance is a completely safe, sperm-friendly lubricant that may help you to conceive. Baby Dance is the first FDA-cleared fertility lubricant that is made without parabens. Its water-based formula contains no oils, hormones, or glycerol and is isotonic with vaginal tissues so it won’t cause tissue irritation. Unlike other commonly used personal lubricants, BabyDance won’t harm sperm. Give it a try!
5. Keep Track
If you haven’t already started keeping track of all your body data, including when you have sex, do that now. If you get that positive pregnancy test in a couple of weeks, you will have a better idea of when you conceived and therefore, your due date, if you kept track of that information.
If you’ve already started using a fertillity app to track your ovulation, make sure you’re also recording other important data, including days of intercourse.
6. Take a Prenatal Vitamin
Now that you could be conceiving your baby as we speak, you want to get your body ready to keep this pregnancy as healthy as possible.
You should have started taking your prenatal or fertility-boosting vitamins before trying to conceive. This will give your body as many nutrients as you can to help with fertility and growing your baby. However, if you haven’t started yet, it’s never too late!
FH Pro is a great fertility boosting supplement that works as your prenatal vitamin before you conceive. It is packed with a maximum amount of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to get ready for conception.
Along with your prenatal vitamin, make sure you are eating healthy, regularly active, and staying away from drugs or chemicals that could be harmful during pregnancy.
Good luck on your journey and I’ll be sending all the magic baby dust your way!
