The two most common test brands are Clear Blue and First Response. If you are using the test kits because you want to conceive, you don't want to waste a good egg on a test that's difficult to interpret - every month counts! So, I did you a favor and peed on several sticks to compare products. Ok, I actually dipped the sticks into my pee, but more on that later. I was in no way paid (I wish) or otherwise influenced by these companies to review their products. I independently used myself as a guinea pig, for the sake of science and your reproductive success. You're welcome.
First Response Test & Confirm Ovulation Test
OR $19.89 for 10 tests plus one pregnancy test
How it works: The test predicts ovulation by measuring the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is the hormone responsible for triggering ovulation.
Result interpretation: The result window shows a dark pink line closest to the thumb grip of the test (the part you hold) - - this is the reference line. A second line appears closest to the business end of the stick (the part you pee on) - - this is your result. If the result line is absent or is fainter than the reference line, the test is negative. If the result line is the same color or darker than the reference line, the result is positive. If your test kit includes the digital confirmation test, you can use it to confirm a suspected positive result.
Results: A negative result indicates the absence of an LH surge. A positive result indicates the presence of an LH surge and ovulation is predicted to occur within the next 24-36 hours.
Product notes: First Response also sells a package of daily digital tests, but the cost is greater than the Clear Blue daily digital tests ($47.99 for 20 tests versus $39.99). I elected to use the non-digital test option to compare the effectiveness of a kit with a lower price point.
Clear Blue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test
Price: $29.99 for 10 tests
OR $39.99 for 20 tests
How it works: This test also predicts ovulation by measuring LH, but it includes an additional feature of measuring estrogen levels. Rising estrogen levels precede the LH surge.
Result interpretation: A blank circles indicates a negative result. A flashing smiley face (emoticons will have a whole new meaning now) indicates a rise in estrogen levels or "high fertility". A static smiley face is a positive result or "peak fertility".
Results: A negative result indicates the test did not detect rising estrogen or LH levels. According to the test instructions, a flashing smiley face indicates "high fertility" and you should "have intercourse to increase your chances of becoming pregnant". There are a few issues with this claim. For starters, if you are using the test kit to determine when to inseminate, you need to wait until you receive a "peak fertility"result. In the event that you plan to fertilize an egg through sexual intercourse, you may have several days of a "high fertility" result before a positive LH surge. Sex is great and all, but it's a lot of pressure for both you and your partner if you demand baby-making time for days on end. From what I've read, doing it several days in a row is also not ideal for sperm counts.When the test shows a static (not flashing) smiley face, ovulation is predicted to occur in the next 24-36 hours - this is go time!
Product notes: Clear Blue also offers a daily digital test that only measures LH levels ($36.99 for a 20 count package). If you want to cut out the flashing smiley face result, you can purchase this test instead, but there isn't much difference in price. Also, I found the smiley face to be beneficial, which I'll explain more when summarizing my personal results (keep reading, I took pictures of my pee sticks for you!).
The Testing Process
To compare products, I tested with both brands during the same cycle. The instructions for each state you can hold the stick under your urine stream, or you can collect the urine in a disposable cup (or non-disposable, it's your business - - just don't invite me over for a beverage, ever). I chose what I've termed the "collect and dip method" for logistical reasons. Simultaneously holding two sticks under my urine stream seemed like a challenge I didn't want to face. Also, I have terrible aim. I didn't want to risk peeing all over the wrong part of the test sticks, or worse -- my hand. I tested every morning immediately after waking, which is recommended due to the concentration of hormone levels.
Hint: if you use the First Response Test & Confirm kit, you should opt for the collect and dip method. This way you will have urine left for the digital confirmation test.
My Results
Based on my average cycle length, I started testing on cycle day 6. No surprises here. As expected, both tests were clearly negative. The First Response test showed a faint pink result line and the Clear Blue test showed a blank circle.
Cycle day 6, Test Day 1
On the second day of testing, the First Response test still showed a faint pink result line. However, the Clear Blue test showed a flashing smiley face, indicating a rise in estrogen levels. According to the test instructions, this result is supposed to occur for about two days before a positive ovulation result (as you'll learn, this was NOT my experience).
Cycle Day 7, Test Day 2
The third day showed, as expected, a flashing smiley face on the Clear Blue test. For the First Response test, I observed a significant change in the color of the result line. To me, the result and reference lines appeared to be the same color pink. Without influence of the Clear Blue test, this looked like a positive result, so I used the digital confirmation test. The digital results revealed a "NO".
Cycle Day 8, Test Day 3
Cycle Day 8, Test Day 3: First Response Digital Confirmation
Day 4: another smiley face for the Clear Blue test. At this point, the pink lines of the First Response test still looked the same color to me, but I had already been tricked once, so I decided to wait until the Clear Blue test turned positive before using the First Response confirmation again.
Problem: because the First Response kit only includes one digital confirmation kit, I had to buy a second kit so I would have another confirmation test. Or so I thought. It turns out I mistakenly bought the kit that includes a pregnancy test instead of an ovulation confirmation test. Fooled again!
Cycle Day 9, Test Day 4
On the fifth day of testing, the Clear Blue test showed yet another day of the flashing smiley face. This was the fourth day of the Clear Blue "peak fertility" result and at this point I began worrying. To compound my worry, the result line of the First Response test went back to being as faint as it was in the first two days of testing.
Cycle Day 10, Test Day 5
Day 6: another day of the flashing smiley face and the faint pink line.
Cycle Day 11, Test Day 6
On the seventh day of testing, the pink result line was darkening again, which gave me some hope that I might still ovulate. Although I was growing sick of the smiley face by now, it also helped me feel like my body was moving in the right direction.
Cycle Day 12, Test Day 7
Day 8 of testing: more of the same.
Cycle Day 13, Test Day 8
On the ninth day of testing (cycle day 14), that damn pink line grew faint again. Since my average cycle length is 24 days, every ovulation and fertility prediction calendar says I should have ovulated by now. I was about 90% convinced that I was not going to ovulate this month and would have to resume my experiment again during the next cycle. By now, I developed a love-hate relationship with the flashing smiley face. It seemed to be going on for far too long, but it continued to provide some evidence that perhaps my ovaries would still relinquish an egg . I told myself I would test for ONE MORE DAY. If I didn't see a positive result, I'd stop testing until next cycle.
Cycle Day 14, Test Day 9
OMG, I can ovulate!!!!!
It's a good thing I gave myself one more day, because on the tenth day of testing, I finally achieved the long-awaited static smiley face, which indicates a positive result for the Clear Blue test.
And look at that brilliant pink result line! What a beauty! It's difficult to see in this picture, but the result line appeared slightly darker than the reference line. As I explained earlier, I didn't have a First Response digital confirmation test, but my best guess is that this shows a positive result.
Cycle Day 15, Test Day 10
Recommendation
Definitely use the digital tests! There is too much guessing when it comes to those blasted pink lines and the price difference isn't significant enough to justify the difficulty the inconclusive results.
From the perspective of predicting ovulation, I think the "peak fertility" result is rather worthless (or maybe my hormones are just messed up, who knows?!). That being said, I do think it has value in providing some morale and encouragement. You may think that's silly, but if it weren't for the continued flashing smiley face, I probably would have stopped testing and convinced myself that ovulation wasn't happening this month. There isn't much of a price difference between the non-advanced and advanced tests, so I say spend an extra dollar or two for your own peace of mind.
Happy ovulating!
