We see that many women trying to conceive have various questions regarding tests, especially ovulation tests. One of the most frequent questions is whether the ovulation test detects pregnancy. When it comes to finding out about pregnancy, any method, technique, or item is welcome as long as it doesn’t cause more anxiety or raise expectations. The essential thing is to know the difference between the two tests and their functions. The ovulation test1 is designed to detect the presence of the LH hormone (luteinizing hormone) in the urine. LH is the hormone that is produced during the female cycle, but it reaches its peak when a woman is near ovulation. Therefore, the test’s function is to indicate by the color of the result line whether this hormone level is still low or high, showing if it’s the ideal time to have intercourse.
IMPORTANT: There are currently several apps for women to track and monitor their cycles. But it’s important to note that the body doesn’t work like a robot and the menstrual cycle can become irregular for various reasons; even if the app indicates ovulation, it might not have happened. Stay alert to your body’s signs—it’s the best way to be sure!
A result line of the same color or darker than the control line means a positive result and having intercourse that day increases the chances of getting pregnant. Many women end up getting confused when reading the ovulation test and believe that a dark result line means they are already pregnant. The pregnancy test, on the other hand, is sensitive to the presence of HCG hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the urine, which starts being produced right after the embryo implants in the uterus. Different from the way you read the ovulation test, even a faint result line means a positive pregnancy test. The darker the result line, the higher the HCG concentration and the further along the pregnancy2.
Is a Positive Ovulation Test Reliable for Pregnancy?
The ovulation test is not intended to give a pregnancy result, so you should be very cautious before celebrating a pregnancy. Some aspects should be carefully considered, such as if you already did an ovulation test that month and got a positive (result line the same color or darker than the control line), and you are sure you ovulated during that period, then the result can indeed be reliable. The issue comes with reading and interpreting the results, which can sometimes be misread due to the different shades of the lines3. If the result line is a little lighter than the control, almost unnoticeable, even if it seems like a positive, it is actually negative. Another extremely important point is asking yourself, “am I sure I ovulated?” Many women rely completely on phone apps and follow them strictly, but the body doesn’t always follow the app, and even if it says you ovulated that month, that may not have occurred. In this case, you might get a positive ovulation test, mistaking it for pregnancy, when you are actually detecting your late ovulation. Another situation that may affect the result reading is when there is a hormonal imbalance, and with LH hormone imbalance, the test may indicate ovulation or a pregnancy when there really isn’t one. Therefore, only consider a positive ovulation test result as pregnancy proof when you are SURE you ovulated during that period. And then take a pregnancy test to confirm, or get a blood test. Ovulation tests might be more readily available, but you should take a pregnancy test to detect HCG. A good pregnancy test is one that detects pregnancy up to 3 days before your missed period, so we recommend the Famivita pregnancy test, which has a sensitivity of 10mIU of HCG. Also see: Does the Bleach Pregnancy Test Work?
