Are ovulation tests worth it?
If you’re struggling to conceive or would like to boost your chances of planning intercourse for your most fertile days, an ovulation test could be helpful. The NHS advises that using a combination of methods to pinpoint ovulation will probably be the most accurate.
These methods include using an ovulation test, working out the length of your cycle so that you pinpoint your most fertile days (which tend to be 10 to 16 days before your period is due) and being aware of changes to your cervical mucus and basal body temperature (BBT).
When should you start using ovulation tests?
Working out when to start using ovulation tests during your cycle can seem a bit complicated.
Generally, you should begin testing around three to four days before you think ovulation should occur.
First, you need to work out how long your cycle is – the first day of your cycle being the first day of your period. If you have a regular cycle, ovulation tends to occur between 10 and 16 days before your period is due, according to the NHS.
So, if, for example, you have a 28-day cycle, you should start testing on day 10 of your cycle. If you have a more irregular cycle, you may want to start testing a few days earlier to be safe.
How long after a positive ovulation test do you actually ovulate?
You should get a positive result with an ovulation test a day or two before you actually ovulate.
Can you get a positive ovulation test without ovulating?
An ovulation test could indicate a false positive if your LH levels surge without ovulation occurring. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can cause women to have a high baseline of LH so there may not be sufficient change in levels to monitor a surge.
What's the best ovulation test?
The Clearblue Ovulation Test is the best overall ovulation test. It promises 99% accuracy and takes just three minutes for results to appear.
One Step's Highly Sensitive Ovulation Strips Test Kit is the best budget ovulation strip we’ve found, and some Mumsnetters rate it as being as accurate and effective as more expensive brands.
Which ovulation test is the most accurate?
We think the Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test Kit is the most accurate ovulation test on our list. It gives you a high chance of pinpointing your most fertile days and purports to be in excess of 99% accurate at detecting the LH surge.
How we chose our recommendations
Our ovulation test suggestions came from recommendations on the Mumsnet forums and from consumer reviews on the web. We consulted independent review and health sites, as well as checking NHS advice about ovulation and ovulation prediction kits to ensure we were bringing you an honest summary of ovulation tests in 2026.
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About the author
Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy care and child play content.
Before joining the content team at Mumsnet, Jenny worked as a journalist for newspapers, radio, TV and b2b trades magazines for over a decade. She is also a bestselling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.
As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in buyers' guides such as these, as well as product reviews and expert advice on all things pregnancy and parenting related.