Best ovulation tests to try when you're trying to conceive

When you’re trying to conceive (TTC) it can be useful to know when you’re ovulating, which is the most fertile point of your monthly cycle. Ovulation takes place when an egg is released from one of your ovaries. As ovulation spans only a few days each month, it’s a relatively short window for scheduling in DTD (doing the deed).

Although there are plenty of methods to estimate when you might be ovulating, one of the surest ways to pinpoint your most fertile days is by using a home ovulation test – also known as an ovulation predictor kit (OPK). The best ovulation tests work by tracking your body’s production of luteinizing hormone (LH), a hormone that stimulates the ovaries. This hormone rises considerably 24 to 48 hours before ovulation, when an egg is released, which is known as a ‘LH surge.’ Most ovulation tests work by measuring the LH hormone in your urine and can be used the same way as a pregnancy test.

As home to the largest online network of UK parents, Mumsnet users are a vast source of knowledge for all things parenting and pregnancy-related, from the best prenatal vitamins to help maximise the chances of conception to the top-ranking pregnancy books to turn to for advice, as well as the best TENS machines for pain relief during labour and the parenting books which will guide you through the years to come. We've combed through the Mumsnet boards to find the best ovulation tests and monitors recommended by our users and cross-referenced with online reviewers and pregnancy experts across the internet.

Here are the best ovulation tests 2024.

The best ovulation tests: at a glance

• Overall best ovulation test: Clearblue Ovulation Test | £16

• Best budget ovulation tests: One Step Ovulation Strips | From £2.39

• Best ovulation tests to bulk buy: OvaView Sensitive Ovulation Fertility Test Kit | £17

• Best ovulation test for irregular periods: Clearblue Digital Advanced Ovulation Test | £32

• Best ovulation strip with app: Femometer Ovulation Test Strips and Pregnancy Test Strips | £9

• Best ovulation test and pregnancy test combination: Wondfo Ovulation Kit | £13

• Best ovulation monitor for PCOS: OvuCore by Ovusense Fertility Monitor | £199

• Best saliva ovulation test: Maybe Baby Saliva Ovulation Test | £20

1. Overall best ovulation test: Clearblue Ovulation Test

Price on writing: From £16 (for 10) | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Results time: 3 minutes | Display method: Smiley face | Pack sizes available: 10, 20

What we love

• Simple to use

• Highly accurate

What to know

• Can become pricey if used over a long period of time

What Mumsnet users say

"I use [the Clearblue ovulation tests] and highly recommend getting the digital ones with around 20 tests on Amazon. So worth it, peace of mind and its one of the best out there in my experience." (Recommended by Mumsnet user SBeeches)

"I conceived quickly at the ripe old age of 40 & 42, three times using Clearblue OPKs." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user DoraDont)

Our verdict

Rating: 5/5

This test kit from Clearblue scores highly for accuracy with a promise of being 99% accurate. It’s also easy to use – simply urinate on one of the 20 tests in the kit and then insert it into the reusable monitor for your results, which should appear within three minutes.

You won’t have to faff about trying to detect lines either. Instead, there’s an easy-to-see smiley face which appears when your LH surges.

Related: Whether you're further along or planning ahead, don't miss our guides to the best pregnancy pillow and stretch mark cream according to Mumsnet users.

2. Best budget ovulation test: One Step Highly Sensitive Ovulation Strips Test Kit

Price on writing: From £2.39 (for 10) | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Results time: 1 - 3 minutes | Display method: Lines | Pack sizes available: 10, 15, 20, 40, 50, 60

What we love

• Huge number of pack size options available

• Many Mumsnet users credit cheaper tests as just as good as expensive

What to know

• The darkness of the lines can vary, causing confusion

What Mumsnet users say

"I use these and they work perfectly well for me." (Vetted by Mumsnet user Graceybaby)

"In my experience I found them really reliable and have got pregnant twice using them. I've used them three times per day." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Chanel05)

Our verdict

Rating: 4/5

One Step is the best cheap ovulation strip test we’ve found. Each test strip is wrapped individually with the instructions clearly printed on it to avoid confusion.

Granted, it’s a bit faffy – you have to take care when testing by dipping the strip into a pot of 20ml of urine in order to get the most accurate results, and some Mumsnetters have found the shade of the lines can vary greatly month-to-month. But if you’re going to be testing regularly, One Step Highly Sensitive Ovulation Strips Test Kit is a purse-friendly option.

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3. Best bulk buy ovulation test: Ovaview Sensitive Ovulation Fertility Tests Kit

Price on writing: From £17 (for 60) | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Results time: 5 - 10 minutes | Display method: Lines | Pack sizes available: 60

What we love

• Good value for money

• Easy storage

What to know

• Longer wait time for results than other tests

What Mumsnet users say

"I used the ClearBlue ovulation test this cycle together with a cheap colour test from Amazon (Ovaview) and the day I got my smiley face with the ClearBlue was the same day I got a dark line that matched the control with the cheap colour OPK." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Sunshinefordays)

Our verdict

Rating: 4/5

Mumsnetters rate these cheap as chips ovulation strips from Amazon. Another great budget buy, the Ovaview Sensitive Ovulation Fertility Tests Kit is eye-catchingly packaged and comes with very good reviews thanks to the test strips’ extra wide size, which makes them easier to use, and accuracy rating.

Considering you’ll get 60 test strips in the kit for the price, we think that this pack is great value for money.

Related: Pregnant and in need of a wardrobe overhaul? Check out Mumsnet users' favourite maternity clothes, from the comfiest maternity leggings to the most supportive maternity bras.

4. Best ovulation test for irregular periods: Clearblue Digital Advanced Ovulation Test

Price on writing: £50 (for 20) | Buy now from Boots

Key specs

Results time: 5 minutes | Display method: Smiley face | Pack sizes available: 10, 20

What we love

• More intricate testing than the simpler Clearblue test kit

• Great for predicting ovulation when cycles are irregular

What to know

• Can be pricey if using frequently

• Need to read the instructions as it can be tricky to interpret solid and flashing indicator

What Mumsnet users say

"I used the Clearblue advanced digital opks last month and went straight from low fertility to peak (no high days!) and conceived." (Recommended by Mumsnet user BaaBaaEmily)

"I used the advance one, I had a chemical pregnancy in cycle one and was wanting to maximise chances after that, it was very helpful, I ovulated a couple of days later than expected, pregnant 4th cycle (now 16 weeks) and dates spot on with ovulation test." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user HeyBlaby)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

Although the Clearblue Ovulation Test is undoubtedly excellent, the Clearblue Digital Advanced Ovulation Test is the best Clearblue ovulation test we’ve found.

With the added bonus of tracking an extra fertility hormone, this highly sensitive test is able to identify four or more fertile days. It’s pricier than most of its rivals, but Clearblue claims it to be at least twice as effective as any other ovulation test.

Safe for use by women with regular and irregular cycles, the Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test is 99% effective which means you’ll be in safe hands. Clearblue tests are widely available in a lot of chemists and supermarkets, making them ideal to pick up at the same time as shopping for the best skincare for pregnancy.

5. Best ovulation strip with app: Femometer Ovulation Test Strips with Pregnancy Test Strips and Free App

Price on writing: From £9 (for 20) | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Results time: 5 minutes | Display method: Lines | Pack sizes available: 20, 40, 50

What we love

• Saves you having to shop for a pregnancy test as well

• Helps you monitor ovulation even more closely

What to know

• Some reviewers report receiving false positives

What Mumsnet users say

"I used them for the first time last month and they seemed pretty easy to use with the app." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user mooloop)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

A clever ovulation kit which comes with its own app, Femometer Ovulation Test Strips are rated by Mumsnetters and by independent reviewers for their accuracy and simplicity.

The ovulation test displays two coloured lines on the test strip if you’re ovulating and, with 99% accuracy, you can be sure that you’re getting the right result.

You can upload the results to the linked app in order to track your levels and build up a more detailed picture of your monthly cycle. With this bulk pack also offering 10 pregnancy strips, it’s fantastic value for money - again, great news if you'd rather save to splash the cash on the best maternity jeans or a topnotch birthing ball later down the line.

6. Best ovulation test and pregnancy test combination: Wondfo Ovulation Kit

Price on writing: From £13 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Results time: 3 - 5 minutes | Display method: Lines | Pack sizes available: 50 ovulation strips, 20 pregnancy tests

What we love

• Great value for money

What to know

• Some reviewers reported false positives on the pregnancy tests

What Mumsnet users say

"I am 11dpo and got my first clear positive on a wondfo yesterday. These are supposedly 20/25mlu sensitivity (I buy from Amazon) let me tell you these bad boys are far more sensitive than that. They’re darker than my first response early response, and I can turn positives on my first, second, or gazillionth wee of the day." (Recommended by Mumsnet user TTC5yearsx)

"Got some Wondfos from Amazon and they were fab. I'd never buy another FRER now - Wondfos all the way!" (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user RedPandaFluff)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

The Wondfo Kit is remarkably good value for money and covers both bases, as it contains 50 ovulation tests and 20 pregnancy tests.

Wondfo isn’t exactly a household name, like Clearblue, but, as many Mumsnetters testify on our forums, brand isn’t always the most important factor to consider, so long as the reliability of the test can be trusted – and these are said to be 99% accurate.

Read next: Discover the best pelvic floor trainer and top-rated pregnancy support belt according to Mumsnet users.

7. Best ovulation monitor for PCOS: Ovusense Fertility Monitor

Price on writing: £199 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Results time: Instant 'live' results | Display method: Phone app | Pack sizes available: One

What we love

• Extremely accurate fertility prediction

• Less chance of confusion

What to know

• Pricey

What Mumsnet users say

"I got pregnant my second month of using ovusense, I ovulated on day 23 of a 32 day cycle, so we had been missing my ovulation date - I have pcos but regular periods." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Justincase87)

"I would recommend it if you want to learn about your cycles. It's really easy to use." (Advice from Mumsnet user Mseddy)

Our verdict

Rating: 3/5

This isn’t a urine test, but the makers of this vaginal sensor claim that it can predict when you’ll ovulate to 99% accuracy.

It’s used in a different way to the other tests in our link, which measure hormone levels. Instead, the Ovusense Fertility Monitor measures your basal body temperature to predict when you’ll ovulate – you just insert it like a tampon overnight so that it can do this. The next morning, all the information is downloaded to the linked app.

This ovulation monitor is much more expensive than the others on our list. But it’s the only ovulation test deemed suitable for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Tests which measure LH levels are not advised for women with PCOS because they may already have a high baseline of LH in their system and so may get false positive results.

Read next: Discover the best hypnobirthing book for relaxing ways to get through labour according to Mumsnet users.

8. Best saliva ovulation test: Maybe Baby Saliva Ovulation Test

Price on writing: £20 | Buy now from Amazon

Key specs

Results time: 10 - 15 minutes | Display method: Patterns of 'spots' or 'ferns' 

What we love

• Great alternative to urine tests

• Reusable

What to know

• Some reviewers reported it to be less reliable than urine tests

What Mumsnet users say

“I have never had luck with the regular urine ovulation tests, despite trying multiple brands. I use a reusable saliva OPK called Maybe Baby. It’s like a tiny microscope. You put saliva on it, let it dry and look at the pattern.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Elouera)

Our verdict

Not everyone likes using urine tests but there is another option – an ovulation test that monitors your saliva. In the run up to ovulation, your oestrogen levels increase which causes the salinity (salt levels) of your saliva to rise.

The Maybe Baby is a mini microscope with a 52x power magnification lens that allows you to look at your dried saliva each day and monitor the crystallised patterns that are formed by increased salt levels – indicating that you’re due to ovulate.

Less messy than a urine test, this kind of ovulation test may take a bit of time to get to grips with but the benefit is that it’s reusable – and more eco friendly – and may work out cheaper in the long run.

Read next: Find out which are the best compression socks for pregnancy and the top-ranking maternity pyjamas for style, comfort and practicality according to Mumsnet users.

What is an ovulation test?

An ovulation test tracks your body’s production of the luteinizing hormone which stimulates your ovaries each month. During the ‘LH surge’ which takes place around 24 to 48 hours before ovulation, when an egg is released, this hormone rises considerably and can be detected in your urine.

Ovulation tests are used in the same way as pregnancy tests – you either pee on a stick or dip the test strip into urine. You’ll either then see a line or symbol such as the ‘happy face’ displayed in the Clearblue Ovulation Test to indicate whether you are in your most fertile days of the month.

It’s best to use an ovulation test between midday and 8pm as most women experience an LH surge in the morning and this can be detected a few hours later.

It’s worth noting that an ovulation predictor kit will only tell you when you are likely to ovulate. It can’t determine your chances of getting pregnant or estimate how many years of fertility you may have left.

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 2024.

Why you should trust us

Mumsnet has been helping parents make their lives easier since 2000 and, in those years, we’ve seen, tried and reviewed thousands of products.

We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.

Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.

If you decided to buy something that we recommended as a result of our research, we usually (not always) get paid affiliate commission from the retailer where you make a purchase. But, if you weren't impressed with the product and decided to return it, we wouldn't make a penny.

Want more product recommendations? Check out Mumsnet Reviews and Mumsnet Swears By.

About the author

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"From around 18/19 weeks, I started wearing maternity clothes because mine were getting too tight and I didn’t want to stretch them." - Mumsnet user BeingATwatItsABingThing.

Most pregnant women start to wear maternity clothes around the 20 week point of pregnancy - but everyone is different. Some will want to embrace the comfort and stretchiness of maternity wear as early as the first trimester (and why not? You might as well get the most out of them) while others may not need to size up until well into their third. Some women don't show at all!

Whatever your preference and whatever your size, bear in mind maternity clothes have been specially designed with the growing pregnant body in mind, so if you're finding your pre-pregnancy wardrobe a little snug, it's well worth investing in some, even if it's just a few staple pieces.

What are the best clothes to wear while pregnant?

Again, it's a personal choice, but when it comes to pregnancy, being comfortable is high up on most lists - and rightly so. After all, it's hard enough contending with stretched skin, back ache and swollen ankles - no one wants to add a cutting-in waistband or ill-fitting bra to the list!

However, the world of maternity wear has come on in leaps and bounds since the days of unflattering tent-dresses, and we're confident our guide has something for everyone, whether your preference is soft, stretchy leggings, on-trend maternity jeans or sophisticated work-wear.

Is 12 weeks too early for maternity clothes?

Not necessarily - pregnant bodies come in all shapes and sizes and while some women will use the hairband-round-the-button trick at this stage, others will be well into the territory of stretchy waistbands and empire lines by 12 weeks (particularly if it's a subsequent pregnancy or you're carrying multiples).

"The minute I put them on I scolded myself for squeezing into my normal clothes for so long when maternity trousers are the most comfortable thing in the world! The earlier you buy them the lower the cost per wear as well!" - Mumsnetter dinosaurkisses.

Are maternity clothes worth buying?

Maternity clothes can split opinion - some say they aren't necessarily, others have a wardrobe full. It's worth noting that maternity clothes have been specially designed with the changing pregnancy body in mind, and therefore will be able to accommodate a growing bump more comfortably than regular clothes.

However, some women - particularly if they've a smaller bump - may not need many or any maternity clothes at all, while others might prefer to dress in baggier or larger regular clothes. Yes, it may seem frivolous to invest in speciality clothing you're only going to wear for six months or so - particularly in the current climate - but bear in mind in most cases you'll need to size up anyway, and there are plenty of budget maternity wear options available. Plus, with many maternity brands designed with breastfeeding in mind (not to mention they're just so darn comfortable) you may find that six months stretching into years.

How we chose the best maternity clothes

Recommendations from real Mumsnet users

Nothing will give you a better sense of whether something is worth buying than an honest, unbiased review from a real parent. That’s why our first port of call is always the Mumsnet forums where we trawl the Talk boards to find out what our Mumsnetters are recommending.

Expert opinions

To help us whittle down our shortlisted products, we also took on board the top tips and advice from experts when it came to choosing the right kind of maternity clothing to keep mums comfortable and supported during pregnancy.

Authentic customer reviews

Finally, we looked at maternity leggings that were ranking highly on bestseller lists and those that had first-class reviews on retailer sites. We took into account what reviewers were saying regarding style and comfort and also selected a range that would be suitable for a number of occasions whether it’s going out, hitting the gym, or simply relaxing at home.

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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 child play related.