Given the fact that the entire menstrual cycle is, at times, very hard to predict, a number of methods of identifying their regularity have been developed over the years to allow women to carry on living their lives with as little interruptions as possible. Before we go into any detail about ovulation blood tests, let us get a clearer understanding about what this physiological process is. Ovulation is essentially the releasing of a mature egg from the ovaries. During every menstrual cycle in a woman's life, a single egg is released into the uterus via the fallopian tubes, waiting to be fertilized. The general lifespan for an egg after ovulation is about twelve to twenty four hours, even less at times and when the fertilization takes place within this timeframe, the egg starts to degenerate and is no longer able be fertilized. When you look at these timeframes, you are probably going to think that it's a very short time frame in which the male sperm needs to fertilize the egg. However, the male sperm is able to survive in the woman's body for a few days enabling it to fertilize the egg even if it was deposited a few days earlier.
A blood test for ovulation is commonly used by women all over the world to identify the correct timeframe of ovulation in order to maximize the chance of pregnancy. This process identifies the point in your menstrual cycle when you are most fertile and this information is also used as a method of natural birth control. However, blood tests are also more specific about the hormonal levels in your body as they also play a significant role in the entire process. The first step in any blood fertility testing starts on the third day of the menstrual cycle. Any imbalances in the hormones will negatively impact the likelihood of pregnancy. On the twenty third day of the cycle, your doctor will also check your progesterone levels and identify if there is enough of it to maintain a sufficient luteal phase. Another advantage of the blood test is the fact that it also helps diagnose any thyri problems – which also impact the chances of pregnancy.
As with any type of blood test, a sample of blood is drawn from the arm and then analyzed in a laboratory to provide a report to the doctor, enabling him to make an informed decision.