Oova knows that each woman may be looking for different insights about her hormone health. Depending on what you're looking for, you should scan at different points in your cycle.
When to scan if you're using Oova's fertility hormone kit
Oova's fertility hormone kit tracks LH, PdG (a progesterone metabolite), and E3G (an estrogen metabolite). Oova predicts and confirms ovulation.
If you're looking to find your fertile window
Oova's algorithm can help you understand what days of your cycle you will need to use an Oova test. The algorithm determines your testing days based on the information you enter upon registration, including when your last period was.
The goal is to capture when your estrogen starts to rise in the days before your LH surge, your LH surge, and several days past your LH surge so we can capture your progesterone rise, assuming you had a successful ovulation.
We learn from the information captured in each previous cycle for every subsequent cycle to determine when you need to use your Oova test. This means we may shift your 20-day scan window earlier or later based on our learnings.
When to scan if you're using Oova's perimenopause kit
Oova's perimenopause kit tracks actual levels of E3G (an estrogen metabolite), LH, and PdG (a progesterone metabolite). You can use this data to confirm your hormone activity, track symptoms, and view month-to-month trends. Depending on what you're looking for in your perimenopause journey, you may scan your tests at different intervals.
If you want to establish a baseline
Establishing a baseline includes giving an overview of your specific hormone levels so you can understand where you are in your perimenopausal journey. To establish a baseline, start scanning right away.
When to scan: Scan for 15 consecutive days, at the same time each day.
If you want to sync with your cycle
If you'd like to understand how your hormones are fluctuating during specific phases, you can scan at the end of your period. This approach helps you understand your natural hormone changes post-menstruation and any unique perimenopausal hormonal patterns you may be experiencing.
When to scan: Start scanning once your period is over.
If you want to track symptoms along with hormones
Perimenopause can come with a range of symptoms, and tracking your hormone levels in response to those symptoms can help you understand how your hormonal fluctations may be associated with specific symptoms.
When to scan: Initiate scanning when you experience the onset of symptoms (i.e. hot flashes).
If you're looking for tailored insights
Whether you choose to establish a baseline, sync with your cycle, or respond to symptoms, Oova offers the flexibility to tailor scanning according to your unique journey.
When to scan: Scan based on your personal preferences. Customize your scanning routine to align with your perimenopausal experience and gather the insights that matter most to you.
What time of day should I scan?
You should scan with Oova at approximately the same time each day of your testing window. This can be first thing in the morning or afternoon. Pick a time that works best for you.
That being said, some women notice their estrogen and LH levels have a bit more activity in the afternoon/early evening. If this is a convenient time, make that your scanning time. If not, we recommend you scan in the morning for at least one cycle. Changing your scanning time to the afternoon may make sense if you do not see a lot of estrogen or LH movement.
How do I scan my tests?
Your Oova Fertility Hormone Kit or Oova Perimenopause kit will come with 30 test strips. Fifteen of these strips measure LH and PdG (a urinary metabolite of progesterone) together, and 15 measure E3G (a urinary metabolite of estrogen). Your estrogen strips come in a separate box and are labeled "E3G".
On some days, you will be scanning just an LH/progesterone (PdG) test; on some days, you will scan an estrogen test (E3G); and on some days, you will scan both strips at the same time.
Tips for getting accurate results
Oova's cartridges were designed to work as either a dip test or a midstream test, depending on your preference. Here are our suggestions for ensuring the best possible testing experience and accuracy.
- Try the dip test method first: This means capturing your urine in a clean cup, then dipping the pad of your test cartridge into the urine and letting it saturate until you see liquid beginning to move up the test line window.
- Adjust for the midstream method: If you choose to use the midstream method, flip the cartridge and handle upside down, facing the QR code away from you, to prevent splashing into the test line window.
- Lay the cartridge flat: Lay the cartridge on the holder or flat surface during scanning to ensure a clean scan.
- Scan within the right time period: Scan your cartridge between the 10-minute and 15-minute mark. Any scans outside of this range are unreliable and will not be a good representation of your hormone levels.
- Get good lighting: Ensure you have good lighting in the room where you are scanning. Try to avoid lighting that creates additional shadows on the test line window, if possible.
To scan an additional test cartridge, tap on the Today tab, then "SCAN AGAIN". Follow the same steps you used to scan your first test cartridge.
Note: On days when you are scanning both an LH/PdG test AND an E3G test, we recommend using the dip test method to ensure both test cartridges are fully saturated with urine.
What time of day should I scan my test?
We recommend scanning with Oova at approximately the same time each day of your testing window. This can be first thing in the morning or afternoon. Pick a time that works best for you.
That being said, some women notice their E3G (a urinary metabolite of estrogen) and LH levels have a bit more activity in the afternoon/early evening. If this is a convenient time, make that your scanning time. If not, we recommend you scan in the morning for at least one cycle. If you do not see a lot of E3G or LH movement, changing your scanning time to the afternoon may make sense.
Can I override my testing days?
If you would like to test on days that aren't part of your scan window, tap on the Today tab, then "SCAN NOW". To scan an additional test cartridge, tap on the Today tab, then "SCAN AGAIN".
Can I rescan an Oova cartridge?
You should refrain from scanning the same cartridge multiple times. By repeatedly scanning the same test cartridge, we are testing the limits of two things:
- the chemistry, and
- the probability of an incorrect response.
The chemistry in the test cartridge is continuously running, even after the timer goes off, so you will continue to see changes occur. We consider the 10-minute mark the ideal time to test, and it is the moment we have based all of our quality assurance testing on. By rescanning, you are adding the probability that the test will return an inaccurate result.
If you feel the scan is inaccurate, please take a picture of your cartridge and email it to our Support Team at support@oova.life to have it analyzed.