Talk to me about OPKs

[AdalynsMama]

I have never used them! This is my third cycle TTC. While I'm not charting, I am keeping an eye on my CM and CP. Do you find the OPKs useful? Are they only for those with irregular cycles? When do you use them? What's the deal with seeing a line and it not being positive? Fill me in!

[loonar]

I used them during my last cycle -- a "practice" run to get a sense of what my body was up to before actively trying -- and I found it really satisfying. Beyond cervical fluid and temperatures I don't get any ovulation symptoms, so I liked having that extra little confirmation of what was going on inside. Plus it appeals to the science geek in me.

This cycle I had a really wacky experience with what was either a defective box of OPKs or a brand that was hypersensitive. I'm still not sure. Every stick I peed on from that box came up positive (5 days in a row!) and I was deeply confused. I finally bought a different brand and got a negative right away, so I just took all those positives off my chart and considered this cycle an OPK bust.

FYI the weird tests were the Kroger store brand. I gather that Answer brand can also give ambiguous results, which you can read more about on peeonastick.com.

I'll grant that it's weird to see a line and have it not necessarily mean the the test is positive... I get at least a faint line on almost every one I take. You're just looking for a line as dark as (or darker than) the control.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[AdalynsMama]

Loonar, it appeals to the nerd in me too!! I love learning about what's going on inside my body and I also don't have many O symptoms other than EWCM. I think I might give it a try. How early do you start testing?

[karmab]

i tried them this cycle and didnt have much luck. you need the test line to be at least as dark as the control, because unlike hcg, we always have varying amts of LH floating around. it surges much higher 12-36/maybe 48 hours before you o. the surge can come and be gone in 8 or 10 hours for some women, so there is a chance you might miss it. that means, to be extra careful, some test 2-3 times/day. they recommend between noon and 8 pm, not sure how much that really matters. even testing twice a day or more, you might not catch it. i think they are a pain in the butt. to catch it with irregular cycles, you may have to pee on a lot of sticks. if it stays positive for more than 2 days, that can suggest a problem. good luck.

[AdalynsMama]

ahhh... thanks for the info karmab. That sounds costly if you are using 2-3 a day. Do you start testing 48 hrs before you think you are going to O?

[karmab]

well, i think before that, maybe...4 days before you think you will o, because it could be pos 48 hrs before, and you might o a day or two earlier than you think you will, or later, who knows! are you not interested in charting? it can be a pain but it does give you a lot of info. this month i'm adding the ov-watch, and when that starts to indicate something's brewing, im gonna start the opks to back up the results and compare both with my chart to triple check!

if you want to ask on the one thread, since that's where most of the ladies here check in, some with more experience with opks could tell you when they like to start looking, but i think 4 days before expected o is a fair start.

and you probably know this, but the internet cheapies are only maybe .30 cents/each or so, im not sure exactly, when you buy them by the dozens.

[avasmomm]

I used FR Ovulation Tests and I really liked them a lot. They come with 7 tests and that is enough for me since I am really able to detect my O day pretty well with just my EWCM. So I was until I start seeing EWCM and then I start testing. I normally O 3-4 days after I first start seeing EW so the kit just helps confirm that since I do not temp.
HTH

[livinzoo]

My RE recommended the Clear blue easy digital OPKs. No lines to read. Just POAS in the morning and if you have a smiley face you are having a surge. If not it will be a circle. Tried it this cycle and they are very easy to read. (still don't know if we caught the egg) They are expensive, but I bought a 20 pack on Amazon.