Help with O date. I need to have 7DPO bloodwork done...

[katiedidder]

My doctor is having me do OPK's this month to try and get a better idea of whether or not I'm ovulating (plus I'm supposed to have 7DPO blood work done). I had a positive test on CD17, which correlated with lots of EWCM, an open cervix, and a temp bump the following day. But my temps have been sort of crazy, so I'm continuing to test (per doctor suggestion) and today I got another OPK that looks pretty dang positive. My cervix feels more firm and medium-closed (but I wouldn't call it firm-firm and closed), and my CM is basically nil.

Here's my chart: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/28382e The white dots are days I slept less than 3 hours before temping (crazy school schedule).

If you were me would you go get bloodwork done a week from the first positive OPK, or assume that there was delayed ovulation and go a week from today?

I hate OPKs. I swear they confuse me more than they help me figure anything out!

[apmama07]

First of all, I have to ditto your feelings on OPKs - I'm having a very similar issue this cycle!

I'm no expert, but I'd still stick with CD17 for O, though it also seems a bit too soon to tell for sure....

[karmab]

the main problem with charting is if you dont have consistent sleep, your temps are going to be real hard to interpret.

i think you need to keep charting and see if anything declares itself. i agree cd17 is a possibility, but it's very hard to tell at this point. all these temps, frankly, could very well be pre-o. generally speaking, temps after o are in the 98s, although not for everyone, but for most. there is a chance vaginal temps might work better for you, although i think it's the schedule that is the problem, not the temp technique. if you decide to switch to vag temps to see if it helps, you have to wait till the next cycle, because the temps will be higher.

remember too that opks have to be at LEAST as dark as the control. sometimes they can be real close, but that's not pos. this is where a lot of confusion comes in.

the other thing to remember is that a +opk does not prove that you are o'ing, only that there is an LH surge. whether or not the ovary responds by hatching out a nice follicle is another story. your 7 dpo bloodwork will help with that, although it's not a perfect test, and especially not so if you cant figure out when it is 7 days post o!

cp can help too- high or low. if it is low, it isn't likely that you are o'ing at that time, when you o it goes way up high and centers itself, so maybe that will help in addition to the texture.

good luck. i hope that helps a little bit.

[HulaJenn]

I disagree with cd17 O date. cd20 looks more likely or maybe even 21 with the pos OPK? Only a couple more days of temps will help i think.

[katiedidder]

Originally Posted by karmab

all these temps, frankly, could very well be pre-o. generally speaking, temps after o are in the 98s, although not for everyone, but for most. there is a chance vaginal temps might work better for you, although i think it's the schedule that is the problem, not the temp technique. if you decide to switch to vag temps to see if it helps, you have to wait till the next cycle, because the temps will be higher.

I might try vaginal temping next month, but those temps are actually very normal for me post-O. My temps are low in general. I'm not really sure why. Any thoughts?

[katiedidder]

I need to decide whether or not to go in for bloodwork tomorrow, and I'm still not sure. Any more thoughts about my temps (keeping in mind that they are always low)? It seems like if I take out the three no-sleep temps there is a somewhat normal looking curve in the chart.

Also, I have to admit that I'm somewhat tempted to just entirely throw out the OPK's. While I *think* they were both positive, it's really hard for me to tell if the second line is as dark as the first one. I should probably error on the side of not, but I usually error on the side of it being positive (which is probably no good).