OPK confusion - when would you BD?

[EllyMayMomma]

I usually have pos OPK on cd16 and O on cd18. I am cd14 today. I took a low dose soy iso cd3-7. Yesterday (Monday) I got what I think (thought?) was a pos OPK (cd13 which would be 3 days early.) I wish I could get a pic but the left side of the line was darker than the control while the right side of the line was lighter. At about 8:00pm, another OPK was neg. Today, I tested again, 2:00pm and got the exact same thing - "pos" then a neg. So now I am not sure they are really positive.

All evening yesterday I had sharp O pains on the right, today I have had a few but nothing like yesterday. Only my chart will tell if I have already O or am just gearing up. CM has been a bit watery but no EWCM yet, but usually don't have much anyway.

The problem is that we have male factor issues and I know we will only get one BD to try with - every other day is NOT an option. We BD'd on Sunday a.m. I had plans for Friday night but now don't know if we should push up our timing or wait for Friday or a more obviously pos OPK.

I have really, really good feelings about O this month and so want for it to happen this month. I feel like if we can get our timing right, we might really have a chance this month.

Any advise?

[vivica2]

my opk's do that too, where the left side is darker than the right. but it always gets darker. id say hold out, and wait for the darker test, and THE FIRST dark test you get, mark as pos on your chart, and i would dtd the next day, if you only get one shot. that way you will either be dtd ON o day, or the day before, which are both great!

good luck!

[karmab]

i think viv's advice is good. one thought when reading your post- not sure what type of opk you are using, but the greatest confusion i find with opks is when people look too closely at them. they should really be read at arm's length. if it's positive, it's positive from across the room! that said, if you really only get one shot, if it were me, i might err on the too early side, because too late is... well... too late. IF your other signs line up- if you have good cp and good cm, and your opk is questionably positive, i might go ahead or at least, not wait too long. that is a really hard dilemma, but your best chances of conceiving are on the day before and 2 days before o. if you are not checking cm and cp, i would say learn to do that asap, given the importance of the need for you to know timing. opks have a fair bit of wiggle room. they only help approximate. i would also suggest adding in another method beyond temping, cm, cp, and opks, like ovwatch or a similar device- there are lots of them out there. ovucue, ferning microscopes, etc. if you only get one chance a cycle, make it count! good luck!

[EllyMayMomma]

Thanks Ladies.

I think we probably missed the window - soooo disappointed in our timing. I had a huge thermal shift this am and due to some issues did not BD until this am. We were able to BD on Sunday morning but I am not real hopeful that it was close enough. What really threw me is that I took soy iso, low dose, and it upped my O day by 3 days - not expecting that. If no BFP this mo, will wipe the tears and be more prepared next mo.

Oh, and the OPK was def darker at arms length so will trust that more next mo.