OPK tests - why do I get so confused?

[tryingfortwo]

I usually just rely on charting for TTC, but since I'm thinking about using Clomid, I want to get comfortable with OPKs, since it'll likely throw my O date off.  But I get so confused whenever I use them!  I hope I can post an image here - on Day 14, the test line was noticeably darker than the previous day, but never darker than the control line.  And then on Day 15, it started fading again.  I tested twice a day, so I doubt I missed my LH surge.  So do you think the Day 14 tests should be considered positives?

To confuse things further, I noticed EW CF on Day 15, which would typically mean that I O'd on Day 16 (which is today - waiting to see if my temp goes up tomorrow) - but that would mean that I got my LH surge 2 days before I O'd?  Does that make sense?

Thanks for any input!

[bcblondie]

It's totally possible to O 2 days after your surge. I do it a lot.

That said, I don't think cd 14 is quite pos. Although it's kinda hard to tell when it's dry. But slightly late O is comon on clomid. I'd keep bding and doing opks until your temp rises to confirm O.

[kismetbaby]

Its possible your body was trying to O, but didn't quite get there. If so, it will probably try again. So I'd keep charting and using the OPKs to see if you get another surge. 

I'm no expert with OPKs. . . but are those the Wondfos?  When I got a positive with the wondfos it was actually darker than the control and there was no mistake that it was truly a +

[tryingfortwo]

Well, it turns out that the tests on day 14 should be considered positive, as my temp jumped today, indicating ovulation yesterday (day 16).  Is that normal, to see an LH surge that isn't technically positive (ie not darker than the control line), but does get progressively darker and then fade away when the surge is over?

I'll always be confirming ovulation with temps, so I mostly just need to use the OPK to let me know ovulation will occur in the next day or two - then I can schedule my acupuncture appt at the right time.  But I'm not sure why I didn't get a true positive...

ETA - if my urine is too dilute, would that make it hard to get a positive?  I tried upping my water intake to help with cervical fluid, so I was probably drinking about 100oz water a day.  I tried not to drink a lot before I did the test, and probably hadn't gone pee for about 2 hours, but I know they recommend not going pee for 4 hours.  I just assumed that if my urine was too dilute, it would also make the control line less bold, and so the comparison of test line to control line would still be accurate.  Maybe that's not true?

[kismetbaby]

Well, technically you need three high temps to confirm O, but I'm sure you know that :)

I do think it's possible to get lighter results from pee that is too dilute, however I got + two days in a row this month and the second day it seemed no matter how dilute my pee was they popped + big time. But some months and some people have stronger surges.  Its also possible to miss your surge if its a short one.  As far as fading in and/or out, I think that varies from person to person. I definitely got a few days where they were getting darker before the + and then it also faded out slowly.

[DomerJen]

does the darkest one have a dark "edge" that is darker than the control?  b/c that'd count as a +

just a thought :)

[frugalmum]

The first day 14 test definitely looks positive to me.

[tryingfortwo]

Okay, good to know.  I'm thinking that maybe my urine was too dilute, and that's why it wasn't a really obvious positive on Day 14.  Not sure how to overcome that, as I'm making an effort to drink close to 100oz of water a day, and so my urine is always pretty dilute!  Thanks again for the feedback :D