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Ovulation tests- BBT question, post 22

post #1 of 24
Thread Starter 

Hi all-

Are the tests measuring quantity of hormone, or just the presence?

 

I took the up and up little stick tests the past 2 days and I got a light line each time, but yesterday (afternoon urine) was a little darker than FMU today.  Both were not dark enough for a positive, but I don't know if I am getting closer to ovulation or i missed it.

 

Also, I miscarried (very very early) on the 8th.  It was my first cycle since DD2 was born, so  I don't know how long my cycle is at all..... Before DD2, I had 35ish day cycles.  

 

Thanks ladies


Edited by Chloe'sMama - 2/4/12 at 9:00am
post #2 of 24
Thread Starter 

anyone?

post #3 of 24
I would guess opks are measuring quantity.....I have a definite fade in pattern before I get an obvious positive.
post #4 of 24

Presence.

post #5 of 24
Thread Starter 

So, I have had 7days  of faint lines and no surge.... It seems  they are getting lighter today, does that mean I didn't O this month?  I know there is still time, but I am on day 20.

 

I have also read that PCOS can make for faint lines all month. I don't have many of the symptoms, but way back before DD1 was  born, I was told I had several cysts on each ovary.... a problem now?

post #6 of 24

The darkness of the line correlates roughly to the quantity. That's why it's supposed to be at least as dark as the control line to be considered positive - you're looking for a surge in LH, not just some being there. This is the opposite of pregnancy tests (although darkness also roughly correlates to quantity), when any line at all is positive, because hCG isn't normally present in non-pregnant women. LH is present in some amount for several days before the big surge that causes ovulation.

 

This is a pretty good graph of how it would work in a typical cycle (I think the pink line is progesterone, though it's not labeled):

Menstrual cycle hormones, from www.ovulation-calculator.com

 

It is also true, as you said, that women with PCOS often have elevated LH levels throughout their cycle. I do. That can lead to faint lines all the time, even if you're not close to surging. I also know a lot of women with PCOS say they never get a true positive, even when charting shows they ovulate, and I'm not entirely certain why that would be. I got what I considered to be a +OPK my last cycle (which I got pregnant on!!), although the line was probably still a bit fainter than the control. But I'd been doing OPKs for about 20 days, and this one was definitely darker than all the other days. I wouldn't necessarily give up on ovulating yet. If you do have PCOS (and I don't think the faint lines on your OPK are really enough to prove that), you could have very long cycles. I ovulated on CD 34 this past cycle, and ovulated around CD 40 or 45 the two cycles previous. (This was after being anovulatory for about 2 years.)

 

If you think you may have PCOS, I would definitely see a doctor about it, and ask to have your LH, FSH, DHEA, and testosterone levels checked. They will probably want to run a full hormone panel, anyway, if you're having menstrual irregularities. There are other things things that are also potentially part of PCOS diagnosis (menstrual irregularity, hirsutism, acne, being overweight, having the "pearl necklace" of cysts on your ovaries) that they should look in to. Unfortunately, there's no one way to diagnose PCOS - if you meet enough of the diagnostic criteria, you're considered to have it. If you have a doctor that tells you you don't have it based on one factor alone (e.g., you're not overweight, or you have regular periods), find a new doctor. Not meeting a single criterion isn't enough to exclude that diagnosis.

 

Anyway, sorry that was so long... it took me YEARS to get PCOS diagnosed, even though I probably had it as a teenager, so it's sort of a soap box thing for me. But hopefully at least some of the info here helped, and good luck with TTC!!

post #7 of 24
Thread Starter 

Thank you for a very thoughtful response.  I am going to see how this month plays out and then maybe see my temps next month and Doc after that.

 

I am nursing my 16month old and know that is the first thing the doc is going to comment on.... I have no intentions of weaning her, so I want to wait a bit for that.

 

It looks like there is a dip in LH just before ovulation.... Today's test is much more faint than past days, I am trying to figure it out.  

 

I do feel  twinges in my ovary, so I think my body is trying.... lets hope.

post #8 of 24

Just throwing this into the mix... OPK's are not always reliable.  Many women find that they never turn positive, turn positive for days on end, or turn positive well after confirmed O.  And then there is the issue of interpretation.  With the strips the line must be darker than the control (as you know), but sometimes that's hard to tell.  And with the +/- ones you can easily miss your peak day.  Plus they can only tell you that you are gearing up to O, not that you actually did O.  Honestly I don't put a ton of stock in them.

 

I think your plan to temp and then see your doctor if things look amiss is a good one.  You could have your levels tested if you continue to have issue and/or if your temps reflect a PCOS type pattern.  As for the dip in LH prior to O, remember that you should O within 24-36 hours of the peak OPK.  It's normal for the LH to dip back down.  But you can only confirm you did O with your temps otherwise you might have a second patch of fertile CF and another LH surge as your body gears up again in a few days or weeks.  This is common in someone with PCOS.

post #9 of 24
Thread Starter 

here are some photos of my tests.  I think there has not been a LH serge based on the tests, today I had tons of EW CM and have been having nipple pain (one of my biggest signs for O) while nursing for the past 4 days, so nothing is adding up. Any ideas?  I got a BB thermometer today and plan on starting tomorrow.  The darkest strip was on the 24th or 25th..... the test on the 25th  of the other test is darker, but the picture doesn't really show it.... (just a little tiny bit darker)

 

Thanks ladies

OPK.jpg

 

opk 2.jpg

post #10 of 24

Yeah, I'm not really seeing a surge with the pictures you've posted. But Jaimee is correct in pointing out that a lot of women have trouble with OPKs. I know some people over in the IF forum suggest testing in both the morning and the afternoon, since the surge is pretty short-lived. Of course, unless you use the cheapie test strips, that gets pretty expensive.

 

I think the plan to start charting is a good one. That should tell you a lot. If you are still nursing your daughter, there is a chance that's still suppressing O, and the charts should show that. But you are probably right - a doctor would probably advise you to wean your DD to help with TTC, and if you ended up needing meds, you'd definitely have to wean her, so you might want to wait until you're more ready for that. OTOH, there's a mama on the IF One Thread whose doc told her she wasn't ovulating because of EBF, and it turned out she actually had a prolactin-secreting tumor that was keeping her prolactin levels elevated, so checking hormone levels earlier could be beneficial.

 

Anyway, hoping that your other signs are pointing to O, whatever your OPKs may be saying! Let us know how the charting goes!

post #11 of 24

Agreed, I do not see a surge according to your OPK pics.  You could be gearing up slightly over and over again, but not succeeding in peaking.  The fertile CF points to this as well.  Or as monkeyscience pointed out, you could be missing your peak.  Often LH peaks in the afternoon, early evening... when are you taking yours?  This is why some women suggest testing twice a day when the line gets darker and/or you see EW.  I would continue to DTD every other day throughout your patches of fertile CF just in case you do end up Oing without seeing a surge on the OPK's.  Temping will really help take the mystery out of what's going on here!

post #12 of 24

I have used the Up&Up brand sticks alongside charting temps for two months (the package I got had 20 strips for $14.99).  While I always see a clear shift in my temperature, I never saw a clear positive with that brand OPK.  I used the Clearblue Easy the next month (they were on sale), and saw a definite positive and the next day a definite negative (only one line).  I suspect that Up&Up simply isn't a very good quality example of what is already an inconsistently reliable method. 

 

Personally, I have found charting to be much more reliable for confirming both O and AF. 

 

 

post #13 of 24
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the responses.

 

I started temping yesterday, so we will see.

 

No positive in OPKs yet. 

 

DH made me laugh yesterday by saying I look a little obsessed.  I have about 30 different test strips on the counter to compare.

 

Anyways, thanks and hopefully I will see a shift in temp since the OPK are no good for me.

post #14 of 24

Great!  Share your chart when you start to see a pattern!

post #15 of 24

It's probably the brand, some are more sensitive than others, FR OPKs have given me multiple positive days (2 in the beginning of my cycle and the last 9 days). AF is due this weekend so I assume I need less sensitivity like the store brand.

post #16 of 24
Thread Starter 

Hi ladies-

Looks like I may be getting the beginning of a surge based on my OPK, but it was my last one, so I will not be able to see if it keeps getting darker.  

Here is my chart so far too.  

<a href="http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/d9d9b/">My Ovulation Chart</a>

 

2012-02-02_09-24-50_444.jpg

post #17 of 24

That last line does look about as dark as the +OPK I got when I got pregnant, so good luck! Sorry you ran out so you can't see any more!

post #18 of 24

Get on that BDing!  lol.gif

post #19 of 24
Thread Starter 

I went out and bought OPK from dollar tree and the one yesterday and this morning were both so light. I don't get it.

 

My cervix changed to firm yesterday from soft.  It is still high and a bit open though.

 

My temp doesn't seem to be rising quick  enough for an O date of yesterday,  which I really felt it was....

 

It is hard to be patient.  I just want to know if this month is out.

 

<a href="http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/d9d9b/">My Ovulation Chart</a> 

post #20 of 24
Thread Starter 

forgot to add that my nipples have become very sore which is my biggest sign of O.

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