6 positive OPKs!?

[aHikaru]

Trying to get some insight on my OPK results...

CD 8 positive

CD 10 negative (no line)

CD 20 dark line

CD 21 definite positive

CD 24 definite positive

CD 25 definite positive

After CD 8, I assumed I was about to ovulate, then w/ CD21, I assumed I ovulated later. I get my cycle every month approx 30 days, so AF is due in 7 days. I've taken FRER and CB since CD 10 and they've been BFN's. 

I had a temp increase CD10 w/ watery CM. If I base my date of ovulation solely on cramping, CD17- CD18 I had left side cramping, then cramping in the middle on CD20. So that'd make me 5 DPO. 

I've heard that OPK's detect HcG earlier because LH increases before it becomes HcG. 

Guess I need to wait till at least 10-12 DPO...

Any advice or similar experience??

[Jaimee]

OPK's can be used as a pregnancy test, but only well after an HPT would show up positive anyway.  Here is some info about that from POAS: http://www.peeonastick.com/opkhpt.html

Additionally, OPK's are not as sensitive as a lot of HPT's are. This means that, if pregnant, you are likely to get a positive HPT earlier than you would get a positive OPK.

Elaboration: a lot of women e-mailed me expressing surprise at this. Keep in mind that HPT's are often more sensitive than advertised. First Response Early Result was found, in one recent clinical trial, to detect consistently as low as 12.5 mIU/mL of hCG, and sometimes as low as 4.5! OPK's are never more sensitive than advertised (they are detecting a hormone "surge"; if they are too sensitive they will turn positive from the normal all-the-time presence of LH in the female body.) The most sensitive OPK's on the market are 20 mIU, and some are sensitive to 30 or 40 mIU. OPK's may have a second line in the presence of less hormone-- the sensitivity refers to the threshold at which it turns positive. So, if you are comparing a sensitive (20 mIU) OPK to some less-sensitive HPT's (sensitive to 25-50 mIU) then yes, it's true an OPK may turn positive before an HPT. However, the most sensitive HPT's available are more sensitive than the most sensitive OPK's available.

Most importantly, OPK's are not purified as well as HPT's are. Therefore, they are more prone to "errors" and positives do not always mean that either LH or hCG was detected. In other words . . . they're simply cheaper, shoddier tests.

Finally, research has shown there are actually different kinds of hCG. In some cases (most common in early pregnancy, or in pregnancies with chromosomal abnormalities) the hCG molecule may become "nicked" or "cleaved" (partially or completely separating into its alpha and beta units.) Ovulation tests may not recognize (cross-react) with all types of hCG molecules, and may be falsely negative during pregnancy. (An in-depth explanation of this is coming soon!)

At the end of the day, a positive result on an HPT means you are pregnant. A positive result on an OPK could mean you are near ovulation, pregnant, or the test is picking up an entirely different hormone or element. Or it may be negative even if a woman is pregnant. With a positive HPT there is no doubt; a positive OPK may provide a clue, but doesn't really give you an answer for sure.

You are not alone in wondering what in the world is going on with your OPK's.  They are often quite unreliable for many women.  Some find they never turn positive, others find they are positive for days on end (like you), and others get random positives (like after confirmed O).   It's possible that your body was gearing up to O, but did not succeed and geared up again, overlapping the other surges.  It could have done this several times trying to O, resulting in delayed O with multiple surges.  Remember that when you O is not necessarily the same each cycle.  When you O can be affected by many things like illness, injury, travel, diet and exercise changes, etc. 

You mentioned a temp increase and wet CF...  can you share your chart?  Your temps and CF will be a much more reliable indicator of O than OPK's. 

[gogodaisy]

Helloooo!

I am experiencing this exact same thing right now, tested 6th poitive this cycle today :@(  Have you had any answers as to why this hapens?

anxiously waiting to hear,

Hannah

[aHikaru]

Originally Posted by gogodaisy 

Helloooo!

I am experiencing this exact same thing right now, tested 6th poitive this cycle today :@(  Have you had any answers as to why this hapens?

anxiously waiting to hear,

Hannah

I PM'd you back. 

[nikkibkool]

i had the same issue last cycle. The research I did on it said I was probably having a double surge of hormones. My body geared up to O, but I didn't so basically it tried again.  I guess I didn't O the 2nd time either, no baby. 

[bebelove]

This happened to me last month and drove me crazy. I have no great answer, but only here to sympathize! It's frustrating to not know what's happening inside our bodies. I say just keep BDing like crazy. ;)