OPK's -- useless?

[Anonymous]

This past month we started using OPKs and an app to try to time intercourse with ovulation.

I never got a true positive with the OPK. Once, the line appeared, but was less dark than the "control" line and was clearly not a positive result per the test instructions.

Is the OPK worthwhile? Any tips?

[Anonymous]

Use the smiley face Clearblue (they sell it on amazon). Clear yes or no!

[Anonymous]

Used them for 2 months and found them useless
Found taking my basal temp first thing in the morning and charting with an app far more informative.

[Anonymous]

You have to test with OPK's a few times a day. I test around 10 am, 2 pm and again before bed. Some surges can last a few hours and some can last a day. I have gotten a negative at 10, a positive at 2 and then the line is fading before bed. If you only test once a day you could easily miss your peak.

Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. When approaching ovulation day, I test in the morning and test again after dinner time. You can easily miss the peak if you only test every 24 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP. When approaching ovulation day, I test in the morning and test again after dinner time. You can easily miss the peak if you only test every 24 hours.

Not the OP but this is, in fact, helpful. The ones I got mentioned nothing about testing more than once a day, which may account for why I didn't see anything.

Another question to this group - do many of you find that you ovulate either very early or very late in your cycle? After several months of attempting to time sex around ovulation, I am not convinced that I am in the "normal" range. Either that, or we have bigger problems than timing, God forbid.

[Anonymous]

I had short cycles (19-29 days, but most were 24-27) AND late/uncertain ovulation (day 15 to day 23). Looks like I have PCOS, but I just got a BFP.

I TTC for four cycles before starting to temp, and wish I had started earlier. I would recommend charting (I used the FF app) for anyone TTC, at least if nothing happens at first. I never used an OPK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had short cycles (19-29 days, but most were 24-27) AND late/uncertain ovulation (day 15 to day 23). Looks like I have PCOS, but I just got a BFP.

I TTC for four cycles before starting to temp, and wish I had started earlier. I would recommend charting (I used the FF app) for anyone TTC, at least if nothing happens at first. I never used an OPK.

Congrats PP!!

I have a super irregular period and no idea when I ovulate. Tried to chart for #1 but couldnt manage. would like to for #2. Where can you buy a basal thermometer in store? I've only found them on amazon but cant find them at CVS or our grocery store...

[Anonymous]

Does it matter exactly when you peak? I guess I am confused. I thought if you got a smiley face, then you have 24-48 hours to do the deed. When people are discussing the short window of peaking, is that just for the purpose of getting the smiley face, or is it relevant to conception?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had short cycles (19-29 days, but most were 24-27) AND late/uncertain ovulation (day 15 to day 23). Looks like I have PCOS, but I just got a BFP.

I TTC for four cycles before starting to temp, and wish I had started earlier. I would recommend charting (I used the FF app) for anyone TTC, at least if nothing happens at first. I never used an OPK.

Congrats PP!!

I have a super irregular period and no idea when I ovulate. Tried to chart for #1 but couldnt manage. would like to for #2. Where can you buy a basal thermometer in store? I've only found them on amazon but cant find them at CVS or our grocery store...

I found mine at CVS in the family planning aisle. It's purple and a CVS brand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it matter exactly when you peak? I guess I am confused. I thought if you got a smiley face, then you have 24-48 hours to do the deed. When people are discussing the short window of peaking, is that just for the purpose of getting the smiley face, or is it relevant to conception?

You won't get the smiley face if you miss the LH surge (or peak). For some people that surge can last all day, for others it can last 2 hours. There's no way to tell how long your surge is, hence the multiple testings in one day. You are correct, after you get a positive OPK (or smiley face) then you should ovulate within 24-48 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP. When approaching ovulation day, I test in the morning and test again after dinner time. You can easily miss the peak if you only test every 24 hours.

Not the OP but this is, in fact, helpful. The ones I got mentioned nothing about testing more than once a day, which may account for why I didn't see anything.

Another question to this group - do many of you find that you ovulate either very early or very late in your cycle? After several months of attempting to time sex around ovulation, I am not convinced that I am in the "normal" range. Either that, or we have bigger problems than timing, God forbid.

I typically ovulate on day #20. Early or late doesn't mean that it isn't normal. Even with my late ovulation, I have gotten pregnant twice - one child, one miscarriage. I use OPKs and charting to figure out when I ovulate.

[Anonymous]

They worked for me. I couldn't get a positive the first couple of months so I bought more kits and decided to test during a wider window. I discovered that I ovulate much earlier in my cycle than normal. After TTC for several years, I got pregnant! I just never knew my cycle could be so far off the "norm".

[Anonymous]

I tried them fo a couple of months with no helpful results. Switched to the Clearblue Fertility Monitor and got pregnant the first cycle.

[Anonymous]

I tested with OPKs and charted for a while. The charting was more informative and way less expensive.

I had to test twice daily to get the peak reading and figured out I only had 12-24 hours to ovulation.

Check out fertilityfriend.com or the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility.