Remind me how to get pregnant :)

[Anonymous]

So we're trying for a 3rd and it's not happening as easily as it did for the first 2. Granted, we're older (but not that old). So I'm going to try the OPK sticks, and it seems like you are supposed to hold your pee and test in the early afternoon. Does this sound right? So you aren't supposed to test in the morning? And once you've got the confirmation of the LH surge, then go for that night plus the next 2 or 3 nights, correct? I'd appreciate any guidance from veterans.

[Anonymous]

Hi I really can not recall all the specifics and tips and advice, plus I could never get a surge with the OPK's but just do a quick google search and you will find tons of information.
Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I think when you're supposed to test depends on the type/brand of test you are using, but you should at least to try to test at the same time every day. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor. It does all the stick reading for you and tells you when you have "high" and "peak" fertility so that you know exactly when you're most fertile. I got a good deal on mine from Amazon - about $180 for a new monitor plus a box of sticks.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the brand. I used CVS and they required 4 hours. Not easy! But doable. There are other brands with a shorter timeframe but I think most are at least 2-3 hours. You want to test late morning or early-mid afternoon, not first morning, because the LH surge that precedes ovulation happens in the morning and may not be in the urine yet first thing in the morning. It helps if you have some idea whether you ovulate early or late so you know when to start using the OPKs. As for timing, I believe most people ovulate 12-36 hours (?) after a positive test - google that to make sure. I only used them this cycle (and got pregnant) but this time I ovulated the same day I got a positive. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I could get a surge using the OPK in the morning. I splurged on the digital ones. I was never able to see a surge with the ones that require 2 lines. If you can afford it, the OV watch gives you high fertility days. You may be ovulating earlier or later than you think.

[Anonymous]

I was told: test in the afternoon after 4 hours of holding your pee b/c LH rises in the afternoon, levels in the morning are too low to detect it. My doctor told me if the result is positive, have intercourse on the day of the positive result and then again 48 hours after that b/c if you do it every day sperm quality is not as good as if you do it every other day (gives time to sperm to rebuild itself).
The OPK did not end up working for me, it was too much pressure for me and my husband to know exactly when I was ovulating. What worked for us was just having intercourse every other day starting on CD 10 and until I knew for sure that I had already ovulated (I would know that based on charting- I was charting on fertility friend: www.fertilityfriend.com). The good thing about that is that it takes off a lot of pressure since you don't know you are ovulating when you are ovulating but just find out after the fact that you did ovulate + you have all your basis covered since you are doing it every other day which ensures you won't miss ovulation.