[stargatemommy]

Ok , so this question has bugged me for a while.

Do you ovulate during, or after your LH surge? Or can it be either way?

For example, my OPK this morning was still positive, even though I have had 1 1/2 days of positives already. Does this mean that I still have not ovulated? Or does it mean that I have ovulated and now my LH will fall?

[HOPINGFOR#4]

I'll be stalking this post to see some wnswers but I believe the first + opk you got was the actual surge and the others were residue or you could be o'ing from both sides. Keep me posted!

[LIZZYI]

I always wanted to know this as well because I always get 2 days worth of + OPK's and always wondered when I O'd. I hope someone has a answer for us!

[*SamF*]

OK as far as I have always known then LH surge tells you, you are going to ovulate, Ovulation takes place after the surge. This article says it's 34 to 36 hours after the surge. After you ovulate your LH should drop off. article

Answer brand tests are notorious for long ++ periods. They have worked for me in the past, but I always kind of question a 3 day streak of ++opk’s.

[Kary♥RN]

I have also heard 12-36 hours after the positive OPK you will ovulate.. And sometimes it is hard to tell between a positive and almost positive.. and sometimes you will have a positive for more than one day depending on the levels in your urine.

[heathernoell6]

I personally do not use opks. However, all that I have read and heard points to Ovulation 12-48 hours after a positive. So, I hope you have been bding like crazy, and continue for a few day

[stargatemommy]

What I mean to ask is; You get an LH surge, After that, do you O and then your LH falls or does your LH fall and then you O?

[Trish36]

This is what I found. hope it helps. As I am understanding it, you get the surge - you O about 36 after the surge and when the LH reaches it's peak you O about 10 hours after, then the levels drop. So when you don't see the line, I guess that means that you already O'd...but the egg can survive up to 24 hours I think.


When a woman ovulates, various hormones in her body are synchronized to prepare her for ovulation, fertilization and implantation. Ovulation occurs approximately 10-12 hours after the LH peak.

Here are the primary hormones involved in ovulation in women:

Progesterone - The ovaries produce significant amounts of progesterone during the 2 weeks or so that follow ovulation. Progesterone thickens the nutrient-rich endometrium in preparation to receive a fertilized egg. It also acts on the breasts to prepare them for milk production (lactation).
Estrogen – Estrogen is produced in increasing quantities prior to ovulation, helps the uterus rebuild its lining (or endometrium) after menstruation. In addition, estrogen and progesterone also act as feedback controls on the brain hormones LH and FSH. In other words, these sex hormones travel to the brain to increase or decrease LH and FSH production. This feedback mechanism helps to regulate the timing and the events of the menstrual cycle.
Estrogen and progesterone are both made primarily in the ovaries from cholesterol. Initially, the ovaries use cholesterol to derive progesterone and the male sex hormone testosterone. Then the ovaries convert a good portion of the progesterone and almost all of the testosterone into estrogen. After ovulation occurs, more progesterone is made than can be converted; consequently, significant amounts of progesterone are secreted only during the latter half of the cycle.
LH- The LH surge is initiated by a dramatic rise of estradiol produced by the preovulatory follicle. The LH surge occurs 34 to 36 hours prior to ovulation and is a relatively precise predictor for timing ovulation. The LH surge stimulates luteinization and stimulates the synthesis of progesterone responsible for the mid cycle FSH surge. Also, the LH surge stimulates resumption of meiosis and release of ovum.
FSH- Estradiol levels fall dramatically immediately prior to the LH peak. Elevated FSH levels at this time are thought to free the ovum from the follicular attachments. Progesterone is responsible for stimulating the mid cycle rise in FSH. The mechanism causing the postovulatory fall in LH is unknown. The decline in LH may be due to the loss of the positive feedback effect of estrogen, due to the increasing inhibitory feedback effect of progesterone, or due to a depletion of LH content of the pituitary from downregulation of GnRH receptors.