[amybn]

Ok... this may sound stupid but I wouldn't ask if I knew the answer

I'm planning on using OPK's for the first time during this month's cycle. My question is this: Do you ovulate the same time every month or do I need to use OPK's for several months to get a better gage? My periods are exactly 29 days so I'm going to assume that i will ovulate at the same time every month.....

thoughts?

[*MomofO&Nat*]

Not a silly question, I am going to try them too and have no idea how to proceed. So I can't answer you, but thanks for posting this question, I will 'stalk' your replies

[Kary♥RN]

On the package.. or if you order internet cheepies.. they will give you a chart.. if you have a 28 day cycle.. start on cd 11....... ect.. I always start on CD 10.. this cycle the first after a m/c I started on cd 9 and got a + on cd 10 and cd11... If you look at my FF chart.. you can see the 8 cycles.. I get a + OPK usally between CD 13-15.... And O within 24 hours.. (Usually)... When I start... I usally nave NO lines.. the closer I get to O.. the darker the lines get.. when they start to get closer to + I do two a day.. about ever 12 hours.. until I catch my surge. So yes it will take a few months (especially after a m/c) And You can O on different day. Please post any questions! I hope this answered your question..

[krystal g]

Not a stupid question...I had no real idea of when I O'd before I started charting. You may be lucky and O at the same time every month, but you probably find that it will vary by several days. For example...I usually have anywhere from a 29-31 day cycle and in the last 8 months that I have been charting I have O'd on cd12, cd13 and cd15 and my luteal phase has been anywhere from 14 to 17 days. So Oing on cd13 + a 17 day luteal phase = 30 day cycle and Oing on cd15 + a 15 day luteal phase = 30 day cycle. You just never know until you chart...OPKs to predict Oing and temp rise to confirm it. So I always start my OPKs at about cd9-10 just to make sure I catch my LH surge if it comes early.

[amybn]

Thanks! That does help a little bit....

[TeresaSuperMama]

Some people O on the same day every month, but most people don't ovulate on the exact same day every cycle and some people vary quite a bit on O days from month to month. Honestly I would recommend using OPKs every month. They are just the easiest thing you can do to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

[amybn]

sounds good. I'm going to start on CD 9 like krystal g & kary-RN did. That will give me 20 solid days of testing before my next AF. Then maybe next month, I'll only buy the 7 day pack (cheaper!)

[Trish36]

In a perfect world you would O on the same day every cycle, but unfortunately anything from stress to medications you might take can throw your cycle off. If you are very regular you might O around the same time each month, but even that isn't a guarantee. I used to O around cd9 now it looks like I O between cd12 & cd14. Of course after a m/c your body is totally confused anyway, so who the heck knows. I would get a whole bunch of IC's and test morning & night from about cd10. the tests should start getting darker the closer you get to O. Good luck!!!

[stargatemommy]

Yes, unfortunately ovulation changes from time to time. Even if you O on the same day 4 months in a row, you may change on the 5th cycle. I have been using OPKs every cycle for about 3 years...

[momof6lopez]

Everyone here has hit the nail on the head when it comes to using opks. Just remember, there is no guarantee that you will O even with a positive opk unless you chart your tempature to see the 3 day rise in temps after O'ing. OPK's only tell you if your body is gearing up to O, some circumstances can delay the actual O like stress, meds, illness or other things that effect your health.