[mal91011]

So i'm very new to this, and sorry if this has been asked before!!

This is my first cycle off of BC and i'm trying to figure out my body by charting and watching CM and using opks. I've tested 3 times over the past 5 days and there's a super light line that keeps getting a little darker, but it's still super light!

Over the past 24 hours i've had crampy twinges on my left side, which makes me think i may be Oing soon, but i really have no idea what the hell my body is doing!!

So my question is - is that the way OPKs work? Should it be gradually getting darker over a long period of time? For some reason i'm assuming there's nothing there, then bam, there's the line, and then there's nothing there again.

[kbpeanut]

Hi! OPKs work different for everyone. Personally, mine go from nothing to dark to nothing pretty quickly, though I know other ladies have a more gradual progression. Keep testing and you will get a better idea of how your OPKs work for you!

[junie22]

It honestly depends on the woman. I always had a second line on my OPKs, even when I was nowhere near ovulation. It would be faint, but always there. I then had a gradual build-up to O, and then a *bam* positive. My surge always lasted about 24 hours. However, for some women, it can last only a matter of hours.

Regarding your ovary twinges, I always got those for several days leading up to O. I guess it's just your follies being stimulated and getting ready to release that egg.

So keep testing, and I imagine you'll see a + in the next few days.

Good luck!

[Belita]

I also get a gradual progression with my OPKs. My first month I had no second line if I was away from O, but after my loss I've had a second line, but it does keep getting darker until O.

[Tammyms]

They can work that way, I'd just keep testing until you see a + OPK and get CH's and after a cycle or 2 of charting you'll get to know your body pretty good... if you need more cycles

[SammyJ]

I don't really seem them gradually get more and more positive. For me, it's like I will have one that is almost positive every single day and then FINALLY I get a positive. Keep testing. Remember, the rules on OPKs are pretty strict. They need to be the same level of darkness or with the test line darker than the control. Also keep in mind that it is likely it can take a while for your body to regulate post O. Some women are lucky and they O right away. It took me five months. Also during that time, I did get positive OPKs but I never actually ovulated (I temp using BBT as well, so that is how I knew I never did O, and AF stayed away for a long time without me getting pg).

I hope the post bc is a much easier transition for you! Good luck!

[mal91011]

Amazingly enough, i actually did O over the weekend!! Whew it's a huge relief - i was freaking out that i hadn't gotten off BC early enough because we moved up our timeline for TTCing.

Friday my OPK was still super light, but by Friday night i had noticed my CM was changing from the weird, post birth control undefinable CM to EWCM. There was no question about that! And then Saturday i took an opk and it was a super dark line!

Saturday morning my temp spiked, and Saturday afternoon the OPK line was faint again.

I cannot express HOW relieved i am that my body seems to be cooperating with me!!!