I don't understand OPKs - update in post 9

~ Christine ~ · #1 July 14th, 2009, 08:35 AM

OK, so since my temps have not been giving me a clear picture of what's going on, I decided yesterday to get some OPKs from Dollar Tree, a little late, but better than never! Here's a pic of the last three opks (2 yesterday and 1 today).

So, based on the instructions on the opks, I would interpret these as negative. Is that right?

The more I think about it, I think I might have ovulated on CD11 (I have ovulated that early, possibly even earlier, before with Dean). Is that consistent with these OPKs? Can OPKs have evaps?

Sorry for all the questions. TIA!

#2 July 14th, 2009, 08:39 AM

Yes, those are definitely negative. The test line needs to be AT LEAST as dark as the control line, if not darker. Anything less than that (even if its *close), is negative. I do not believe opks get evaps, becusae of this, but I could be wrong.

~ Christine ~ · #3 July 14th, 2009, 08:41 AM

Thanks! That's what I thought. So, these tests mean I'm not going to ovulate in the next 24-48 hrs, right? Could I have already ovulated? or would the OPK have a blank test line if I already ovulated?

kiwigirl · #4 July 14th, 2009, 10:07 AM

I'm no charting expert, but it does look like you O'd on CD11. But give it another couple of days and it should give you a more clearer picture.

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #5 July 14th, 2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morebluethanpink

Yes, those are definitely negative. The test line needs to be AT LEAST as dark as the control line, if not darker. Anything less than that (even if its *close), is negative. I do not believe opks get evaps, becusae of this, but I could be wrong.

The way OPKs work is different than hpts. They detect LH which is pretty much always in your system so you may always have a faint second line on an opk. It doesn't mean it is positive. You want it to be as dark or darker than the control line. None of these are positive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~ Christine ~

Thanks! That's what I thought. So, these tests mean I'm not going to ovulate in the next 24-48 hrs, right? Could I have already ovulated? or would the OPK have a blank test line if I already ovulated?

Your tests are definitely negative but it is hard to say for sure if you missed your surge or if you are going to get a positive soon. I kind of think you missed your surge because it kind of looks like you just ovulated to me.

When I use opks what normally happens is they start off light and then get darker until I finally get a positive. Then once I get the positive they start getting gradually lighter. So, it is hard to say if your tests are getting lighter or getting darker. I would keep testing because it could be that you are close to getting a positive. But, you may have already missed your surge. If your tests start getting lighter I would say you missed your surge and already o'd but if they don't, then you will probably get a positive soon. Either way it will help you to figure out what is going on!

OnesOnTheWay · #6 July 14th, 2009, 03:15 PM

Your 2nd lines are darker then any OPK I've taken and I've been doing OPKs every day for over a month now.
Still negative but maybe means you are near.. or you already did..

Blue Eyes 409 · #7 July 14th, 2009, 04:20 PM

I think you might have O'ed on CD 11 but you need to wait a couple of days before you can tell for sure. If you have not already o'ed you are close to O'ing so good luck.

Tammyms · #8 July 14th, 2009, 10:59 PM

Sweet! For the first time I looked at someone's chart and picked the day I thought you O'd without looking at everyone else's comments and came up with the same answer

Anyway, I agree I'm thinking you already O'd on CD 11, your next couple temps will tell you that. Your OPK might have a bit of color left because your surge is on the way down.

~ Christine ~ · #9 July 15th, 2009, 07:54 AM

Well - I don't know what's going on now. I got a +OPK this morning, but I my temp didn't do much and I haven't have EWCM for days..... is it possible for me to be o'ing now - even with no EWCM? I have been DRY for at least 2 days.

Today's opk

It's hard to see in the pic, but it's darker at the top and then lightens towards the bottom of the Test line. The bottom of the T line is as light as the control, I think.

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #10 July 15th, 2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~ Christine ~

Well - I don't know what's going on now. I got a +OPK this morning, but I my temp didn't do much and I haven't have EWCM for days..... is it possible for me to be o'ing now - even with no EWCM? I have been DRY for at least 2 days.

Today's opk

It's hard to see in the pic, but it's darker at the top and then lightens towards the bottom of the Test line. The bottom of the T line is as light as the control, I think.

That looks like a positive to me!

Your temp won't change yet. If you just got a positive it means you are having your LH surge now. After your LH surges you usually ovulate within 24-48 hours. Since you don't see your temp go up until after you ovulate, you probably won't notice anything exciting for another day or two.

I almost always dry up before I ovulate. When I first started charting this threw me off. I thought you were supposed to have fertile cm up until you ovulate and then it dries up (this is what all the books say). But, everyone has their own unique patterns. I normally do have ewcm but it usually is a couple days before I ovulate and not so much on the day I actually ovulate.

It is important to look at your own patterns and see what happens with your cycles. I think you are about to ovulate though so I would be getting busy!