Help/info/suggestions for choosing OPK

DeepSouthMommy · #1 October 8th, 2009, 09:13 PM

I'm buying O predictor strips, test kit, something...but since I've never bought or used these before and don't know anyone IRL that has, I'm coming to you girls for advice.

GO!

Tammyms · #2 October 8th, 2009, 09:39 PM

I get mine off ebay... do you have an account there?

DeepSouthMommy · #3 October 8th, 2009, 09:41 PM

I do have an account there...but there are so many things there that I don't know where to begin.

Tammyms · #4 October 8th, 2009, 10:16 PM

Ok, I have tried 2 dif brands from ebay. The ones that worked best for me were the wondflo brand, they have a blue package. I tried the Answer ones, but they were too sensitive for me in that I got +'s for a few days and it threw my CH off on FF because the + was coming after my thermal shift... probably catching my surge on the way down.

There is another brand on there all over the place called one step test if you click on the picture you will see which ones I mean... I have yet to get a real positive on them so back to the Wandflo I went and I'm just waiting for them to come in the mail again

Those are my experiences, check out Kates thread on TTC#1 and her lil experiment with sticks! Everyone is a bit different, but this is what works for me

crazybabybrain · #5 October 9th, 2009, 02:53 AM

I use the clearblue easy digitals- they show you a smiley face when the lh surge comes. They are expensive, but I can't handle deciding if the line is dark enough. I can never tell!

jensma · #6 October 9th, 2009, 03:33 AM

Let's see, Tammy is correct, I have had some experience in this dept this month. I have used Answer Mid Streams, Answer daily strip test, CBE Digis, $tree(new choice) and the new choice daily test strips (at big lots) before. So far the New Choice daily test strips have been my favorite. Answer is just unreliable IMO...and according to Lee Ann, same for FRER. I got positives on all of my other tests including a digi, but not on the Answer. The NC Daily strip tests gave me the strongest positive, but I really like the cassette version you can get at $tree also. The test strips are a little cheaper though, i paid $8 for the bottle which has 20 strips. I tested a LOT and I still have some. Either way, it seems like with OPKs cheap is the way to go. I know several people like the IC OPKs. I haven't tried them but heard they are good.

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #7 October 9th, 2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jensma

Let's see, Tammy is correct, I have had some experience in this dept this month. I have used Answer Mid Streams, Answer daily strip test, CBE Digis, $tree(new choice) and the new choice daily test strips (at big lots) before. So far the New Choice daily test strips have been my favorite. Answer is just unreliable IMO...and according to Lee Ann, same for FRER. I got positives on all of my other tests including a digi, but not on the Answer. The NC Daily strip tests gave me the strongest positive, but I really like the cassette version you can get at $tree also. The test strips are a little cheaper though, i paid $8 for the bottle which has 20 strips. I tested a LOT and I still have some. Either way, it seems like with OPKs cheap is the way to go. I know several people like the IC OPKs. I haven't tried them but heard they are good.

I agree. I do not like Answer brand tests either. I have gotten false positives with them and I just don't like them. I have tried more than one brand and for me I like the internet cheapies the best. Honestly, since you have really long cycles I think you should go with a cheapie because you will use up all the digitals quickly. My sister loves CBE digital opks but I honestly like the cheapies better. I found that CBE detected my surge too quickly and I thought the cheapies were better when I compared them to my chart and when I actually o'd. I usually stock up on a whole slew of them. I get them from early-pregnancy-tests.com but baby-creation.com sells the same tests for cheaper. I just like early-pregnancy-tests.com because I can get all my stuff in one place.

jenine · #8 October 9th, 2009, 07:38 AM

I also use the cheap ones from the early pregnancy tests website Patti mentioned. I also have pretty long cycles, and not terribly predictable O days, so I go through about 10-12 per month...I couldn't afford the more expensive ones at that rate!

Anyway, I haven't tried any other brands but these ones worked really nicely for me. They showed absolutely nothing in the test line area until about a day before I O'd, at which point a line would show but clearly not as dark as control. The next day I'd get a really dark line, then another day with a lighter line, then back to completely white.

So what I really liked about that is that it gave me an extra day's heads up to get the BD show on the road.

And it lined up really nicely with my other signs every month so I think they are definitely picking up my LH surge.

My one caveat to this is that last month, the first cycle after my m/c, they were not as good. I assume that was to do with the left over hCG or something, but I'm hoping this cycle they will be back to their old reliable ways!

Hope this helps!

DeepSouthMommy · #9 October 9th, 2009, 11:30 AM

Thank you all so much for the info. I'm going to go with the internet cheapies, but I have two more questions.

Firstly, how do you use these? Would I use them once a day until I start to see a line? Twice a day? I feel so silly asking this, but I just have no idea.

Secondly, I'm looking at babycreation.com and there you can get them individually packaged or in bulk in ziplock type bags...does it really matter how they are packaged?

jenine · #10 October 9th, 2009, 11:39 AM

Michelle - I have only ever needed to use one per day. I start at about CD 12, even though I have never O'd earlier than CD20, but just to be on the safe side I start then.

I hold my urine for 2-4 hours (whatever I can take

) and test at about 2pm. I found that time worked best for me. The first month I did it later (6pm I think?) when I got home from work but I didn't get as strong of a + at that time so I shifted to earlier.

If you're not sure I would recommend doing it noon-mid afternoon and then again in the evening when you think you might be gearing up to ovulate (based on CM or starting to see a faint line on the OPK). At least for the first month, and then you'll get an idea of what time is best for you. I'm sure you know this already but the one time you can't take it is first thing in the morning.

I buy the individual packaged ones but I don't imagine it really matters. I actually didn't know there was another option but I would opt for the individual ones anyway because I take one in my purse if I'm going to be somewhere at 2 pm.

Good luck, hope you have good results with them!

jensma · #11 October 9th, 2009, 11:49 AM

I test with FMU (not everyone can get a positive then, but i have to or i'd never get a test in) and then I test at 3pm. Then if I know its coming, i'll do another one around 7-8. I have had very good luck so far, minus the month i only used the answer daily strips. I started this cycle around day 8 but day 10 would be fine for me b/c i have O'd as early as CD11 or late as C18. So I like to make sure of what's going on in there. I can do a progression picture when i get home of my OPKs for the last week.

kbpeanut · #12 October 9th, 2009, 11:50 AM

I know it's been said before, but I don't like Answers either...I used those this cycle (cause i had some left) and when the line started to get dark, I used the CBE digis...very easy read, and I only needed 2. I only did OPKs once a day, but I think I should be doing them 2x, from everything i've read/heard!

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #13 October 9th, 2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepSouthGirl

Thank you all so much for the info. I'm going to go with the internet cheapies, but I have two more questions.

Firstly, how do you use these? Would I use them once a day until I start to see a line? Twice a day? I feel so silly asking this, but I just have no idea.

Secondly, I'm looking at babycreation.com and there you can get them individually packaged or in bulk in ziplock type bags...does it really matter how they are packaged?

I take them once per day until I see a line and then start taking them twice a day. Don't use first morning urine. Pick a later morning time and an afternoon/early evening time to test.

I prefer the individually packed ones because once they are exposed they can expire faster.

jensma · #14 October 9th, 2009, 01:23 PM

Here's my progression so you can get an idea of what they look like

DeepSouthMommy · #15 October 9th, 2009, 01:27 PM

Thanks, Kate! I just ordered a ton of the wondflo strips off of ebay. I thought about it and considering HOW long my cycles are and that I tend to get a lot of "gearing up" moments, I decided that I'd start with those as I can get more of them for less money. If I end up not liking them for some reason, I'll try another and another till I have something that works for me. I may even do my own OPK showdown!

Tammyms · #16 October 9th, 2009, 05:51 PM

Shoot! Wish I had known about the negative experiences with FRER's... I didn't get mine from ebay and mail won't be here again until Tues because it's our Thanksgiving so I had to go buy some... 7 tests for $35!!!! Stuff is so expensive in Canada

My earliest + in prior cycles was CD 16 so I didn't want to take the chance and miss it since my cycles are so all over the place.

I'm the same as Jenine, with the brand I like they are stark white, then when I see color I start taking 2 tests a day and usually the next day I get an amazing positive, it usually last about a day and a half then goes back to stark white.

When mine are + I can test anytime a day and they'll be +... with the other brands I tend to see color all the time which actually isn't as helpful.