[MonsterMama]

Hi ladies...I have a question to those that use OPK's (specifically the ones from early-pregnancy-tests.com).

This is my first cycle using them, and I'm a bit confused on what the results actually mean...

I used one on Thursday and a very faint line showed up. I realized this is not a "positive" result, but the fact that a line did show up lead me to believe that I was possibly gearing up to O within the next few days or week. I skipped using one Friday, and took one again on Saturday and again, a faint line showed up...I would say it was maybe a shade darker than Thursday's test.

Well, between yesterday and today is when I've had results that confused me. I did another one yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and once again, a slightly darker line showed up (still not as dark as the control line though). I started feeling more bloated and very mildly crampy throughout the evening/night, so before bed last night I decided to take another one because I was nervous I was going to O. Well, the line on the test last night at about midnight was just the same darkness as the control line. Unfortunately, DH was asleep (poor fella was dead tired after working a 13 hr shift), so I had to wait until this morning till we could BD again.

Today I've been unbelievably crampy and exhausted (I just woke up from a 4 hr nap! ) so in my mind I'm thinking today is O day. But here's the thing now....I took another test, in hopes that it might actually be DARKER than the control line, but this time, it was back to being slightly fainter....I would compare it to the results I got yesterday afternoon.

So after that long backstory, my question is.....since last night I got what I would consider a positive result, and just a little while ago I got a lighter result....does that mean I have in fact O'd? Or do OPK's just give you a "window" so to speak without really pinpointing whether or not I have O'd?

I'll use another one tonight to see what happens, but I just wanted to hear your opinions -- would the tests begin to get lighter and lighter after I O? OR....could it be that I haven't even O'd yet (although with the way I feel I think I may have)...and could still expect a positive result again sometime this week?

Sorry this is so long....hope someone can help! Thank you!

[Mod-LilSunshine]

This might help:

Ovulation occurs shortly after LH levels peak. However, there is no way to predict whether your OPK will still be showing a positive result during the actual moment of ovulation or whether your OPK will go back to negative first. Remember that it takes time for the hormones in your bloodstream (such as LH) to be metabolized into your urine. By the time your LH surge is reflected in your pee, it has already been peaking in your blood for a short while. Likewise, after your blood levels go down, it takes awhile for your pee levels to decrease.

Because of this "lag time" and the fact that you can't predict how long it will take your body to metabolize LH into and out of your urine, there is no way to know whether your egg follicle actually ruptured while your OPK was positive, or after the OPK became negative again.

I found that here. I also found some info from FF here: Ovulation Prediction Kits (OPKs)

Best of luck!