Dang it! Hmmmk, talk to me about OPKs!

PurpleStar · #1 January 20th, 2012, 12:45 AM

Hey girls...

So frustrated! Ever since my cycle in November, my cycles have been wonky and my normal signs for O/AF are totally off. This afternoon, Josh and I had some "afternoon delight"

and when he asked if I'm O'ing today, cause I should be, I seriously said I have no idea. So, I'm thinking I need to get a grip before real TTC time.

I don't temp/chart, I follow O by my CM and other bodily signs...and until these last few cycles, its truly been consistent and trustworthy...or at least as much as that method can be. But until recently I'm getting all my "signs" too early or not at all, and so now I don't know what to trust.

So how do OPks work? Do you like them? Have you found them dependable? I saw some Wondfro OPK/HPTs on Amazon for super cheap and was thinking of buying them.

I'm trying not to stress myself out about this. When it comes time for TTC I really want to keep a "go with the flow" mentality and just leave it up to good lovin' to get the job done, but I just feel so off lately

I'd rather just understand my body now if I have a new cycle evolving then go by my old signs/guessing during TTC and be missing it.

cocosmumNco · #2 January 20th, 2012, 02:46 AM

i have used them in the past just go with cm now but when i was ttc zac we always used them don't want to even think how much i spent in 5 years.

when you start depends on how long your cycle is? when you do start you test in the afternoon and you will probably see to lines don't get excited it only means ov if both the lines are the same brightness each day you do it it should be brighter then get the same on ov day then start getting fainter again or just not be a second line. everyone is different so you need to try it a few months to learn how yours goes. some ladies have a few days with lines before ov other only have 1.

Steph604 · #3 January 20th, 2012, 10:47 AM

I use them- I bought a whole bunch for really cheap online- I just started charting last month and to be honest Im really confused now! The OPK said I ovulated at a different time than fertility friend did- so I dont know whats going on?!!!

I was just interested in what my body was doing so I thought I would try it out

StacieRN · #4 January 20th, 2012, 12:06 PM

I have no idea..they confuse the heck outta me!

Babybear4 · #5 January 20th, 2012, 01:26 PM

I just got some OPK's and Vitex to see if I can encourage the return of my period. I am going NUTS here.

Personally, I like OPK's but not as a sole means of determining O. The ones I have are almost always ALLLLLLLLLMOST positive, so that drives me crazy since I don't have wet or EWCM, just creamy.

I think, if you do choose to use OPK's, it's good to still check CM/CP and temp. When I was TTC DS, I would get positive OPK's for 3-4 days straight and temp was the only way I knew when I did finally ovulate.

Steph604 · #6 January 20th, 2012, 04:08 PM

Shelley- Im not sure if you know this or not but OPKs are different than pregnancy tests- There will often be two lines but they are only positive when the test line is as dark or darker than the control line

PurpleStar · #7 January 21st, 2012, 04:26 PM

Uhhh, maybe not

Maybe they aren't as easy or not confusing as I thought

I'm trying not complicate things, and OPKs sounded like a better option for me than temp/charting. I'm still thinking about buying them but as suggested above, will continue to monitor CM...which has always been a preventative golden tool for me.

Or maybe I'll just have sex every other day until I get PG!!! LOL!!! Josh would be like this ---->

SammyJ · #8 January 21st, 2012, 04:51 PM

Hey ladies!

I am just lurking so sorry for butting in, but I thought I would share my two cents. Honestly I really like OPKs, especially when DH and I first went off BCP it was just one more way I could track my cycle.

There are a few things to keep in mind about them if you are considering using them.

First, I really do like the Wondfo brand. They are cheap and I've never had an issue with them not working. I usually did once a day the first few days before I suspected that I would O. Then this last time I was using them three times a day for a few days until I got a positive. I didn't want to risk missing my surge. Like some of the other ladies have posted here, you'll usually have two lines. A positive is truly when the test and control line are the same color or if the test line is darker. It can be frustrating when you are so close to O because the test line will be *almost* as dark, but not quite.

Also the biggest thing to keep in mind about OPKs is that a positive surge does not always mean your body will actually O. That happened to me for a few cycles. I would get positives and then my would fail to release an actual egg like it was supposed to. I don't remember you ever saying you had problems with your periods though, right? So you are most likely ovulating.

I really like both temping and using OPKs. It gives me the reassurance that I am about to O and that I actually have ovulated when I thought. That way even if your CM signs are weird for a few days leading up to O, you will have backup ways of confirming ovulation. It is also important to remember that you can O anywhere from 12-48 hours after you get a positive. In my experience it seems like I usually am on the shorter side of that time frame, but for many women it takes a couple days.

Anyway, I just thought I would share my experience. LOL. Good luck with whatever you decide!

plan4fate · #9 January 21st, 2012, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steph604

I use them- I bought a whole bunch for really cheap online- I just started charting last month and to be honest Im really confused now! The OPK said I ovulated at a different time than fertility friend did- so I dont know whats going on?!!!

I was just interested in what my body was doing so I thought I would try it out

was it in the following day or two? opks give you a surge, but you can take 12-48hrs to actually ovulate.

Babybear4 · #10 January 21st, 2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steph604

Shelley- Im not sure if you know this or not but OPKs are different than pregnancy tests- There will often be two lines but they are only positive when the test line is as dark or darker than the control line

Oh yes, I definitely know that. I should take some pictures to show you what I mean. If I wasn't well versed in the ways of OPK's, I would think they were positive...everyday.

When I DO get positives, the control line is DARKER than the test line for 3-4 days straight.

I also think it depends on the brand, too. I use IC's that have a blue handle and have ALWAYS found that I tend to have a darker control line regardless of where I am at in my cycle on those. On the pink handle ones (which I haven't used since TTC), I would have lighter control lines when I wasn't Oing.

Babybear4 · #11 January 21st, 2012, 10:15 PM

LOL, I went and took an OPK so I could take a pic and show what I meant by almost positive and wouldn't ya know, it was totally positive. I have super watery CM so I'm not totally surprised, I am just hoping I ACTUALLY O and not just gear up to.

Shades of Grey · #12 January 22nd, 2012, 07:47 AM

Im just starting to use OPKs-50 wondfo from amazon for under $10. I am using them along with charting cm and temping. I think the 3 together will really help me figure my cycle out as my body is finally adjusting to being without the mirena. Id like to know whats going on with it before ttc. I would say for ten bucks, give it a try and see if it helps you at all

Memi · #13 January 22nd, 2012, 10:30 AM

I've always thought OPKs would be really confusing, but seeing the deals you girls got on them I'm now considering buying some to try when we TTC in a few months.

plan4fate · #14 January 22nd, 2012, 12:01 PM

I'm buying some for the cycle after the one coming (we don't have the $$ to do it right now) see if I can pin down the O a bit easier... since my charts don't tend to tell me I've O'd until 5- 6 days later.

Trish36 · #15 January 23rd, 2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SammyJ

Hey ladies!

I am just lurking so sorry for butting in, but I thought I would share my two cents. Honestly I really like OPKs, especially when DH and I first went off BCP it was just one more way I could track my cycle.

There are a few things to keep in mind about them if you are considering using them.

First, I really do like the Wondfo brand. They are cheap and I've never had an issue with them not working. I usually did once a day the first few days before I suspected that I would O. Then this last time I was using them three times a day for a few days until I got a positive. I didn't want to risk missing my surge. Like some of the other ladies have posted here, you'll usually have two lines. A positive is truly when the test and control line are the same color or if the test line is darker. It can be frustrating when you are so close to O because the test line will be *almost* as dark, but not quite.

Also the biggest thing to keep in mind about OPKs is that a positive surge does not always mean your body will actually O. That happened to me for a few cycles. I would get positives and then my would fail to release an actual egg like it was supposed to. I don't remember you ever saying you had problems with your periods though, right? So you are most likely ovulating.

I really like both temping and using OPKs. It gives me the reassurance that I am about to O and that I actually have ovulated when I thought. That way even if your CM signs are weird for a few days leading up to O, you will have backup ways of confirming ovulation. It is also important to remember that you can O anywhere from 12-48 hours after you get a positive. In my experience it seems like I usually am on the shorter side of that time frame, but for many women it takes a couple days.

Anyway, I just thought I would share my experience. LOL. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Great info! If you have EWCM and your test line is as dark as your control line (or darker) then you could be almost 99% sure that you will O within 24-48 hours.

I think it takes time to be a pro at this.

Steph604 · #16 January 24th, 2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Tithen~

was it in the following day or two? opks give you a surge, but you can take 12-48hrs to actually ovulate.

No! It said I ovulated two days before I got my + on my OPK! And when I did get an OPK, I got another the next day too???

I<3HelloKitty · #17 January 24th, 2012, 11:30 AM

It's not uncommon to have a surge lasting more than one day. I usually get at least 2 days of positives before they come up negative again. Do you have a link to your chart?

Babybear4 · #18 January 24th, 2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steph604

No! It said I ovulated two days before I got my + on my OPK! And when I did get an OPK, I got another the next day too???

I always seem to get + OPK's up to 2 day AFTER my temperature confirms O. I think (HOPE!) I ovulated yesterday but I am still got another +OPK this morning.