All My OPK Questions

WillCMyInk

Okay, someone help me out here because I feel like I'm OPK stupid.

I understand using them several times a day, but I can't wrap my head around how long to use them.

I see everyone say that you use them until you get a positive then that positive goes back to negative. How does that help if your body gears up to O several times though?

Like right now, I had an almost so positive that you ladies were split down the middle as to whether it was or not on 9/27 midday. On 9/27 at about 7:30/8 pm I took another and it was obviously negative. So, assuming the midday OPK was positive and the evening was negative I didn't take anymore.

Fast forward to today and I haven't had a temp change and have not confirmed O. Now I feel stupid for not continuing the OPKs.

Can someone lay this or for me as simple as possible? Preferably from the angle of someone who is having wonky cycles?

Also, what do the ladies that drink a ton of water out there do? I typically consume at least 32 oz in the first half of the day. Are there any reliable alternatives to ICs that use FMU and don't break the bank?

Flame away... if necessary... but I could really use some answers.

amberhoothoot

I use OPKs until FF gives me crosshairs and I'm confident that I O'd.

I have only charted 2 months but one had a positive, then a couple days of negatives, then 4 solid days of positives. I kept using them till the temp shift was clear.

I try to drink all my water in the AM, so that I can get a less diluted test when I come home from work at 7pm/

hupp0013

I usually use them until I confirm O. I use ICs so I can't help with a different OPK alternative. I do know that you can gear up to O and not O and that's why I use them until I confirm O. I'm sorry I'm not much help.

Milagros315

I see everyone say that you use them until you get a positive then that positive goes back to negative. How does that help if your body gears up to O several times though? I use them until they go back to negative AND I get a temp shift. I am lucky in that I only have one or two days of positive before my temp spikes. Even though I get a spike, I still use an OPK just to make sure it's negative.

Like right now, I had an almost so positive that you ladies were split down the middle as to whether it was or not on 9/27 midday. On 9/27 at about 7:30/8 pm I took another and it was obviously negative. So, assuming the midday OPK was positive and the evening was negative I didn't take anymore. Always mark the most fertile thing - if you had one positive and one negative, mark that day as positive. I would keep testing until you have a day without any positives (and a temp spike) because it's possible that your evening urine was too dilute.

Fast forward to today and I haven't had a temp change and have not confirmed O. Now I feel stupid for not continuing the OPKs. Yeah, I would keep testing until you have a temp spike. You didn't O yet

Can someone lay this or for me as simple as possible? Preferably from the angle of someone who is having wonky cycles? I'm sorry about the wonky cycles. It sucks because you have to test so often. Stock up on the wondfos. I don't really there's much that you can do except test often.

Also, what do the ladies that drink a ton of water out there do? I typically consume at least 32 oz in the first half of the day. Are there any reliable alternatives to ICs that use FMU and don't break the bank? You can use FMU with the internet cheapies. I just ordered wondfos from USHealthTests on ebay and the directions no longer say not to use FMU. I usually get up and pee when my alarm goes off at 6 AM and then hold it and test around 9 to 10. Or I stop drinking at lunch time and then test around 2 or 3 after work.

WillCMyInk

@thekikimonster Thanks for the pointer on FMU. I'm assuming you're saying to keep using OPKs until O is confirmed by a temp shift.

@amberhoothoot Thanks for giving your perspective!

WillCMyInk

@ Milagros315 You're the best. Thanks for taking the time to go question by question!!