OPK Question

svancura1

I have a Q, I started using the ClearBlue Advanced when I started showing my big sign of ovulation (really sore nips, I used the an OPK before to find this out). The first test was a negative but the next day I had a flashing smiley face. According the the box and website, you get the flashing for 3 days then a solid face that indicates you'll ovulate in the next 12-24hrs. We are trying to get back on track and time this cycle but I have received 5 flashing smileys now! I was excited at first BC I thought I was already getting back to normal after the loss and that AF would arrive with in two weeks. But now, I'm thinking something is wrong or maybe I'm off? Anyone had this before? 

Poppy715

Check out KMW08 's OPK tutorial. I'm guessing there's something you are missing. I know with some test you aren't supposed to use FMU. Have you tried cheapies at all? Or even another brand? If I'm not mistaken there's also some good info on the blog about OPK usage.

BookishMomma

This just happened to me. I had 4 days in a row of flashing this cycle, then finally a solid smiley yesterday. I'm in my first cycle post m/c, so I think maybe my body had to gear up for longer than usual to O. 

svancura1

Thanks I'll check it out! I've always used the regular ClearBlue and was fine, so I figured the "advanced" would be better. My next thought was to check out Amazon for some good ones next cycle and to try temping.

KC1212

I do not like the advanced. It gave me 6 days of a flashing followed by a few days of a negative followed by a solid non flashing positive smiley.

Get the non advanced or a different brand all together IMO.

RedTwizzlers

I'm not familiar with that brand, but since you waited till your nipples were sore, maybe you missed your surge? My nips are sore on O day but by that time my OPK is usually neg again. Just a thought.

KMW08

I'm not sure about the flashing smiley cbe's advanced-- never used those.

@lindsebert uses these. Any info you got love? :x

In my limited knowledge on these, I think it's along the lines of you can gear up to ovulate and actually NOT ovulate, hence why you're still getting the flashing as you're having high readings/high fertility, but not high enough that ovulation isn't happening yet?

As for other opks, my blog is here
https://kmw08itsmylife.blogspot.com/p/opk-adventures.html?m=1

svancura1

Thanks, I typically have the sore nips the day before O.  It was like clockwork before the loss. Now, I have no clue what my body is doing. I hate it. I’m a control freak and this is not helping.

Thanks for the advice and I’ll be checking out the blog too!

Poppy715

KMW08 said:

I'm not sure about the flashing smiley cbe's -- never used those. @lindsebert uses these. Any info you got love? :x In my limited knowledge on these, I think it's along the lines of you can gear up to ovulate and actually NOT ovulate, hence why you're still getting the flashing as you're having high readings/high fertility, but not high enough that ovulation isn't happening yet? As for other opks, my blog is here & click on the OPK ADVENTURES tab kmw08itsmylife.blogspot.com

You are like Beatlejuice! I only said your name once though! **waves frantically**

lindsebert

KMW08 said:

I'm not sure about the flashing smiley cbe's advanced-- never used those. @lindsebert uses these. Any info you got love? :x In my limited knowledge on these, I think it's along the lines of you can gear up to ovulate and actually NOT ovulate, hence why you're still getting the flashing as you're having high readings/high fertility, but not high enough that ovulation isn't happening yet? As for other opks, my blog is here https://kmw08itsmylife.blogspot.com/p/opk-adventures.html?m=1

Sorry I am just now seeing this. Yes, I have used these in the past, but they completely F'd up my IUI last month. Despite the flashing faces, my RE wanted to go on with IUI the way we had when I got the flashing face before. And guess what? We did the IUI way too early. I had flashing faces for like 4 or 5 days. Based on the OPKs and the US he thought things would be okay, but my body delayed O for some reason, and I'm blaming that damn flashing smiley face. The RE doesn't want me using those anymore, and instead will just use the blank circle or solid face. No flashing for me.

jenbunSC

I'm not super familiar with that brand.  I actually use the target brand ones.. and they just show the line.  I like being able to see the lines and compare them.  I've heard that you should stop testing after you get your first positive OPK though.  I never do.  I've had a few really long cycles since my ectopic, I think the MTX messes mine up.  So I test all month incase I ovulate late.
I do the temping also, but it confuses me too.  I have to look up what everything means every month.  But I'm still going to do it.  It makes me feel better, like I'm doing everything I can so if it doesn't happen it's not for a lack of trying
Hope you figure out what's going on.  OPK are so confusing.

svancura1

lindsebert said:

KMW08 said:

I'm not sure about the flashing smiley cbe's advanced-- never used those. @lindsebert uses these. Any info you got love? :x In my limited knowledge on these, I think it's along the lines of you can gear up to ovulate and actually NOT ovulate, hence why you're still getting the flashing as you're having high readings/high fertility, but not high enough that ovulation isn't happening yet? As for other opks, my blog is here https://kmw08itsmylife.blogspot.com/p/opk-adventures.html?m=1

Sorry I am just now seeing this. Yes, I have used these in the past, but they completely F'd up my IUI last month. Despite the flashing faces, my RE wanted to go on with IUI the way we had when I got the flashing face before. And guess what? We did the IUI way too early. I had flashing faces for like 4 or 5 days. Based on the OPKs and the US he thought things would be okay, but my body delayed O for some reason, and I'm blaming that damn flashing smiley face. The RE doesn't want me using those anymore, and instead will just use the blank circle or solid face. No flashing for me.

Thank you the info. After 6 days of flashing smileys I today received a plain circle. I was a little confused and started looking into it. From what I've read, it seems like I the tests were catching that second estrogen surge that comes after ovulation. So I either missed it or my body is going crazy, or maybe both! All I know is once AF gets here I'll be using the test strips that I can read the lines. I just hope AF gets here in a few days!

Squiddly

I use wondfos, which are cheap and easy to read. The reviews on Amazon for the CBE Advanced were not as good as for the non-advanced CBE, if I recall correctly. I like the ones that show lines because I start getting a faint line a day or two before I get a positive OPK and I always worry about digital things messing up. Sorry I have no specific advice for you, but it might be worth trying a different brand next month

svancura1

Squiddly said:

I use wondfos, which are cheap and easy to read. The reviews on Amazon for the CBE Advanced were not as good as for the non-advanced CBE, if I recall correctly. I like the ones that show lines because I start getting a faint line a day or two before I get a positive OPK and I always worry about digital things messing up. Sorry I have no specific advice for you, but it might be worth trying a different brand next month

I saw that too on Amazon! I have the wondfos in my cart now and a basal thermometer (even though I'm not too sure how to track that yet) as well. I'm hoping to be prepared next time! thank you for the help!

lindsebert

svancura1 said:

Squiddly said:

I use wondfos, which are cheap and easy to read. The reviews on Amazon for the CBE Advanced were not as good as for the non-advanced CBE, if I recall correctly. I like the ones that show lines because I start getting a faint line a day or two before I get a positive OPK and I always worry about digital things messing up. Sorry I have no specific advice for you, but it might be worth trying a different brand next month

I saw that too on Amazon! I have the wondfos in my cart now and a basal thermometer (even though I'm not too sure how to track that yet) as well. I'm hoping to be prepared next time! thank you for the help!

I used to basic ones before the advanced ones and had more success, and that is what my REs office is recommending. As far as IUIs go, they want to make sure it's a + and not just leave to to interpretation of lines.

As for the temping, check out fertilityfriend.com for some great info and tutorials. It's a great resource and lots of women on TB use it. Good luck!