OPK - should I?

ImJessesGirl

From what I gathered, a lot of you use OPKs with the majority of y'all using the Wondfo strips. I am sitting here on Amazon website wondering if I should click purchase.

I've been obsessing over my chart and wondering if I even ovulate at all or if I will. This is my first cycle temping, second cycle TTC. My second cycle post BCP. I just don't want to waste money on OPK strips... I am also hesitant because I have also read on here that the OPKs can detect a surge but not actually tell you whether you've ovulated/will ovulate.

I have searched other charts on FF to see samples of both ovulatory and anovulatory cycles... I just feel so confused looking at so many charts. I'm probably obsessing.

Anyway, if you use OPK and chart, do you feel it's helpful to do both, or do you think temping alone is fine? If you do both, why?

kmcorter

I just started temping and I found that OPKs were very helpful to help me determine when my body was gearing up to O and then charting BBT confirmed when O occurred.  So yes, OPKs were helpful for me

ImJessesGirl

Ok... so my concern is the reliability of the OPK... does it just say you're surging, or are there kinds that tell you YES, you are ovulating?

jaytee16

LindsRockies said:

ImJessesGirl said:

Ok... so my concern is the reliability of the OPK... does it just say you're surging, or are there kinds that tell you YES, you are ovulating?

It just tells you that an LH surge has been detected, which is an indicator of impending ovulation. OPKs can't see into your body and tell you that you're 100%, without a doubt ovulating.

This.  It is possible to surge, and gear up to O but not actually O, which is where the temping comes in.  If you're doing both, you can detect your surge, then temping will confirm if you O.  I find using both was the very best way to ensure we hit my FW reliably.  

ImJessesGirl

Ok, thank you! I clicked purchase!!! Thanks for being so helpful!

ImJessesGirl

Just to be sure, I don't need anything else other than the Wondfo strips? There's nothing that goes with the strips right? I read the description and it didn't say it is to be used in conjunction with anything else.

liladelphia215

When really trying to pinpoint O - I need both, I think. This cycle I'm gearing up for a cycle day 25 O. Typically I'm around Cycle Day 17-20. Without OPKs I'd be obsessing a little more this month. But I could tell using OPKs that I wasn't even gearing to O yet at my "normal" time. 

andplusalso - Charting is telling me that while I've gotten +OPKs, I haven't Oed yet, so I may have one last day to try to HIO before my window is over. 

ImJessesGirl

GrahamSchneider said:

When really trying to pinpoint O - I need both, I think. This cycle I'm gearing up for a cycle day 25 O. Typically I'm around Cycle Day 17-20. Without OPKs I'd be obsessing a little more this month. But I could tell using OPKs that I wasn't even gearing to O yet at my "normal" time. 

This is probably why I am obsessing...

BabyCowbell

I just temp and HIO every day starting around CD12. It's hard work (pun intended) but it works for both of us as far as scheduling and energy go.

That said, I'm on cycle 11 and considering starting OPKs in case the every day sex is actually hurting our chances. With OPKs we could time it better without doing the dirty every day.

melsner

ImJessesGirl said:

Just to be sure, I don't need anything else other than the Wondfo strips? There's nothing that goes with the strips right? I read the description and it didn't say it is to be used in conjunction with anything else.

I bought little 'jello shot' cups as well to pee in. I tried just peeing on the first strip and I'd didn't work too well. This is my first month temping too, and I'm finding the strip to be really helpful. If anything, just to confirm I'm reading things right and have the timing right.

NerdyLucy

ImJessesGirl said:

Just to be sure, I don't need anything else other than the Wondfo strips? There's nothing that goes with the strips right? I read the description and it didn't say it is to be used in conjunction with anything else.

No, just maybe some disposable cups.  I got a pack of plastic shot glasses from the Dollar Tree for mine. 

ETA:  Somebody beat me to it.

chaysefaith

Yup, you need a cup to pee in.  I bought a Disney princess cup at walmart for less than $1.   If you don't like princess they also had Hello Kitty, Cars, Tinkerbell...

ImJessesGirl

SNLT1012 said:

Yup, you need a cup to pee in.  I bought a Disney princess cup at walmart for less than $1.   If you don't like princess they also had Hello Kitty, Cars, Tinkerbell...

Ha! I have a Mr. Potato Head cup that I think would work ... Got it from the dollar bin at Walmart!

alysonmh

The month I got pregnant the OPK never said I had a surge and I was even testing twice a day. Can they be helpful? Sure. Are they always helpful? No. 

You are only on your 2nd cycle, maybe give it a little time before you go through all the trouble of OPKs that you may not even need to use.

HeyStVincent

I like the wondfo OPK just because it gives me a little more info on what is going on with my body. The  OPK lets me know I got my LH surge, and then the temping confirms that I ovulated following the surge.  Also, if I run into a fertility problem I can give my doctor a little more information about my usual cycle, which is a good thing!

PinkRoses53

I am a total control freak when it comes to TTC, so I like using them.  They take some of the guess work out of it.  Plus, who doesn't love peeing on things!

Segoody

I will also point out that OPK's can make you a little crazy too. I have FF crosshairs right now, but am on day 4 of positive OPK's (bought a different brand today to make sure it wasn't just a fluke). So you have to take both into account when figuring O.