Q about OPKs vs. Temping

BarooGirl

I have scanned the last 5 pages but cant find an answer.

If you had to choose one to do, would it be temping or opks?

Why?

Which one is more accurate in predicting O?

 Thanks!

btsrc5

OPKs will usually give you a day or two notice of when you will O (however, for me, I only get a + opk on the actual day I O). 

Temping will comfirm O when you get a temp shift.  It takes a couple days after O for temping to confirm, so it isn't going to give you a heads up on when to have sex. 

 I recommend doing it all - check CM, temp, OPKs.  The more information, the better FF will be able to interpret your chart. 

MrsMeMo

I would choose temping. Your temps usually show a clear thermal shift after ovulation, which is helpful to me. I've used IC OPKs for the past two months, and still haven't got a single +OPK.

OPKS predict O, and temping confirms O after it has already happened.

SeptemberBride'08

btsrc5:

OPKs will usually give you a day or two notice of when you will O (however, for me, I only get a + opk on the actual day I O). 

Temping will comfirm O when you get a temp shift.  It takes a couple days after O for temping to confirm, so it isn't going to give you a heads up on when to have sex. 

 I recommend doing it all - check CM, temp, OPKs.  The more information, the better FF will be able to interpret your chart. 

This...do both. They back each other up.

maybebride

Temping cannot predict O, but really neither can OPKs.

OPKs detect the LH surge that occurrs prior to O, but you can have a surge without actually O'ing.

Temping will confirm O after the fact, but by doing so consistently, you will have a better idea of when you will O and might be able to detect a pattern in your temps.

Honestly, since I have never NOT O'd in the 16 cycles since I started trying, I would probably be okay only using OPKs, but I still like seeing O confirmed through temps.

 

Jewlz018

If it were me I would choose temping so ovulation could be confirmed.  If you have sex on days you have fertile CM you should be able to hit your fertile days.

That being said it's not much more effort to add in OPKs and would be very useful.

Good Luck! 

BarooGirl

Thanks ladies

I have always temped, but thought about using OPKs. I have a friend that is thinking about OPKs and not temping.

So, I was just checking about the difference.

I think I will stay with temping. We BD at least EOD around 12dpo on. DH, I think, would hate it if I narrowed down his "game time" by using OPKs

brookelynpaisley

OPKs predict when you may O within a day or two. You can get a +OPK and not ovulate.

Temping confirms ovulation.

They work best together - OPKs give you a great shot at timing, temping confirms it happened. I personally wouldn't pick one or the other.

I don't use OPKs consistently, but I do temp (though lately I don't sleep well so my chart is useless). I don't have a good reason for not using them. I should, since I quit BCPs after 10 years in April, and I'm not regular. But I haven't made the leap to buy cheapies, so they get pricey. Our timing is usually good without them, so I don't find them necessary.