OPKs and EWCM

ASmallWonder

Ok so I know what the time implications of both are supposed to be.  EWCM = most fertile days because you're on the verge of (potential) ovulation (I know it's not a guarantee), and a positive OPK essentially means the same thing.  So wouldn't you think they'd happen at the same time?  Last month I had EWCM but didn't get a positive surge for two more days and the surges kept up for 3 days.  EWCM was present today but no positive OPK.  If it works out like last month it seems to be telling me that my EWCM comes something like 4 or 5 days before potential O.  Is that unusual or have been mistakenly thinking it follows a little more closely?

JilllyBean

I get all kinds of days of EWCM, some correspond to OPKs, some don't! Haha

curlylocks3

I normally have a few days of fertile CM before i get a +OPK. I use fertile CM as a benchmark of when to start using OPKs if I haven't already.

ASmallWonder

JilllyBean:

I get all kinds of days of EWCM, some correspond to OPKs, some don't! Haha

Such a screw job haha  I've only ever gotten EWCM 1x per cycle and it's always close to ovulation but just doesn't seem to line up to OPKs the way "they" say it's supposed to.  Chalk it up to one of those things where you shouldn't use "always" or "never."

daisyrose85

curlylocks3:

I normally have a few days of fertile CM before i get a +OPK. I use fertile CM as a benchmark of when to start using OPKs if I haven't already.

Me too. I usually get EWCM 2 days before O, but not necessarily any on the actual day.  

sunlavender

gonzol:

This. You can get EWCM 5 days before you get a + OPK. Or, no EWCM and still get a +.

I haven't had EWCM for the last two cycles, with + opk and BBT confirmed O.

Same for me.

RunningGal900

I get EWCM for several days before I O, but I do usually get EWCM and a positive OPK on the same day. 

ASmallWonder

Slapptastic:

I usually get EWCM before my positive OPKs.

Oh and I also get EWCM before my period.

In fact, you can get EWCM at any point in your cycle.

I guess what throws me is that in the span of one week I have two different indicators of "most fertile days" and they're not even close to the same days.  It's not possible that a Monday and a Saturday in the same week can both be equal in fertility because the egg certainly isn't living that long.  Either Monday was wrong or Saturday was wrong (as an example).  If it was an outlier and not at all near a +OPK I'd blow it off but they're close enough to make me scratch my head.  Oh well, keep on getting it on!

Mommy2CB

Totally normal. I'd had cycles where I got + OPK's, and EWCM after, and other cycles where - OPK's and then EWCM after, THEN a + OPK.. you just have to hump it out and hope for the best because it really does vary. Last cycle I had 4 + OPK's and O'd on the first one.. yeah didn't give me any warning at all!

TeamAwesomeBaby

Mommy2CB:

Totally normal. I'd had cycles where I got + OPK's, and EWCM after, and other cycles where - OPK's and then EWCM after, THEN a + OPK.. you just have to hump it out and hope for the best because it really does vary. Last cycle I had 4 + OPK's and O'd on the first one.. yeah didn't give me any warning at all!

Wait...you can still get +OPKs after you O? Cray. I had no idea. Pretty sure I'm not ovulating this month, but that at least makes me feel hopeful that my cycle is close to over.

OP, I had tons of EWCM early in this cycle and I think it's because I was chugging green tea like it was my job. Agree with other PPs who say that it varies based on a number of factors (including, in my case, hydration).