i'm having trouble with the OPK

LizzyandTim · April 2011

I bought a store brand, so maybe that's the problem, but the ones i got have two lines: top and bottom. Top is control, bottom is test. If test is lighter or not there, it's negative. If the lines are the same or the bottom is darker, positive. Well the lines have looked the same color every day. Every. Single. Day. I started testing on CD 12 and now it's day 18. This is my first cycle of Clomid. I am supposed to go get a lab test one week after ovulation to see if the Clomid worked, but i cant tell what's going on! Should i really invest the $50 for the digital ones?

CluckyEV · April 2011

Are you being monitored? Unmonitored Clomid is a HUGE hot button on here. Please see the warning in my siggy. You would know if the Clomid was working, if you were being monitored.

Sorry, not sure what to tell you about the OPKs. I am being monitored, then trigger to ensure I O. The trigger just messes everything up, so I don't bother. Some of the other gals use the OPKs maybe they will have some advice there. But everyone will tell you that you need to be monitored.

LindzK · April 2011

I don't know what your seeing as far as the OPKs go. I haven't ever gotten a positive. But I can tell you that my negative ones are all only one line (the control line.) They are cheap ones I bought on early-pregnancy-tests.com

LizzyandTim · April 2011

i'm not sure what you mean by monitored. this is the first time i've ever taken it. i am supposed to go back in for lab work to see if the medicine worked.

LizzyandTim · April 2011

also, thanks for the tip about amazon! i never thought to check there. going now.

katib77 · April 2011

This might sound annoying when all you want is to see a postitive OPK, but my doctor told me for some people OPK's just don't work. I personally cannot hold my pee the recommended four hours to test in the middle of the morning/early afternoon as the people all told me to do (because I'm diabetic and a common symptom is frequent thirst & urination) So my RE told me to try doing it first thing in the Am with FMU. And never in my life have I seen a darn line. And yet thru 24 cycles of charting I know exactly every month when I O, and from the ultrasound on my IUI cycle I know but yet those damn OPKs don't like me. So while you might do better with another brand, OR maybe your body is gearing up but still has yet to O...another issue may simply be you're unfortuate like me...that OPK's are not going to help. This is why monitoring can also be important - so you don't miss your O. Good luck with whatever you do moving forward.

faydre · April 2011

I definately agree wi PP about monitoring, etc. Also, opks are iffy for me as well. I usually have to test 3x/day to see a positive. Sometimes I still don't see a positive. You can also try charting your basal body temp (fertility friend.com or click my ticker) to confirm ovulation. Although an ultrasound at your RE's office would be much more precise.

sorry and good luck

AndBabyWouldMake5 · April 2011

I use IC OPK's and have always been lucky enough to see the shift to a line as darker as (not bragging). One thing that I do know is that I normally (except for this cycle) have gotten my + with FMU and not at night like many girls. Are you testing twice a day? If not maybe try that.

As someone who did 2 cycles of Clomid unmonitored, the 2nd an IUI too, I get what you are going through. It is considered a big no no here, although I saw the RE last week and he said he trusted my OB/GYN who clearly trusted me to pay attention to my body.

Who prescribed your Clomid? I would suggest if it's Clomid time it's also RE time, but that's a personal choice.

$50 sounds nuts, but then again a lot of things we do during TTC is nuts!

LizzyandTim · April 2011

the clomid was prescribed by an RE. i have been seeing him since...august? or so. after provera didnt work and i didnt have a period for 8 months my GYN referred me to a specialist. i was testing first thing in the morning but at the end i started testing at night because it always looked positive in the morning.i guess i have strong pee. ha! at night it actually showed up negative. i guess i will ask me RE about it.

I am Marla Singer · April 2011

I am pretty sure Clomid messes with the OPK results. It causes false positives. I wouldn't bother as long as you are getting monitored with ultrasound.