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crystalmeyer08
member
When to test twice a day with OPK?
crystalmeyer08
member
I am on CD22...still no + OPK but starting to get some EWCM. Should I start testing twice a day? I am not temping this month. Last cycle was 41 days...the cycle before was 29 days (this is only my 3rd cycle off BCP so cycles are still messed up).
Also, can someone explain this surge thing to me? What do you mean when you say "I don't want to miss my surge" ? I understand it is a hormone that you are testing for...but still need help wrapping my head around it. TIA! 
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Re: When to test twice a day with OPK?
EWCM can come long before you actually ovulate. Sometimes it shows up, even for days, and then disappears. So just an FYI there, don't get disheartened if you don't see a surge.
I use ICs for OPK, and at 20 cents a stick I'm OK with peeing on 2 a day. I do it when I expect O to be coming up (and EWCM might be an indicator of that) so I'm sure I don't miss it.
OPKs watch for a surge of LH. You always have LH in your system, which is why there is almost always a line on a OPK. Right before ovulation your LH surges, or a lot of it shows up in your system. This surge happens right before ovulation. For some women LH surges and drops quickly, in less than 24 hours. So say the peak of the surge (when there's the most LH in your urine for this purpose) is a 8PM. If you're testing daily at noon, your LH might not have risen high enough to turn the test + at noon that day, even though it will be high enough at 8. If your LH drops quickly (normal, not a problem) by noon the next day it may already be gone. Then you would have missed your surge. Most surges do not last less than 12 hours, so testing twice a day just increases your chances of catching it.
If this is your first cycle using OPKs I'd test twice a day when you're expecting a +. That way you're (more) sure to catch it. If you do this a few cycles and see that your surge lasts for more than 24 hours easily, maybe you don't have to in the future.
But that's just me, and I am obsessive about catching my surge. If you don't mind possibly missing it, stick to once a day. You'll likely still catch it.
You can test as often as you like, I really think each woman is different as far as what symptoms come before ovulation. Personally, I start testing once a day around CD10 and plan to do so until I know how long my surge will normally last. Once the test line starts to get darker, I start testing more than once a day to make sure I catch a positive test (I think the surge, if it happens at all, can last less than 12 hours so if you peak in the middle of the night you may never catch it).
I think you do have the leutenizing hormone all month but there can be a surge just before ovulation. However, I believe you can ovulate without having this surge and getting a surge doesn't always mean you will ovulate.
Hope this was helpful! I'm still a newbie to all of this, but this is the information I've gathered from the bump ladies and my own personal research.
Me: 30, DH: 33 Married 8/3/08
BFP 7/16/2012 (8th cycle), EDD 3/27/2012, Delivered 3/24/2013 - IT'S A BOY!
If you have EWCM then you should definitely start testing twice a day. I usually test in the morning with FMU and again around 5pm.
When someone says they don't want to miss their surge, they just mean they don't want to miss testing during their surge and getting a + OPK. Since the LH surge before ovulation only lasts approx 12-24 hours, it isn't hard to not test often enough to see that + OPK, thus "missing the surge." Good luck!
7/30/12 - B/G twins born at 33w4d due to PPROM
Smurry--is that a boston terrier in your siggy?? If so, I have one too! I ADORE him...
Also I love your siggy of you at the church altar...your dress is soo pretty!
That's not gross...that's dedication!!
Haha love it!
OP, thanks for asking this question! I've been wondering the same thing since this is my first cycle using OPKs but have been too lazy to ask
And thanks to all the ladies who answered!
G born 10/25/12 | H born 3/25/14
TTC#3 since 7/2015
Early loss 12/2015 most likely due to low progesterone
Began medicated cycles (Femara/Ovidrel/Endometrin) with TI 1/2016
BFP 3/22, EDD 12/4/16 ~ It's a GIRL!
If your IC says PIAC then you should PIAC, the absorption's going to be different and less consistent holding it mid-stream so if it wants to cup I'd do it. I use little dixie cups, too, fast, disposable, and if you're really worried you can throw it in the little place where tampon and pad garbage goes and no one has to know ;-)
I am going to see my DR next month so I went all out with the OPKs this month to give her an accurate O date. I have been using the OPKs twice a day since CD 13 as my DR recommended (clear blue digital and Target OPKs with first morning urine and Target OPK in the evening). I caught my LH surge in the evening on CD 18 with the Target OPK and it was still positive in the morning on CD 19 with the digital and Target OPK but by that evening the line was already fading.
My long, sorry, point is that I might have missed the start of my surge if I didn't test twice a day.