OPK question - lines got progressively darker, which OPK test to use, how often to test

Jasonandmeredith · August 2011

Hi all,

I have been using the First Response OPK for 3 days, and noticed that over that time the lines seemed to get darker and darker. Yesterday it was still pretty faint, but darker than the day before. After reading about it online, I figured I was one of those women that has a fade-in effect. However, I took one this morning and the line was lighter than yesterday. Can someone please tell me what this means? I'm going crazy trying to figure it out. Also, has anyone had better results with the Clearblue Easy OPK? I just read that CBE detects LH at a lower level than First Response.

I also want to ask if it's better to test twice a day, especially since my lines got progressively darker over 3 days. This might be TMI, but we had sex early yesterday morning...does this mean that even if I missed my surge on the OPK, I could still conceive? I thought I read that sperm can live in a woman for up to 3 days.

mcromer · August 2011

First of all, lighter than the control line means negative. You also may not have caught your surge.

tlalli7106 · August 2011

The directions that come with the OPK say that the line has to be as dark or darker than the control line, if not it's a negative. You can also go to FF if you haven't signed up yet and look at hundreds of galleries of OPK tests to compare what yours looks like, that really helped me a lot! I was stressing myself out there for awhile trying to determine whether or not my test line was dark or not...after looking at them for awhile I swear they start to play tricks on your eyes Big Smile

mchupie · August 2011

You might have missed your surge - or you might not have O'd. You can only confirm O through charting your temps.

I have a fade-in pattern, so when I start noticing the lines getting darker I start testing twice a day. I would recommend getting some cheaper OPKs (like the ones on Amazon) so you don't have to spend a fortune.

Yes you could still conceive based on when you had sex. And telling us you had sex (on a Trying to Get Pregnant board) is definitely not TMI, no worries.

VineyardMel · August 2011

I test twice a day when I start fading in so I have a better chance to catch the surge. Most of us on here use Wondfo OPKs (IC or internet cheapies)--you can get them on Amazon for something like $10 for 40. At that price you can test as often as you want.

Are you on Fertility Friend yet? Click on any of our tickers to sign up and you'll get lots of information that will help you learn about your fertile window and how to best time sex for conception. But as they say--when it doubt, hump it out!

Good luck!

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