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Is it just me or are OPKs pretty much worthless?

bananersbananers member
in Trying to Get Pregnant

Let me get this straight...

 You can O but never get a +OPK because it's easy to miss your surge.

Conversely, you can get a + but not actually ovulate (body gears up to but doesn't kick the egg out).

In other words, you can never really trust the result.  Am I missing something here or does anyone else find this completely useless? Thinking I will not be buying more OPKs once I run out. 

BFP #1 10/6/11 | EDD 6/15/12 | MMC 11/7/11 @ 8w3d | D&C 11/14/11

BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13

BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15

BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d

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Re: Is it just me or are OPKs pretty much worthless?

  • gplove94gplove94 member
    imagebananers:

    Let me get this straight...

     You can O but never get a +OPK because it's easy to miss your surge.

    Conversely, you can get a + but not actually ovulate (body gears up to but doesn't kick the egg out).

    In other words, you can never really trust the result.  Am I missing something here or does anyone else find this completely useless? Thinking I will not be buying more OPKs once I run out. 

    I keep hearing about this on this board, but I'd be interested to know how often this really happens. What are the reasons your body would gear up to ovulate and then not actually ovulate?  



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  • Nikko BlueNikko Blue member
    They do work for most women, but you need to use them with the understanding that there is no guarantee that you will O after getting a +. It seems that there are certain people who they do not work for. Using them in combination with charting has really helped me to understand my cycles and my body.
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  • mlynbmlynb

    I don't find them to be completely useless. I use OPKs and temp and they always match up. It's not the OPKs fault that it detects you gearing up and your body changes it's mind.

    They would be completely useless for ttc if they confirmed you ovulated after the fact or the day of since you should have sex right before you O.

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  • antsmarching41antsmarching41 member
    I asked a question on this today, actually. Besides PCOS, why else would your body gear up to ovulate and then NOT ovulate? Stress?
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  • DomesticDiva0429DomesticDiva0429 member
    I agree with OP. I have never gotten a truely + OPK. I know I am using them correctly and my temp rises so I know that I o'ed...I vote for totally useless...
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  • gplove94gplove94 member
    imageMissMusic:

    I like them, they work just fine for me.  OPK + temps = good data

    If you have PCOS or another issue, it may not work as well for you.

    ETA:

     

    imagedinine:
    imagebananers:

    Let me get this straight...

     You can O but never get a +OPK because it's easy to miss your surge.

    Conversely, you can get a + but not actually ovulate (body gears up to but doesn't kick the egg out).

    In other words, you can never really trust the result.  Am I missing something here or does anyone else find this completely useless? Thinking I will not be buying more OPKs once I run out. 

    I keep hearing about this on this board, but I'd be interested to know how often this really happens. What are the reasons your body would gear up to ovulate and then not actually ovulate?  

    Check here

    "9. Can I get a positive OPK and then not ovulate? Yup! It is possible for your body to "gear up" to ovulate, leading to an LH surge-- and then, for some reason (such as stress, illness, travel, or random fluke), your body fails to release an egg. When this happens, your LH surge will dissipate and your cevical mucus (a signal of fertility) will dry up. Once the stress is resolved, your body will try again. This can happen more than once per cycle. Therefore, there is no way to be sure you ovulated, even if you had a positive OPK. OPK's are most accurate when used in conjunction with fertility charting (NFP or FAM.) That way, a positive OPK can be cross-checked with an increase in basal body temperature and/or cervical mucus dry-up.  "

    Thanks!  I love that site very useful.  



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  • Wild_flower25Wild_flower25 member

    I trust the result of OPK's, I don't temp.  I know my body and the ovulation signs very well.  Plus, I think as long as you keep up doing the deed at least 2 times a week at all times, you're pretty much still going to hit your fertile window, even if it happens later than you think. 

    the charters here are pretty die hard :)

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  • Nikko BlueNikko Blue member

    imageantsmarching41:
    I asked a question on this today, actually. Besides PCOS, why else would your body gear up to ovulate and then NOT ovulate? Stress?

    Yes - you can gear up to O and not ovulate due to a stressuful event. Illness can also cause this to happen.

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  • dani2480dani2480 member

    The best time to BD is when you're about to ovulate. If you rely on CM, you may BD too soon (the sperm may survive up to 5 days, but they also may not). If you wait for the temp spike, the egg will have already come and gone. By using an OPK you get a 12-36 hours window of warning that the egg is coming, and thus can engage in some very well-timed BD.


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  • juliane2004juliane2004 member

    For me, they work fine. If I get a positive OPK, it's my sign to have a little extra sex. Once my temps increase, it validates the positive OPKs.

     

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  • bwe1100bwe1100 member

    I've been using OPKs for the past two cycles and have yet to get a +, but I wouldn't call them worthless. I'm going to keep trying to catch my surge, upping my testing times to 3x a day this coming cycle, but even if they never work for me I recognize they work for others. Plus, I love peeing on tests.

     

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  • JMarie725JMarie725
    They have worked just fine for me and my temps always confirm it. They are not for everyone though. If they cause more headaches than help, don't bother with them.
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  • jess9802jess9802 member

    I ran across this article about the best and worst HPTs and OPKs.

    https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/27/earlyshow/health/main538075.shtml

    Interestingly, the article states that the OPKs they tested are not that great in detecting the LH surge in many women. Now, this was eight years ago so who knows how that's changed. I used OPKs for the first time last month and got a positive on CD 16 and the morning of CD 17 with the Wondfos I bought on Amazon. I also tested with the Answer ovulation tests I bought at Wal-Mart and never got a positive. FF confirmed O on CD 17 based on my temperatures. I'm sticking with the Wondfos this month.

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  • kelnyckelnyc member

    imageDomesticDiva0429:
    I agree with OP. I have never gotten a truely + OPK. I know I am using them correctly and my temp rises so I know that I o'ed...I vote for totally useless...

    You may just have a short window, making it tough for you to catch. But still, if you can see them getting darker, they are still telling you it's coming.... therefore NOT totally useless. 

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