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Talk to me about opks
You probably get this question a lot and for that I'm so sorry. I've never used them before but I think I might try them this cycle because my temps seem so far off and all over the place (link in siggy if you want).
Can you tell me about OPKs (when to take them, how accurate, etc) or point me in the right direction?
ETA: I did read the "getting started" post about using them twice a day around CD 12. I guess I'm looking for personal experiences. Do you follow the CD 12 strictly or is there a way to tell when you should us them during your cycle? If you're testing 2x/day can you still miss it? TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Talk to me about opks
It depends on how long your normal cycle is. These are the instructions that came with the OPKs that I bought recently
YOUR CYCLE START TO TEST ON
LENGTH
21 days Day 6
22 days Day 6
23 days Day 7
24 days Day 7
25 days Day 8
26 days Day 9
27 days Day 10
28 days Day 11
29 days Day 12
30 days Day 13
31 days Day 14
32 days Day 15
I personally normally start testing around CD 9 since my cycles are on the short side.
I'm new to it too, so I don't have much advice.
The girls on here said www.peeonastick.com is a good ref for that and when to start testing.
I starting testing earlier than day 12 due to shorter cycles. I have yet to try twice a day. I probably should, since my chart looks like I may have O'd and I have gotten all negatives.
The same thing happened the month I got pg with my DS. All OPKs came up neg, and I ended up pg. I think testing twice a day may be better if you are unsure when u O.
Personally, I love OPK's. I was trying for 9 months with no success, and when I started using OPK's, I achieved pregnancy two out of the three cycles that I used them. They just really help give me a heads up that O is near.
The first cycle I used them, we had sex three days in a row after my +OPK (and I O'd the day after I got a positive)
The next cycle that I got pregnant, I O'd 2 days after my +OPK and only had sex the day of the +. (+OPK & sex was on a Sunday & I O'd that Tuesday according to my temps.
I start testing on CD7, because I have O'd as early as CD10 before and I don't want to miss it.... and since I just use internet cheapies, I don't mind going through a lot of tests. Also, personally, I can pick up my surge just fine with FMU and that's actually the easiest time for me to get it because during the day I drink a lot of water and have a hard time not going to the bathroom for 2+ hours before I test.
I wrote a novel. Sorry. I HTH though.
Tyler (10/29/08)
and Lily (4/21/13)
I only tried them this cycle (and stopped; they are not for me) but noticed one day when I tested with FMU at 6AM, regular at 2PM and regular at 8/9PM the 2PM ones were the darkest. I figured 2PM would be my personal best time to take them. Maybe you could try staggering them one day to see when yours are darkest so you can find a time to take them that would most likely show + when you are about to O.
When it comes to test time. I usually test around 11am and then again at around 3-5pm. It varies with me but I seem to get the strongest surge around those times. Oh and I start testing CD10 and I usually get a positive around 11/12. My cycles are 25-26 days.
GL!
I could never get a OPK to turn positive when I was TTC DS. Maybe my pee was too diluted? Many I was taking at the wrong time of day? Just throwing this stuff out. Maybe the tips from the other ladies will help.
I got so annoyed with them that I gave up. Luckily I got my BFP the same month that I gave up with the OPKs. I'm not going to try them again this time and just have sex a lot during my known fertile window (o between CDs 14 and 18)