OPK Help Thread

kpearse99 · May 2020

The sole purpose of this thread is to help provide insight on OPKs and to offer support to one another as a community. This thread is not a place for home pregnancy tests (HPTs) to be posted and discussed. Posting a HPT here is a violation of TOU and will get reported to be removed.The only thread where you may post a picture of a HPT is on the First Trimester Board here: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12219554/what-does-a-positive-pregnancy-test-really-look-like#latest

You may only post pictures of OPKs here and not in any another thread. When posting a picture of your OPK please follow these guidelines:

Make sure the end of the stick shows (where you hold it). This will help us to be able to tell which is the control line.
If using cheapies, make sure your picture does NOT go beyond the "MAX" line. (we prefer not to look at the pee dipped area!)
You may NOT post a picture of an OPK that you are trying to use as a HPT.

When posting please include the following:
- Brand of OPK
- Time of day
- How long did you wait before you took the picture
- Picture of your OPK:
- Question(s)

kpearse99 · May 2020

@BumpAdmin please sticky this!!!

keikilove · May 2020

Nice job @kpearse99! 🙌🏽

manillabar · May 2020

thanks @kpearse99! @bumpadmin @rosesareblue242 please sticky!

mvt2003 · May 2020

Looks like they stickied the wrong one...

manillabar · May 2020

I think we're good now!

kpearse99 · May 2020

Alright, so here’s my dilemma! I’m in CD 20 and I’ve had mostly “high” OPKs since CD 3 with a few low mixed in. No peaks yet although it appears the two lines are the same shade now 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don’t know what’s going on or what to think really. I’m using the Wondfo brand.

I did OPKs this past summer but then stopped once we did monitoring. I used SmileReader then and while they sometimes gave me two surges at different times they were never consistently dark like this. So I really don’t know what to think or if this is a fluke cycle or an an-O cycle.

But here are the OPKs (I’m using the Femometer app to read the strips)...

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/9l/v3b13r99h6c4.jpeg

🧐 🧐 🧐

inthewoods23 · May 2020

@kpearse99 CD14 or 15 look like a possible positives. Maybe those were false surges and I really is today??

Btw your CD4 is basically what all mine were looking like back on April when I had no idea when I'd ovulate after stopping lupron. I'm so glad I'm not the only one that gets ones that look like BFN HPTs 😆

keikilove · May 2020

@kpearse99 Sorry you’re going through this confusion! I definitely wondered what the issue could be when you first mentioned the repeat highs in one of yesterday’s threads. So glad you created this thread—it’s so much easier to “see” what you were describing!

This is just a guess, but I’m wondering if the app is still calibrating what’s normal for you? I remember that Femometer & Premom both took a month of me entering my test strips before they learned what my ‘normal’ is.

For you, it looks like most of the days are actually “Low” if you go by the visual guidelines on the OPKit. They do look “High” on:
May 28 both times
May 23 @ 10:19 am only
May 22 @ 1:15 only

Maybe you get two surges, or an almost-surge and then the real surge? May 28 is the strongest of all strips, maybe this is your normal “Peak”? Only another month to compare would really answer this question.

Also, I think Premom is way more accurate: Femometer is way too broad in its range for “High” numbers. Like, why is your May 19 test “High”? That’s just a faint line. So their “High” range is from 15-77? That’s crazy broad.

I don’t use the apps anymore because I can finally read my OPKs without them. See below: I ignored Femometer’s determinations on the right & wrote on the left side what my own determination is for each OPK, now that I know my patterns.

*P.S. I hope you like novels cuz that’s what I gave ya! 😬
Edited for spacing issues.

inthewoods23 · May 2020

Here are my OPKs from the last 2 cycles:

(Not in need of help, but figured I'd share)

Clear positive on 4/16

If anyone needs a reason why they should test at least twice a day as their OPKs get darker, last cycle was definitely solid proof. Had I not tested in the evening of CD14, I would have gone from a super light test line to a super blazing positive the next morning. CD16 in the morning was pretty damn close to a positive.

The Premom app really takes the guesswork out of whether or not OPKs are positive. It's the only thing I use it for.

@kpearse99 missed opportunity to name this thread "what does a positive OPK really look like?" 😆 Might confuse the Peggy's though

legallykate · May 2020

@kpearse99 I use Femometer and Wondfo OPKs also, and I usually just ignore the "high" readings on Femometer and only count the "peak" readings as positives. So like here is last cycle when I had peaks on CD16 and CD17, and then O was CD18 according to FF:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/ho/h1qgo6yd2ksv.png

keikilove · May 2020

P.S. @inthewoods23 I think we were both posting a response to KP99 at the same time, but because I wrote a dissertation I didn’t see yours answer till way later. LOVE that you said the same thing in 2 sentences that took me 5 paragraphs!😂😂

manillabar · May 2020

@kpearse99 I personally would call your OPK from this evening positive, but also your CD 14/15 look positive too. I sometimes get a fake surge (gets dark to almost positive) and then a real surge, which is such a mindf*ck!

kpearse99 · May 2020

@inthewoods23 I was wondering the same thing about my CD 14/15 tests but I had no other signs at that time. The last few days I’ve at least had some fertile CM. I thought about naming this thread something like that too haha but worried it would get confused with HPT posts.

@keikilove ya know, I don’t normally like reading long books but I could read a novel from you anytime!! I literally laughed out loud at how you ended your post and then actually said out loud “I love her!” Haha I think you’re on to something about the app still learning what my normal is. I’m also wondering if I should download premom too and use both 🤦🏻‍♀️. I feel like I’m just starting out with TTC even though it’s been over 20 months 😭

@legallykate I’m sort of ignoring their readings of it too, because the range is so crazy big, but I do wonder if I never get a true peak

inthewoods23 · May 2020

@kpearse99 Premom is nice because the T/C value is the ratio of difference between the test line and control line. So a 1.00 means the lines are exactly the same and is a positive result, <1.00 is negative and >1.00 is the test line being darker than the control. It's not based on any actual LH levels in your system. It's just comparing line color.

keikilove · May 2020

@kpearse99 I also laughed out loud when I first read your response.😄 Right back at ya, girl!🥰

photographerwife · June 2020

Just here to whine and ask for advice on anyone who gets multiple surges on opks. I used to get really easy tests, that would go straight from dark to peak and back down, but after having one of my tubes removed, it seems like my body is out of wack. My chart isn’t showing that I’ve ovulated, and I’m out of cheapies, so I can buy clear blue tests and keep testing, or just hio until I get a temp rise, but who knows when that might be. I wouldn’t say these are real positives based off of past peak tests, but I don’t know what to do/think or how to record them in FF.

These are pregmate brand tests taken within the proper time frame.

kpearse99 · June 2020

@photographerwife sadly, I don't have advice for you, I just know what you're feeling and going through with the multiple surges... I'm following this for other posts too! Your tests look like mine do with the back and forth. Ugh... I would just keep HIO EOD to be honest and maybe order some more cheap ones from amazon.

photographerwife · June 2020

@kpearse99 it’s so aggravating! With everything going on amazon won’t ship them like regular so I went ahead and bought the clearblue ones from the store.

inthewoods23 · June 2020

@photographerwife that's super weird that it's considering your peak to be a clearly negative OPK. Your first test from CD9 looks the closest to a positive. And why is a 0.56 reading on CD11 considered high when you have a low reading of 0.63 on CD10 and 0.66 on CD9

legallykate · June 2020

@photographerwife I agree with everything @inthewoods23 wrote, I am super confused as to the readings that it is giving you. Does Premom analyze OPKs over time and make assumptions about when you will have a peak one based on prior months? Or is it possible the colors in the background of your photos is confusing the reading software? I don't know exactly how Premom works, but something seems really off.

inthewoods23 · June 2020

@legallykate my understanding of the Premom app is that it's just comparing the color of the 2 lines. I don't think it's anything more advanced.

You have a really good point though about the background. You can (maybe) see from my photos that I posted before that I rest the dipped part on the wrapper and have the other side resting on my bathroom counter which is for the most part 1 color. I use the Pregmate OPKs with the Premom app as well and don't have an issue.

photographerwife · June 2020

@legallykate @inthewoods23 I’m not sure why it reads the way it does. Maybe based off of the other data? (Cm) I have seen it do that before but, you can manual override it to read as low, but the app won’t let me do it. A glitch I’m assuming. Which is why I prefer to use the FF app. I just like having my opks all in one spot, and not having to compare through my camera roll.

asf0613 · June 2020

- for the past 4 cycles i've been pretty consistently O'ing on CD15, with surge on CD14 and now nothing! i tested with almost every bathroom visit yesterday (MomMed strips in PreMom app). temps look normal, no spike or anything. i need someone to tell me that "no, asf, you didnt have a giant LH surge in 12 hours overnight with no evidence to show for it. you just didn't ovulate yet." because that's not likely, right?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/dc/spfiq9964phk.png

keikilove · June 2020

@asf0613 Nope, not likely at all. Keep testing, sis, the surge is bound to happen soon!😉

photographerwife · June 2020

@asf0613 everytime I think I’m consistent, I’m not. Still no O for me this cycle either, and that’s abnormal for me! Hopefully we both O soon! It’s so frustrating!

kpearse99 · June 2020

I'm still getting dark ones..... and I'm on CD 30 hahaha I. Give. Up.

asf0613 · June 2020

@keikilove thanks friend! needed someone to tell me what i knew but didn't want to hear!
@photographer yes i suppose regular til not. fingers crossed for you too!

inthewoods23 · June 2020

Test in the afternoon they said. You'll get better results they said.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/jd/w5rskenqdjl2.png

Lol for anyone who wonders how critical it is to test later in the day instead of with FMU. 🤣 It means noooothinnnnng

asf0613 · June 2020

@inthewoods23 i hate "them"
so annoying. i randomly shot up after my post the other day. hoping the same happens for you!

mvt2003 · June 2020

@inthewoods23 I'm over here like:

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/l4HnVrOaKU0CEZKik/giphy.gif

I'm one of the evening surgers! I can go from high to peak very quickly and from peak to high just as quickly. If I don't test at dinnertime I've missed it before!

inthewoods23 · June 2020

@mvt2003 I peaked out of nowhere last cycle. According to Premom, it was around 0.3 in the morning, then I jumped to like 1.4 that evening. When I started testing twice a day as I got closer to O, I found I almost always get my first positive in the evening.

@asf0613 I used to never get sudden positives. There would always be a gradual increase in line darkness with some even being quite close to positive before getting the real positive. I'm sure all the fertility meds and now this diet change had changed how my hormones act during the cycle. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with having a more gradual increase in LH vs a sudden spike or whatever.

_orchid_ · June 2020

@inthewoods23 no opk input but I love that the times you took them are reversed... 7:02 and 2:07. Yes I have a weird number thing.

inthewoods23 · June 2020

@_orchid_ lol I didn't even notice that until you mentioned it! I like that 🙂

mkw8387 · June 2020

Hi all! Really struggling with this OPK thing. They all look positive to me. I’d love any thoughts or suggestions.

Brand of OPK: pregmate
- Time of day: am, first of the day

- How long did you wait before you took the picture: all are “dry” - picture after the full five minutes

- Picture of your OPK: attached!

- Question(s): how do you know when then”surge” is if they’re all so close? Is this brand just not for me? Was thinking about the smiley face ones next.

mkw8387 · June 2020

kpearse99 · June 2020

@mkw8387 Hi there! None of them are peaks to me - it looks like your very last one (the picture is upside down so I'm saying the one on the bottom of the picture) is the closest to peaking so I would keep testing over the next few days and you should see your surge/peak. Peak is when the test line is as dark as the control line or darker. You typically would only get one or two that looked like that (if you tested twice in the same day...which I would start to do now) and then they will start to fade out again.

krash_ · June 2020

@mkw8387 to me these all look negative but that is dependent on your typical LH levels to really know what your usual peak looks like. A positive OPK is usually when the test line (on the right in your picture) is as dark or darker than the control line (on the left). What cycle days are these? I would keep testing and try some different times of day (afternoon or evening) to try to catch your surge.

inthewoods23 · June 2020

@mkw8387 what's the date stamp for all of these? Are they from the last 7 days since you're testing only in the AM? It's best to get the picture right around the 5 minute mark. OPKs will look complete different if you wait for them to dry and look at the line (same reason why one should NEVER look at a HPT after it's been in the trash for hours).

I use Pregmate strips and I've never had a problem.

mkw8387 · June 2020

@inthewoods23 Yep last seven days. In the am. I’m on cycle day 14 now. I’ll keep trying and take a picture when “wet”. Thanks so much!

mkw8387 · June 2020

@krash_ CDs 11-14 (two days tested both am and pm. I’ll keep trying thanks so much for taking the time to reply!

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