OPK Help Thread

kvh22 · August 2020

I don't have a long surge but my O per BBT was 2 days after my surge which was also at 7am in the morning (although my prior nights was a .8 - had been super light until then so it was somewhat quick but I wasn't expecting peak to be the next morning). That was CD16 and my temp spike was actually small on CD19 and then much larger on CD20. FF and everyone on here (before my cross hairs) said CD18 which would have been the 48 hours after my first (and only positive). I do drink a ton of water during the day so I wonder if that plays into it for me.

asf0613 · August 2020

premom is calling my peak on CD14 with the "1.53" reading, but im really thinking its CD15 (the "1.34" rated strip pic is blurry) but test line looks a lot darker than control. depending on where i mark my peak, FF is calling O day either CD14 or CD16. need second(+) opinions on where peak may be so i dont get up to temp at 5am and stay up reading into this anymore!
thanks!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/jn/8s6z9vh78ehv.jpg

legallykate · August 2020

@asf0613 The CD14 one looks darkest to me, but I think O could be either CD14 or CD16 with peak on CD14. Since the one on CD15 is still positive I would probably lean towards CD16.

asf0613 · August 2020

@legallykate thanks! if i leave the OPK readings as just "high" without peak designated on any day, FF calls CD16 O day. im not used to having so many "high" days!

acleverusername · August 2020

Argh; I peaked yesterday but my test line never got as dark as control line. Anyone else have this issue? Anyway, I know that everyone’s LH concentration is different so I guess mine is lower. I’ve been using Premom OPKs for the past 2 cycles and instead of giving a T/C ratio, it shows actual LH concentration in urine. Anyway, I also got a solid smiley on CB A-OPK, so I’m pretty sure peak was yesterday.

chindimples04 · August 2020

@asf0613 I agree with Premom that peak looks like CD14. Though the CD13 ones they are calling positive don’t look positive to me (not that you asked 🤣).

@acleverusername I haven’t personally had that happen, but I have heard of many that will peak without a positive. Maybe it’s a failed attempt? Or maybe your surge just wasn’t super strong this cycle?

marian-13 · August 2020

@acleverusername CD19 is your peak day. For premom quantitative test, the darkest test line is your peak. It doesn't have to wait for the T line to be as dark as the C line.

acleverusername · August 2020

@marian-13 thanks for confirming! This is only my 2nd month using Premom OPKs and I’m not used to the quantitative tests yet.

bows22 · August 2020

I’m sorry if this has been asked a million times, the search function is poor. I am using the Clear Blue Digital Advanced this cycle just as an experiment to compare to my Wondfos. Today I had the solid smiley (peak) reading on the CBDA but my wondfo is dark but definitely not positive. Has anyone else used both in the same cycle? I do SMEP-ish so based on the CBDA I think I would switch to ED now but if I was just using Wondfos I wouldn’t switch yet.

BuckeyeNut05 · August 2020

@bows22 I had the same but with the easy mom lh strips. It didn’t read as not positive like yours, but it only read as “high” that day, never peak. My Premom app ended up adjusting it to read as a peak once my levels started to fall. Edited to add that I would trust the one with the smiley face!

Here are the two to compare, the “others” was my clear blue digital with the solid smiley once I removed it from the stick:

mindyb2019 · August 2020

@bows22 I would definitely believe/ trust the CB advanced OPKs with your solid smiley (peak). That's the only ones I ever use and they are always correct and bang on and have never let me down yet.

bows22 · August 2020

@mindyb2019 what day do you call O day? When you get the peak reading or the day after?

mindyb2019 · August 2020

@bows22 usually I call O day the next day after I get my peak reading.

sienna221 · August 2020

I posted this in the Dailies a few days ago, but thought I’d ask here too. I’ve been using CB digital and pregnant OPK for a “second opinion”. Per others recommendation I test with the Pregmate’s mid-day but I follow CB digital directions and test with FMU. Is there a reason for the difference?...CB Digital saying FMU but others opk’s like the Pregmate saying not to use FMU and to test midday. Thanks!

acleverusername · August 2020

@sienna221 the varying instructions for different OPKs had been a source of frustration for me when I first started using them so I actually took the time to dig into the science behind this.

What I've learned is that LH production in late-follicular phase (so, closer to your ovulation) is pretty constant, so it you're just as likely to get a HIGH with FMU as you are in the afternoon. However, in early and mid-follicular phases, the LH pulses tend to be farther apart, and you actually don't have any during the night! (Which is why the "cheapie" OPKs say test in mid-afternoon.)

See my reply from a few weeks ago with more sciency info.

acleverusername said:

@kvh22 responding to your "surprised that it was that high with FMU" comment. What I've learned is that LH production in mid and late-follicular phase is pretty constant, so it you're just as likely to get a high with FMU as you are in the afternoon. I'm part of another fertility community and the following image was shared to explain how LH production changes over the course of your follicular phase.

It's true that the frequency of how often LH is released (this is called a 'pulse') and how much LH is released (called 'pulse amplitude') changes across a 24 hour period. However, LH production doesn't just shut down at night. The extent to which LH changes across a 24 hour period depends a lot on your cycle phase -- while there may be big differences in Day vs Night LH in the early follicular and luteal phases, it's not so much the case for the mid- and late-follicular phase (i.e. when we're likely to be doing LH tests).

EFP = early follicular phase
MFP = mid-follicular phase
LFP = late-follicular phase

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/kj/955q3y1ue4zx.png

chindimples04 · August 2020

@acleverusername talk nerdy to me. 🤣🤣🤣 ❤️❤️❤️

acleverusername · August 2020

@chindimples04 🤪

acleverusername · August 2020

@chindimples04 don't you just know that I was that kid that always asked "but why?" of my parents. LOL.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/2v/pb5wtia4udha.gif

chindimples04 · August 2020

I’m so confused. I’m 95% positive I ovulated yesterday (holy ovulation pains) but my OPKs are still weirdly dark for me. Who has the nerdy yak for LH after peak/ovulation?

*pics of strips in spoiler*

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/34/xmeij4cdk85e.jpeg

This mornings OPK. Not positive but really dang close.

gingermama29 · August 2020

Alright I'll jump in here. I had some lower abdominal pain Friday night that I initially thought might be gas but it was more dull than typical gas pain. I got a pretty dark OPK that night (though I don't think it looks super dark in the picture... It's definitely darker than the control line) and realized that the pain could've likely been ovulation pain. I was expecting OPKs to stay a bit darker the next day though. I suppose it's possible I missed a higher/peak reading earlier in the day given how late I tested on Friday. At this point, I'm just waiting for temps to confirm if I actually O'd but I thought I'd bring the tests here to see if anyone wanted to weigh in.

chindimples04 · August 2020

@gingermama29 I personally get ovulation pains on O day, so you very well could have missed a higher reading somewhere in there. I’d maybe go with either the 21st or 22nd. What did temps look like the last couple of days?

gingermama29 · August 2020

@chindimples04 temps are going up to where they usually are post-O. I'm thinking Saturday was O day.

DoubleUp8 · August 2020

Ok, I have lurcked through this whole thread to learn as much as I can and I have a total noob question. I want to start getting my mind around OPKs and peeing on all the things. Reading my OPK directions a positive test is when the test line is as dark (or darker) than the control line. It then says the best time to HIO is 24-48 hours after your positive test. Does that mean a test might be positive, but you probably haven't peaked yet so get to BDing?

Just trying to figure out how to time things based on OPKs. Thank you in advance for humoring me with answering this question! I just want to try to know what I am doing as best I can this first time around.

Kenneylynn3 · August 2020

@DoubleUp8 after you peak, the LH is at its highest, the egg release is triggered, which I believe can take up to 24 hours. The egg has a short life span of about 24 hours unfertilized, so you want to BD in the 12-48 hours for highest chances of fertilizing the egg.

acleverusername · August 2020

The rule of thumb is that you ovulate 24-48 hours after your LH surge, or 12-24 hours after LH peak. So, get HIO's as soon as you start seeing test line get darker. Good read here: https://modernfertility.com/blog/ovulation-tests/

DoubleUp8 · August 2020

@Kenneylynn3 thanks for the insight.

@acleverusername thank you! You find the best articles. I liked your charts in this thread too! I love all the data! #nerds4life

seg2007 · August 2020

Took a clearblue digital last night and got the solid smiley then took a different test tonight is it positive? We did the deed last night should we again tonight?

chindimples04 · August 2020

@seg2007 that does not look positive to me, but very close!

katieber123 · August 2020

Sorry if this is the wrong section, but I am wondering if I am truly ovulating even though I get a reliable surge in OPKs.

I’ve been TTC for ~9 months now. I’m 31, my husband is 32 y/o. My cycles are relatively regularly, my periods seem a bit light, but it may be my intense focus on them right now! I am using ovulation tests tracked with premom app and consistently get a surge around the same time each month, and my luteal phase is almost always 13 days.

What I’m most worried about is not getting fertile quality CM. Ever! I’ve never been able to stretch it, and really have very limited amounts of any at all. Does that mean I'm not ovulating despite the surge?

I’m taking prenatals, D3 vitamin, CoQ10, and Maca which I just added 2 weeks ago. My thyroid was checked and is at 2.46 mIU/L which is within an acceptable range. Iron levels fine, no other MD checks have been done since it's a little early - maybe in the next month or two.

acleverusername · August 2020

@katieber123 You may want to try Proov strips which can help you confirm ovulation.

keikilove · August 2020

@katieber123 You may want to see a specialist (naturopath, Reproductive Endocrinologist, etc.) If your periods seem light to you, they probably are. I had a "normal" thyroid level similar to your number. Once I saw a specialist, she told me that it needs to be closer to 1.0 for trying to conceive. Put me on Synthroid & immediately brought the number down. Hope this helps a bit.

katieber123 · August 2020

Thank you so much! I was finding such conflicting information online. I'm going to try to get a referral set up ASAP.

DoubleUp8 · September 2020

Ok, super confused after my doctor's appointment yesterday. She said do OPK in the morning because your hormone levels are the highest. But the OPK box says don't use FMU and test between 10:00 a.m. and 8 p.m. Do people take them at work? What times do people usually test for their once a day and then for their twice a day?

I would need to do second morning at like 7:30 a.m. before work and 6 p.m. after getting home. I guess do what works for you?

chindimples04 · September 2020

@DoubleUp8 I do take them at work. I have my little Dixie cups and my strips and I test in the staff bathroom. I then hide in my classroom to read them. Lol

DoubleUp8 · September 2020

@chindimples04 I'm impressed. I would be terrified of having a pee strip with me and running into someone I know who wants to chat!

acleverusername · September 2020

@DoubleUp8 Just gonna refer you to my earlier post with graph of frequency of LH pulses as you get closer to Ovulation. 🤪 TL; DR. It essentially doesn’t matter if you use FMU or whatever. Though you’ll want to have a 2+ urine hold.

mindyb2019 · September 2020

@DoubleUp8 I don't take mine to work LOL. I test once a day only with mine and test early at 6:30am when I get up for work with FMU. That's it!

DoubleUp8 · September 2020

@acleverusername I saw your charts, that's why I was so surprised by the advice of my doctor and or my OPKs. I read all the fine print on the little paper from the OPKs, I guess they say avoid FMU because the hormones from the surge overnight do not have time to appear in the FMU sample. I think I am going to go with a test when it works for me strategy this first cycle and go from there.

acleverusername · September 2020

@DoubleUp8 Yeah! I went through exactly the same confusion when I first started using OPKs hence why I dug up all the "why" behind it. And doctor's advice differs... my RE clinic said they don't want using FMU as it might have too high a concentration/be overstated. Go figure! Just figure out what works for you; it might take a couple of cycles to get the right recipe.

bows22 · September 2020

@DoubleUp8 the nurse practitioner at my OB office told me first morning urine too. I explained that I might miss my surge that way and she stared at me blankly and then told me to get the clear blue digital advanced. So I don’t think they always really know the specifics. It’s like the saying I’ve seen on here, the RE gets you pregnant, the OB keeps you pregnant. That being said, with wondfos I’ve always tested with my first morning urine and then again after work and have always seen my surge just fine.

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