a bit of help with ovulation tests pls?

[mel1981]

Hi, its my 1st time trying these tests and today have had two lines the 2nd line is paler than the test line so I know this is classed as a negative but does it mean i will be ovulating soon- within the next few days? or can this happen anywhen during the cycle?
Thanks for any advice been TTC fro 9 months now and really hoping this could be the month! fingers crossed. x

[Geepers]

I recommend buying the digital ones that give a smiley face. No doubt then about when you have your LH surge.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

What are your periods like?. If they are irregular in nature then these kits in particular are not worth using.

These kits work on two misleading principles; namely that a rise in LH is immediately followed by ovulation and that women only have one rise in LH every month. Both of these are simply not true.

Ovulation can happen earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle. It is possible also to have periods without ovulating.

[mags98]

You should always get two lines on an OPK stick, it is not relevant what colour the test line is unless it is darker than the control line.

I know a few people on here don't like them but personally I found them extremely useful,(alhough I moved to the clearblue monitor a few months ago), but I never could get the hang of the lines so used the smiley face/digital ones which are not so confusing. I don't have spot on regular cycles and they really helped me get to grips with what was happening (but I knowIi am ovulating, they are not any good if you aren't).

In general, you will ovulate somewhere approx 10-14 days before your period, it is different for different women but tends to be a pretty consistent length for the same woman. Not set in stone though, can be at odd times and can even be more than one LH surge a month.

[Geepers]

AtM do you have any medical evidence to support your claim that women have more than one LH surge a month?

I have never heard or read this, nor found it to be true for me.

[mel1981]

Thanks for all the help& responses.
Attila my periods are roughly 33 days although have been between 28-40 on rare occasions so its not too helpful guessing ovulation day.
I also use FertilityFriend online to help chart temp, CM ect but was still having no luck so thought id try OPK's too.
My luteal phase is 13-14 days on each chart and ive already been pregnant 4 times -2 at full term so know i am ovulating.
Maybe will give the digital ones a try next month, are they expensive tho?
geepers- I think on the website I mentioned it did say that you can have more than one LH surge in a cycle.