ovulation for beginners

[mskatemc]

Ok, so this is my second month of ttc and I'm trying to work out all the dates etc. Last month's cycle was 30 days, or 28 if you count some light spotting just prior to AF. I'm now on day 20 of the current cycle. I've got some ovulation tests so have been POASing every day for the last week but although there was a noticeable line at one point, it was never as dark as the control line so the instructions said that should be counted as a negative result. Back to no line at all now so is there any point continuing testing? Could ov still happen so late in my cycle? Or was the medium line actually a positive?

I haven't done the temperature thing yet and I don't think I even understand what the er... cm is meant to be like. We're just swi as often as possible and hoping for the best - which is fine, but I'd like to make sure we're maximise our chances. Help!

[mrsb33]

I could of posted the same thing! Just poas and got another positive result,slightly faint but still a second line, on day 20 of a cycle that's normally between 28 and 30??? Really not sure when I've ovualted or if I have or not yet, its been a long week, had double lines since sunday, poor dh thinks his willys going to fall off!

[mrsb33]

Sorry didn't read u message fully! I take a faint line as a possibel possitive, maybe you already ovualted prior to the test so its picking up the lh surge after, as all the can tell you is if its about to happen or its happened within 12 to 24 hours.... Wishing you lots of luck though, this is offically my 11 month of swi....[Sad]

[mskatemc]

thanks mrsb, hopefully it was a positive as we did do some swi at that time. Hope you get some good news soon.

[Gardenpixie]

Hi, I am not an expert but my understanding is that opks pick up the LH surge which happens 24 to 36 hrs before ovulation so if your cycle is 28 / 30 days, you would probably ovulate around day 14 or 15 so your opk line could well be just picking up the end of the surge.

Sounds like you timed everything right! Fingers crossed for you

[mskatemc]

Thanks pixie. Just realising how clueless I am about all this stuff. Like so many others I've read I really had it drilled into me when younger how easy it is to get pregnant, any time, any place etc... Now suddenly seems incredibly unlikely!

Some people seem to know exactly when they ovulate or get specific pains but I have never noticed anything like that.

Got such bad heartburn tonight, totally convincing myself that I'm preggers but it's probably just pizza...

[Pipbin]

I know what you mean mskatemc.
At school we were told that if you so much as think about looking at a boy then you will be pregnant.

I've never managed to get a positive OPK but I have had EWCM so I guess I am ovulating.

[mskatemc]

I know, I remember holding a few friends' hands while we hoped like hell for a blue line NOT to appear. Now I am convinced it'll never happen.

I'm guessing the OPK is the ovulation stick, still getting to grips with the acronyms. Having looked up EWCM (should just be ew! cm), I think maybe I have had that in the past so that's reassuring.

Anyway I'm trying to enjoy it all, even the unhealthy obssessing... I guess I should probably go and join dh in bed!

[havealittlefaithbaby]

I've never had any joy with cheap opks. I suspect your gut is right, the lighter line was a positive. Doubt you'd ovulate so late but it is possible. Mist ladies prefer the opks that smile at your peak or go on to buy a cb monitor.
I now temp, monitor my cervix and cm. However this is quite intense and I wouldn't really recommend charting until you've been ttc for some time (it was a year for me and I wasn't sure I was ovulating). At that point charting gave ne reassurance when I saw a pattern.
If you're seriously looking at signs, mist of the info you need is in this book. reading it was a lightbulb moment for me, understanding my body patterns! Hth.