Ovulation prediction kits - am I being stupid?

[tiredlegs]

Ok. Normally I am bright I swear but I can't quite understand these and whether I am using them at the right time. Have two DC one an accident and one on second month of trying with OPK. Now in month 5 of trying for DC3 and find it much harder to DTD with young kids.

So here's what I don't understand, am using Clearblue and you can get a flashing smiley face for up to four days before 'ovulation' and then a solid smiley face for 48 hours when your LHC is highest.

So had flashing smiley last Wednesday, DTD on Thursday eve. Solid smiley Sunday morning, but didn't manage to DTD until late Monday eve. Feel like we have managed to DTD to early and the too late but the when I read the instructions/ google ovulation it says that ovulation occurs at the end of the two day surge and egg can live for 12/24 hours. So my question is when does the egg release ?

[chevrechevre]

The not very helpful answer is it can occur anytime after your surge, but I understand that it’s typically between 12 and 48 hours afterwards, and then once released the egg has a lifespan of up to 24 hours when it can be fertilised.

However, when you take your test you may not be picking up the start of the surge, you may be mid-way through or towards the end.

So if you caught your surge at the start and you ovulate 48 hours later and your egg is good for 24 hours then DTD Monday evening is fine, because there’ll be sperm there when it’s released.

But if you caught your surge late and ovulate sooner (within 12 hours) then by the time you DTD Monday evening your egg may be older than 24 hours.

Also length of time between surge and ovulation gets shorter as you age, I read on here.

So unless you know for sure when you ovulate and when you’re catching your surge you probably need to DTD a bit more often once you get flashing and static smiley, although I appreciate that it must be hard with little DC!

[tiredlegs]

Thanks chèvre that's really helpful, exactly what I thought and wonder if the surge started on Saturday, but equally wasn't due until Monday... . If sugar can happen and then egg release, I wonder why guidance doesn't tell you to keep on DTD... maybe it's not enough time for those little critters to wiggle on up, guess l'll just have to wait for that 2ww.

Any ideas when would you count your DPO from ?

[SaturdaySauv]

Also need to factor that speed need to be ready and waiting to fertilise and it takes 12-24 hours for them to transform chemically so they can enter the ovum and get to the right place in the tube. Often it's too late too DTD on O day itself but the day before is a good bet.

[SaturdaySauv]

*sperm

Given your clear blue results I'd count from Monday as ovulation.

[chevrechevre]

Would agree Monday for ovulation.