New to TTC - no peak on clearblue opk!!

[bubblybrit]

Morning All

I am new at this - only 6 weeks ttc#1 at age 33.

My best friend recommended using Clearblue Advanced Digital OPK in order to understand the best time to get pregnant since I only came off bc in May.

Found that my periods have been pretty regular over last 2-3 months. Usually 36 day cycle - last 2 periods were spot on!

Began using OPK on day 16 as per instructions. Only got flashing smiley (high fertility) from day 23. Now on day 27 and keep getting flashing smiley but no peak as yet!!!

I am getting concerned that I am either not ovulating or ovulating really late. Some say that if you ovulate late in the cycle then there isn’t enough time for implantation and therefore a viable pregnancy.

Is it possible to ovulate but not get solid smiley (peak fertility) on OPK?

Any advice is most welcome.

[Merrz]

Bubblybrit I've given up on my Clearblue Advanced monitor, i used it for about 6 cycles, it started only giving me highs, no peaks even though i'm sure i ovulated. I wouldn't rely on it 100%. Also because you're only testing with it once a day it is possible to miss your hormone surge. I have heard though that it's quite common not to get Peaks on your 1st month using it.

[bubblybrit]

Ah I didn’t realise that it was common to see no peaks on the first cycle! Thank you for letting me know.

Have been told that as my periods are regular that it is likely that I am ovulating so couldn’t understand why no peak!

The instructions did say once daily with fmu - would you still see flashing smiley if you had ovulated and just missed the LH surge?

Are you using any other OPKs?

[NimbleKnitter]

The deal hormone is a once a day, fmu test. This is because it measures two hormones - oestrogen and Lh.

Oestrogen is present for all of your follicular phase, so it looks for increases in oestrogen, which gives you your 'high' reading (maybe static smiley face?)

Peak readings are triggered by the LH surge. It's really easy to miss the surge (although clear blue opks are the only ones that picked mine up). LH tends to surge in the middle of the day, so can be missed with fmu.

If you're worried, you can try temping (bbt) which will confirm ovulation.

[NimbleKnitter]

Sorry - I think high might actually be flashing smiley (I used the digital monitor, which used words instead to faces!)

[bubblybrit]

Hi NimbleKnitter - would you suggest using clearblue twice a day once flashing smiley appears then?

I have been dtd every other day as didn’t want to rely on OPK 100%. Hopefully that way I wouldn’t miss it?

I never really thought of bbt until I read a number of forums online....will need to have a look into that!

Thanks 🙂 xx

[Pibbee]

I think from memory once you have started to see the flashing smilies you can test more often, to avoid the risk of missing the surge. I sacked these off months ago as I found them too stressful.

[NimbleKnitter]

Nah, no point using clear blue twice a day - so expensive!

But maybe supplements with cheap opks?

[Pibbee]

I think the instructions say you can/should. But yes, I agree they are very expensive

[turquoise88]

I never got a flashing smiley. Currently 40 weeks pregnant.

[NimbleKnitter]

Do you have other fertility signs? Fertile cervical fluid?

I would give temping a try. Not long term (it's exhausting) but for a few cycles, just to get an idea of what's going on

[Chaosofcalm]

This all sounds really stressful way of trying to get pregnant.

[LookingAtTheStars89]

Don't get me started on those clear blue OPK's! Lol I am on cd19, have been testing twice a day and still no peak! I also have just had some hormone tests done and they all came back fine so I'm obviously ovulating!

[bubblybrit]

Pibbee & NimbleKnitter - yeah I have only been testing once per day mainly due to the cost! I’ll try the cheaper ones to see if I can catch that surge!! Must admit that all this is kinda new so not really been keeping an eye on cervical fluid or tried tempting. Whoops!!

Turquoise - congrats on your pregnancy. Hopefully I have timed it right this month even without the solid smiley 🙂

Chaos - presume you don’t use such methods? If so then do you just dtd regularly throughout your cycle? Wish it was an option for me but my DH and I don’t always work in the same country! So need to make the most of it around the right time which is why I’m keen to understand more in terms of accurately predicting ovulation...

Stars - do you ovulate late in your cycle or do you think that OPK just isn’t picking up your surge? It’s realky frustrating as thought OPK would be less stressful rather than more!!

Xxx

[LookingAtTheStars89]

I think I'm a late ovulater yeah as I've noticed when I've been pregnant before that it's taken a little while for me to get a positive pregnancy test. I'm still going to test until I run out of sticks but maybe my surge is just too low for it to detect! Who knows!

[BertieBotts]

I found BBT is much better at identifying patterns than OPKs which can be fiddly and hard to interpret, also expensive.

You can use any digital thermometer, most people recommend one which reads to two decimal places, but I've found it okay with one that goes to one. Combine with Fertility Friend (you can continue the OPKs too).

I found I'm more aware of cervical fluid once I have an idea from other methods what I'm looking for when.

[Pebblesandblamblam]

Bertie - do you have to pay for the analysis on Fertility Friend? Mine seems to have disappeared and it is saying pay to upgrade?

[bubblybrit]

I bought 3 packs with 10 sticks in each. Had to open 2nd packet in my attempt to get that solid smiley!

Will use Clearblue until I completely run out but will likely start some of the other methods noted for tracking o!! Xx

[LookingAtTheStars89]

@bubblybrit. Ha Ha! Yeah I had to open a second packet too! I'm going to attempt to temp next month if no luck this time.

[Chaosofcalm]

bubblybrit we just had lots of sex mid cycle. When DD (2nd pregnancy) was concieved we were on holiday so it was easy to fit in. Post DD my period are not as regular but I am pretty certain that I
Know when I ovulate.

[stellarfox]

Ive just started with these this month and I gave up after 15 days of flashing smilies! I’m hoping by next month the monitor has adjusted more to me so I might get a solid smiley!

[bubblybrit]

Do you guys think that the monitor is better/more accurate than purely the advanced digital OPK?

LookingAtTheStars89 - Thank goodness I’m not alone in my request to find that solid smiley! I am becoming obsessed with it which I don’t think is a good thing after only the first 6 weeks of trying!

Chaos - I hope I’ve not missed it this cycle! Been trying to dtd every other day. Think that’s as much DH can take given he is working 12-14 hours a day at the moment! He is due to work away from home again next week. Though don’t think that’s too much of a problem as AF would be due 8th Dec if we have been unlucky this month!

[LookingAtTheStars89]

@bubblybrit. Mines about 31 do I'm running out of time too! Unless like you say it's actually already bloody happened and we've missed it! Like you dtd every other day since period finish - which ends up being a lot!!

[bubblybrit]

@LookingAtTheStars89. Yeah it’s bloody annoying! Not overly fussed if not pg first cycle but would like to know when I actually ovulate! Which is difficult this cycle as no peak (but could mean I’ve missed the LH surge, still to ovulate - although would be pretty late if AF due 8th, or not ovulated at all this month 😢)!!

I’m already shattered this month dtd every other day - hope it’s a quick process for me although trying to keep in mind that it can take up to 12 months if not longer!! How long have you been ttc if you don’t mind me asking? Xx

[LookingAtTheStars89]

@bubblybrit. My story is a bit sad. We started trying in May and fell pregnant in July but then I had a miscarriage at the end of August so, technically since May. We started ttc again as soon as the bleeding stopped in September.

I'm the same as you, I would like to have some idea of when I ovulate! I thought it was day 16 or 18 but the digital opk disagrees! I'm shattered too, it's the night we are dtd and I'm like :-/ lol.

[bubblybrit]

@LookingAtTheStars89. I’m really sorry to hear about your mc. Apologies for asking and bringing it all back up for you! I can’t imagine how you must of felt. Hope you are now healing as best you can. Big hugs!

Ditto - tonight was the night for me as well. DH made a point of rushing upstairs after dinner. Otherwise he would have been too knackered to do what was necessary!!

Just think that tonight could be the night that you make a baby..... xx