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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

OPKS

236 replies

bibs124 · 01/07/2020 10:41

Just a quick one, my first month doing OPKs and although I have a pretty regular cycle I have started on CD5. I was under the impression I should test morning and night however the morning tests are always so faint it seems a waste of time? I've started reading SMEP and it says only do evenings? Obviously I'm getting through a lot of tests so just wondering if anyone has ever got there positive OPK in the morning or if I should stick to late afternoon evening?

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
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Original poster
bibs124 · 02/07/2020 13:57

@sunflowersaremyfav93 sorry I can't help I'm not really sure! I think it's the LH hormone that comes just before ovulation. There's no way to know 100% when ovulation is without scans but the LH levels give an indication of when it is coming Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
bibs124 · 02/07/2020 13:56

@zippityzip give it a few more days but depending how long you were on contraception your body could just be getting back on track. I'm sure I read it takes a month for every year you was on the pill on average!

OP posts:
zippityzip · 02/07/2020 13:46

@Juno231 You have stopped me from going insane then! Thank you I do appreciate your help!

sunflowersaremyfav93 · 02/07/2020 13:38

Hello lovelies,

We're going to start TTC in Feb so 6 months away yet, I'm maybe a bit too obsessive (worried my insane need to be prepared is going to end up hindering me) but anyway I wanted to start using OPKs now so I have a good idea of when I'm ovulating etc.

This is going to sound like a pretty dumb question but can somebody tel me how they actually work please? I see a lot of threads where the strength of the colour is being looked at and all sorts. Don't want to spend loads on the pricey ones either.

Thanks in advance ladies and baby dust to you all!! Xx

Juno231 · 02/07/2020 13:29

@zippityzip ah I get it then! I say don't worry too much (easier said than done, I know) - the most common day to ovulate is CD16 so you have plenty of time and the apps don't know squat until you have real data to input :) For what it's worth my OPKs tend to go from completely blank one day to high the next!

zippityzip · 02/07/2020 13:26

@Juno231 I have no idea really on my cycles. My app says that this weekend is my FW and I'm new to OPKs. I didn't ovulate last month so convincing myself it'll never happen.

It's reassuring to hear though that others looked the same! I'm going to keep testing once a day and hope for the best.

This baby making business is making me crazy.

Original poster
bibs124 · 02/07/2020 13:19

@Juno231 thank you, that's good to know. Hopefully a stronger line tomorrow then will move onto the clear blue tests Smile

OP posts:
Juno231 · 02/07/2020 13:18

@zippityzip is there any particular reason you are worried about the lines? as in - do you normally ovulate CD13 or? There's no reason to be worried otherwise?

@bibs124 glad to hear about the EWCM! I get mine 1-2 days before a peak :)

Original poster
bibs124 · 02/07/2020 13:11

Still faint ish line on OPK but got so much EWCM, the most I've ever had today.. hoping I didn't miss my peak the other day but will keep testing

@zippityzip keep going and your line should show soon Smile how long was your last cycle?

OP posts:
LT103 · 02/07/2020 12:59

@zippityzip if it helps mine looked like that until almost at peak then had one day where readings were low/high/high and the next day got my peak. So 2 days before peak mine showed nothing. It changes quickly!!

zippityzip · 02/07/2020 12:28

@Poppy10121 Well this is my OPK today on CD12. I bought a new brand and still no hope 😭

OPKS
Poppy10121 · 02/07/2020 12:17

@zippityzip Don't lose hope! It may be that the tests aren't good, or you might ovulate later than you thought. I was in the same position as you and then suddenly got a really dark line out of nowhere on CD14 without any build up - for some of us the peak is shorter than for others, I think. You may yet catch it this month!

zippityzip · 01/07/2020 17:04

@bibs124 I'm hoping the inositol will stop me from going mental anyway and give me some positive hopes!

I know it sounds crazy getting my knickers in a twist over 2 months but every day goes on forever and I am so broody it's unreal.

I think your OPKs look really promising and you're bang on the money this month!

Original poster
bibs124 · 01/07/2020 17:01

@zippityzip I normally get quite a lot of EWCM for good few days in a row but other than that no symptoms! I keep dtd until you get better tests. These are just cheap ones off amazon. I'm going to use clear blue once I get a stronger line.. as you've only recently come off the pill your body might still be trying to get back to normal so I wouldn't worry too much yet (easier said than done I know)

OP posts:
zippityzip · 01/07/2020 16:58

My second cycle TTC officially. I did OPKs last month and got nothing, assumed it was because I had just come off contraception. Bam period happened, having some twinges in my hip area and nausea in the morning so have been testing twice a day since CD5 and still getting F all on the OPKs. I'm still going to treat this week as my fertile week just in case it is a bad batch but I don't think I am actually ovulating 😞

Which brand are you currently using? Do you have ovulation symptoms?

Original poster
bibs124 · 01/07/2020 16:55

@zippityzip I'm the same re convincing myself I'm infertile! That's why I have done OPKs this month to be sure I am ovulating but finding it quite helpful so think I will carry on. Is this your first month trying OPKs?

OP posts:
zippityzip · 01/07/2020 16:36

Honestly I had convinced myself that I'll never ovulate again and I'm infertile. May splash out on a clear blue just to be sure! Thanks for giving me the idea.

Original poster
bibs124 · 01/07/2020 16:34

@zippityzip I would.. seems a bit strange to have no line whatsoever but like I said this is my first month testing so I don't have much knowledge!

OP posts:
zippityzip · 01/07/2020 16:16

@bibs124 I ordered two packs at the same time - same batch numbers on the packaging. Neither packs are giving me lines. Now you've said that I may well pop into the chemist and try a different brand.

Original poster
bibs124 · 01/07/2020 16:03

@Nottherealslimshady that's true! Although I am on cycle 7 and no sign of a BFP for me. I had been feeling really negative that it won't happen but after briefly reading SMEP I am feeling a little more positive and will try harder this month.

@zippityzip is a line coming up at all? If there is no line whatsoever I'd be concerned you have a faulty batch as mine even from CD5 have a faint line?

OP posts:
zippityzip · 01/07/2020 15:39

You're doing better than me OP, CD11 and still not even a whiff of a second line. 😞

Nottherealslimshady · 01/07/2020 15:20

Its the 4 day ones, got a pack with 20 sticks off Amazon. I figure it's an investment, you'll spend less the quicker you get pregnant in the long run

LT103 · 01/07/2020 15:10

I used Femometer. They said on them not to test first thing as it will be low. Something to do with your body not producing Lh overnight so I would do later in morning. I did once a day until seeing something then moved to three times a day. Also making sure not drinking too much in 2 hrs before testing

OPKS
Original poster
bibs124 · 01/07/2020 14:27

@Notherealslimshady is that t clear blue 4 day ones or 2 days? I’ve got the 2 days to start in a few days but might start them maybe tomorrow! They’re just so expensive I’m doing the cheapies til it’s a bit darker line.

@Poppy10121 me too! I just find the morning ones don’t show much for me but this is my first month so sure I’ll get to know when I’m going to peak just from the morning ones (or hopefully I’ll get my BFP this month)

OP posts:
Poppy10121 · 01/07/2020 14:18

I've been testing in the morning and then when I got close to peak (when the two lines were almost the same colour) I tested in the evening too for a day or two. Like others, I rarely go more than an hour or two without peeing in the day, so I think first thing in the morning is easier for me and I keep the box of OPKs right next to the loo so I find them even with foggy sleep eyes!

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