OPK testing if you work during the day

[GetDownYouWillFall]

OK I am going to the next level of obsessed and have got myself a load of OPK cheapies from Amazon.

I?m sure this has been asked before, but the packet says sample must be at ?room temperature? before testing.

As I work, it?s going to be a bit impractical to get my ?sample? wait for it to cool down, then test, wait for the result etc. whilst I am still at work.

Does anyone know if it?s ok to get the sample in the afternoon, keep it sealed and then test it early evening / a few hours later when I get home? Does the hormone stay in the sample or does it deplete at all?

Also does anyone have any tips for doing this testing if you work, e.g. anywhere I can buy a little sample pot with a very tight secure fitting lid?!!!

I've never had to let it cool to room temperature. Nor heard of such a thing. I would just test on the warm stuff tbh

The worst bit of testing at work is trying to pee in a cup quietly. I have no remedy for this unless you have a disabled loo.

oooh getdown I am so glad you asked this as my OPK cheapies have just arrived at home according to my DH who took the post lol. I too am taking it to the next level lol. Although AF isnt due until saturday so fingers crossed I wont need them !

I was going to ask this as I work during the day too. We do have a private loo here though and lots of sample pots as I work on a cancer ward so peeing in a pot is no problem.

When are you supposed to do them too ? I read you shouldnt do them in the morning so when are you planning to do it ? And should it be twice a day ?

Thanks ClaireDeLoon and inbetweener - glad I?m not the only surreptitious at-work pee-er!

Claire - I was a bit about the room temperature thing too. Just seemed like yet another hoop to jump through and something else to be neurotic about. The clearblue ones don?t mention anything about room temp but these are just the cheapy strips so maybe they are a bit less forgiving???

The peeing in a cup thing is going to be interesting ? how do you not pee on your hand, I wonder if it gets easier with practise? We do have a disabled loo at work but it?s right opposite reception so I might get weird looks popping in there at a certain regular time every day!

inbetweener mine arrived yesterday and am in a dilemma when to start them. Had a v, early MC last cycle and know I should really wait for next AF but not sure I can bear it! Am thinking that perhaps as it was very early, it won?t screw up my cycle too much, but we?ll see.

I think 2pm is about the best time for the sample, although the packet says anywhere between 10am and 8pm is fine. Am planning on peeing in a pot around 3pm and maybe testing at 5pm when I get home? But neurotic now about whether the hormone will somehow ?evaporate? and [crazy woman].
I don?t think I?m going to do twice a day just yet [playing it cool emoticon ? yeah right!]

Hoping for you that you won?t need to use yours

I have been ttc for over 3 years and still pee on my hand every time I attempt to pee in a pot.

TBH I would just test at 5pm if that is what time you get home . AFAIK the hormone stays around for a while, it won't be gone in a few hours.

Sorry to hear about your mc. I've found that even mc at 8-9 weeks or so I get AF 4 weeks later and if I try OPK's it indicates a hormone surge. The body seems quite resilient about such things.

Good luck to you both.

I think the room temperature thing only means that if it has been in the fridge you have to let it warm back up to room temp (more for healthcare professionals using them I guess). You don't have to cool your pee down! I use internet cheapies too and they work fine at body temp. All the internet cheapies are Made in China and don't necessarily have brilliant translations on the instructions etc.

I pee in a cup in loos and then surreptitiously take the pee stick back to my desk and wait for the result.

I test around 2pm but if I'm doing two a days (which I do when I'm feeling anxious i might miss the surge) I will test around 11am and 8pm.

I never got +ve OPKs on my first month taking one a day when I got home so started doing 2 a day this month (still didn't get a positive though!) and one at work - it was a nightmare - the challenges:

• getting to the toilet with the stick in hand without anyone seeing it
• getting pee cup down from top secret shelf (easier than trying to hide this with the stick up my skirt)
• peeing quietly and hoping no one comes in
• washing cup/hands while stick is hidden under tissue also hoping no one comes in to see you washing a random cup out in the toilet when the kitchen is round the corner
• putting cup back on top secret shelf
• taking test back to desk wrapped in tissue and then pretending to blow your nose whilst hiding test under some papers to check in 5 minutes
• throwing it out and making sure it is not visible from the bin.

As you can see - its a minefield!!

I've been testing as soon as I get home from work (around 6pm), making sure that I haven't had a wee for the last four hours or so. I have an iron bladder so that hasn't been a problem. This cycle, I got clear positives so 6pm isn't too late in the day for my, er, constitution.

LadyGG - I didn't read your post properly, and thought you said you surreptitiously took a pot of wee back to your desk

You could just take your bag into the toilet pretending you have your period and shove all of the paraphernalia in there I guess.

What a palaver!

I've come to the conclusion that I must just really like peeing on stuff!

I just grab a plastic cup from the water cooler, chuck it in my bag, take bag to loo, pee, test, stick test back in packaging, then back in bag, bin cup (in the sanitary towel bin if I hear someone lurking by the sinks). Luckily I have my own office so can squint at test with door shut at my leisure.

Me and my peeing in a cup are not good for the environment are we? I alleviate any guilt re this by using a mooncup when my period inevitably arrives.

Oh blimey I hadnt taken all this into account !
I will test about 11am then I think. I can go to the loo and pee in a pot with my bag in tow thats not a problem as loos are private. BUT I work in an open plan office so how long after peeing on the stick do you look at the result ?? I cant stay in the loo all day and I cant look at the test at my desk .

What a palavar lol !!!!!!

Thanks ladies for the tips - Terrysno2 - I see you have researched this topic well It's a nightmare isn't it!

LadyGoneGaga OF COURSE re. the room temperature thing! You are a genuis. Of course it must be because labs may have samples that have been in the fridge. Makes sense now,.

Feel relieved (pardon the pun) that I can produce my sample and test at body temperature!

Good lord. I just waited til I got home and tested then which seemed to work fine. However, this had its own drawbacks in that it says to hang on for 4 hours before testing. 4 hours??? Bastards. Sitting in meetings/car with legs crossed etc.

I suspect that less than 4 hours would do just fine.

owlshoes - I know, four flipping hours - FOUR. I'm going to seriously have to kerb my tea drinking

I relieved McDonalds of some of their little ketchup paper pots. Keep in bag, use for test, then dispose of with used test in sanitary bin.

i have those OPK tests

have to say i just never bother with the room temp thing

i have had positves between 10am and 8pm, and the body temp wee didnt seem to make any difference!

that's good to know, thanks nannyl. I think the lesson for me from this thread is to basically be less neurotic!""