anyone else never had a positive OPK?

[Christelle2207]

Hi Ladies

Been reading for a while but this is my first post so bear with me. Been TTC #1 for a year, but last five months seriously.

During those last five months I've been using OPKs, both the Boots and more recently the cheap amazon kind, and never had a positive result. Something is definitely happening though, as the same time each month - CD 17/18 or so for three days I get a slight crampy feeling, like a very very light period pain. For either one or two of those days I get a 2nd line on the OPK, enough to be a definite line (without squinting!) but never strong enough to be a positive.
Been to the GP who thinks I should ditch the tests (she's probably right!) and seems to think there is a possibility that I have a very short LH surge thus miss it (despite trying to do it twice on the "hot" days). I'm not convinced.
Also, had 2 21 day progesterone test and they came back as 23 and 26 which I believe is reasonable...
Wondering if anyone has similar stories to share?

Think your GP is wise for you to ditch the OPK's; they are not helping any. OPKs are not without their problems anyway; these assume that there is only one rise in LH every month and that such a rise is immediately followed by ovulation. Both of these assertions are not true.

Normally a level of 30 or more would indicate that ovulation has occured. Has a day 2 test been done to check your LH level against that of your FSH?. This should be done as LH and FSH kickstart the whole ovulation process. If these hormone levels are awry then ovulation will be affected.

Would GP consider referring you now to a gynae; I ask this as such appts can take some considerable time to come through.

You need a diagnosis first and foremost and both of you should be tested further.

Thanks Attila. DH has had his test so just waiting on the results for that then will push for day 2 test (tricky to predict when this would be!) and also appt with a gynae (is that usually the next step anyway?)

Doc thinks that score of above 25 on the 21 day progesterone test is promising if not definitive. However given that I don't think Ovulation is happening until day 18 or so, if at all, isn't day 21 a bit early? I said this to doc and she didn't seem to get my point.

DSis tells me she never had a positive opk and she has 2 children so she must ovulate at some point.

thanks. Well I think it will be good for my general wellbeing and sanity to ditch them, as they are driving me nuts (well actually not quite as nuts as the 2ww).