opk strip info for dummies please.

[nicx240187]

I've just bought 50 cheap opk strips off Amazon to try and help. Just been 7 weeks between periods.

I'm on day 3 of a period now.
So when do I start testing. Is it fmu like preg tests?

Once you get the line when do you need to DTD? Same day, next day?

Were hoping to try for late Dec bfp.
Thanks in advance.

Hi! Start dtd after af is finished, use opk's from cd10 and dtd every 2-3days.

You will start to see when your most fertile time is, check cm regularly.

Hi nicx. I can't really help you but I did want to say we used those sticks from Amazon for DS2 and I got my bfp on 28th December (2011) We went more for the 'scattergun' approach, DTD as much as possible tho I think we did do it the day of the positive opk. It's a little bit hazy because it was Christmas party season

I've ordered 50 more to hopefully get DC3, just waiting on AF to reappear because I'm still bfing and when it does I'll be poas every day!

Good luck! Hope they work for you!

Also, don't use fmu. They work slightly differently to preg tests.

babyrose Using opks at 10 days and up can actually cause some people to miss their peak. Some of the ones I have used should be started as early as CD5 depending on your cycle length. Other brands state CD7 and up. So I think the best rule of thumb is to follow the instructions that come with your OPKS. Or CD5 and up if you are irregular. Had I started when you suggested I would have missed my Peak as I Ovulated 9 days after AF this cycle.

allchatnicknamesgone With regards to the FMU thing, this is also not always the case, depending on the test brand. Many women use them with FMU + evening and have no issues. I am one of them and did not fail to miss my Peak. I have also found it does not matter how much fluid you consume, if you are in your peak it will for surely show up, at least it did on my brand of OPK (cheapo).

If you are testing twice a day then sure, but I wouldn't rely on fmu alone especially if you are new to testing. You could easily miss it and yes each test is different regarding instructions, but a huge amount of literature does recommend not using fmu. Like everything in this TTC lark, I think everyone is different.
Good luck Op x

Hi do I could cycle days from period start or stop.

*count

first day of bleed = CD1 (i personally do not count spotting if it occurs that month, so I count from first day of full flow if that makes sense)

Ok, now I am really confused (and a little ashamed I know so little from my GCSE days!). When I get the first day of my period, I count that as day one, not the day I finish my period? Then, 5 or so days into my period I start using an OPK stick once a day? The instructions on my Amazon cheapies are a little confusing and I think I have done it wrong. Might have to restart next month

KittyVonCatsington Yes, the first day of your actual period is CD1.
Which cheapies did you buy?

Something called OneStep. Bought on the advice it was cheaper, but the instructions use a lot of abbreviations and got confused. Thanks, you are a life saver; literally!

CD5 is a little early to test for me personally, but that's because I bleed for about a week or possibly 8 days.
The day you start your sticks depends on the length of you cycle.
You can theoretically test at any point during your cycle, but the whole point of testing at the beginning (or when you stop bleeding) is so that you are 100% you pick up the LH surge and there is no chance of missing it.
Depending how flush you are, you can pee on as many sticks as you like. Many chose to do 2 a day on the cheapies to try and pin point the actual surge as accurately as possible.

Hope that helps :). Don't worry about not knowing anything. Nobody does until they start trying for a baby.

They were the ones I used, think I started using them around cd5 and used them twice a day everyday as I found the line was getting darker with every day I was using them so I knew I was close to ovulating so would start dtd regularly.

the thing to watch out for also is that the test line gets darker than the control line. That's when ours positive not just when there is a line.

Thank you for starting this thread, nicx and thank you for all the information, everyone. Feel a bit more in control now and less of the 'winging it' persuasion!

I hope it's helping people :)
Just awaiting them coming in the post tomorrow then think I'll start the day after as think that's day 5 since start if cycle :)
How long is ovulation active I.e. DTD for 3 ish days?

Once egg released it lives between 12 and 24 hrs, that's why it's more important to dtd before (and during) ovulation so that the sperm is ready and waiting. Look up smep on google.

Hi, just got a faint second line today cd9. Therefore how long do we think before a full second line and to DTD.
I know its kind of guess work but any ideas?
Thanks in advance

I have the same ones and did first test yesterday which was cd 10 or 11. It was negative. Couldn't do one today due to visitors. Do you know how many days it shows a positive? So if I missed a positive today will it still be positive tomorrow if ovulation is meant to be 12-24hrs after first positive? The instructions aren't really clear on this.

I started testing whilst on my period (because believe it or not it IS possible to ovulate then but unlikely) and got a positive opk 11 days after my period started which was way earlier than I expected but I also had cm and ovulation pains on one side. I don't see the harm in testing everyday!! You don't wanna miss that window! Good luck!! X

P.S Two days before I got my positive result, the line got slightly darker each day so I would say it won't be long for you!

Got faint line today. Still classed as a negative but it might be the start of a positive in time for the weekend :)

nichib83, can I ask you about your ovulation pains? On Sunday and Monday (pretty much two weeks since coming off Pill) I experienced pain that I haven't before in my tummy and lower back that was like a sharp stab, every 5-10 minutes or so-seemed to be more on the right side. Tuesday morning it was gone. Although have been on contraception for donkeys years, don't remember getting this type of pain. Is this what your ovulation pains are like? Sorry if TMI

Sorry to jump in Kitty but I had ovulation pains last month so might be able to help. Never had it before either (been on pill for 10 years but don't remember anything like it from before) but I can only describe it as a sort of concentrated stitch mostly on my right side where my ovary is. Sort of mid way between my hip bone and belly button but about 5cm down.

Also... and sorry for waaaay TMI... I got a big lumpy bit of what I assume is ewcm when I went to the loo. Sort of like a glob of blood passed during a heavy period but clear and gooey instead of red.

That was exactly it, pebble82! Almost identical to me. I also had a bit of 'spotting' on the morning of the Sunday so initially thought it was
Af starting, then nothing. Really hoping it doesn't mean I'll get that pain every month now-but at least it is a sign I might be ovulating! Would prefer the pain free OPKs though