Talk to me about OPKs

[Tranquilitybaby]

Wasn't going to go down this route at first as never have before, but seeing as I'm 36, maybe I should do it properly from the start.

Any particular brand I should go for? How far in advance of OV do you get a positive with them?

I usually get obvious OV signs, lots of EWCM, one sided pain etc.

Thanks x

I use the cheap ones you buy in bulk from amazon. I tend to start testing from cd8 and I usually start off with a very faint line from day 10 (dtd from this day too!! ). I then get a stronger line about day 12 and in combination with ewcm I know its that time!!! After a positive opk you usually ovulate within 12-48 hours. For me it took a few cycles to be able to recognise when I was ovulating. I also used 'Fertility Friend' and started recording my temperature each morning and that backed up that I was ovulating exactly when I thought I was. You can buy the more expensive clearblue monitor but for me the cheap ones work fine. Not the case for everyone though. Lots of luck

Its the One Step brand I use from amazon - a 30 pack for about £5+

Thank you so much x

If you get those signs, I would recommend not getting opks. You know when the most fertile time is - make sure you dtd every other day or so.

If you want opks, I would go for clearblue monitor or advanced opks. They are more expensive, but so much easier to use than cheap ones. You just poas in the morning and it's very reliable. I got a monitor cheap off ebay and don't use many sticks per cycle - maximum 7.

When you get a positive, you should ovulate between 12 and 48 hours, but on average 32 hours later. It's best to dtd the day of the positive or the day before, so the sperm is ready and waiting when the egg is released.

I forgot to say, those clearblue ones will tell you about 5 days in advance when your peak will be, as opposed to cheap ones where it's much harder to predict. This is because the cb ones measure oestrogen levels too.

I'm trying opks for the first time too, I know when I ov but in all honestly I think I'm out/not doing it in time! I might of later/earlier than I think. I'm trying them this month whilst on a break to see x

I've used eBay cheapies the last two months and fell pregnant both times. (First was a chemical).
Mine get gradually stronger so I can see the surge coming. Dtd couple of days before positive and them on the days I got the positive and it worked :). I test twice a day at about 12 and 7 starting from day 14 as I have longer cycles. Good luck.

Thanks girls, when should I start testing then? I have a cycle around 26 days and think I ovulate quite early around day 10. AF lasts 7 days in all though.

I'd maybe start testing from day 7/8 if you think you ovulate early but definitely look out for ewcm too. If you were using the cheap tests I'd suggest starting earlier maybe just so you can see the difference (no line, faint line, strong line). Good luck x

Agree with above comment too- testing twice a day is a good idea. Depending on how long your lh surge lasts it is possible to miss ovulation. You could always test about 3pm and then about 8pm (I think the surge always starts afternoon time)

Strip tests off eBay work out really cheap so you can test away to your hearts content.