Do I need to temp if using clear blue OPKs?

[becca3210]

Hi all. I have been TTC to 5 months. I use the clear blue purple OPKs which, although cost a fortune, are useful for pinpointing the most fertile days. I tend to have some cramps around that time too so hopeful that I am ovulating, although haven't had a blood test to prove it.

I read a lot about people temping and wasn't sure whether should start as I guess if my temperature changes around the time when it 'should' according to ovulation then it could be reassuring? However, I have a tendency to obsess a bit with regards to TTC and not sure if it would be good to start something in addition when I am trying to worry out it and have a more relaxed attitude!! Any thoughts would be great.

Hello!
I temped and used the Clearblue OPK's.
Plotting your temperature and seeing trends is great for pinpointing exactly when you ovulate. When used in conjunction with the OPK's it was obvious when I was ovulating and we could try appropriately. That's the pro however I have to say, I too am a slightly obsessive person and would find myself overanalysing a temperature that I deemed too high/low. They do say not to do that though (easier said that done!) and it's not so much individual temps but the month as a whole.
My advice would be go for it and see what you think! I just plotted my temp into my Ovia app but I know people like Fertility Friend too.
Side note: after 2 months of tracking my cycles I fell pregnant on the first month TTC so it can't be too bad! I'm just over 11 weeks now.
Good luck!

Have you tried the cheap OPK’s from amazon instead? I’ve never bothered with the expensive tests just as it doesn’t half add up! They are fairly reliable and easy to read.

I did temp when TTC no.1, I’m not bothering this time unless it takes a long while. It got a bit much last time & I actually conceived on the cycle I did nothing TTC related bar the cheap OPK’s. No temping. No particular eating. I had a couple weddings & enjoyed drinks. I drank coffee everyday, I did no crazy acrobatics after sex.

The ovulation tests tell you all you need to know re-your fertile time really. People temp to double confirm when they ovulated and you can also speculate on pregnancy if your temp stays high!

If you have fairly regular periods, def track those in a period app. Mind are on the 7/8th of every month so the app gives me an expected ovulation date. I start doing OPK’s from the week before that estimated date up until it’s positive. It usually corresponds & we make sure to get an early night every other night at least during that week!

Thank you both some useful things to consider.

I would consider it - the month I got pregnant I never had a peak fertility on clear blue digital, just 9 highs. I also never got a peak this month but know I ovulated on Saturday.

That’s useful to know thank you for sharing.

It's worthwhile. OPKs tell you you're having a surge but they don't tell you you've ovulated. You can have the surge and not ovulate that time. Doing your temps will pick up and confirm ovulation.

I didn't like ClearBlue OPKs - I only used them twice and on the second month they said I was ovulating a week before I actually did (I know this because I fell pregnant that month!)

As someone who gets super stressed and obsessed, I actually found temping a good way of chilling me out as it just confirmed I was ovulating (which OPKs don't do). If you do want to OPK then use the cheap ones for sure. If you have a regular period, just work out the earliest date you could ovulate and the latest date and then have sex every other day from 5 days before earliest ovulation to 3 days after latest. Does that make sense?

That's what we did when we conceived.

Thanks for sharing - all useful info