OPK's not getting as dark as they should...

[susso]

Hi everyone!

I've started using OPK's again since my MC in early March. I have used the OPK method before (the month I got pregnant) and had brilliant line progression which resulted in a strong positive that then faded after a day or 2. So I know how it works but It's just not working out this time around which is making me feel like I might not be ovulating ☹️ I will attach my strongest OPK this cycle. It's got to a certain point and it's just stayed there, I'm testing 2 sometimes 3 times a day but getting the same result every time... does anyone have any experience of this?? I'm also using Premom to track my OPK's but not getting a reading above 0.28..

Thank you!!

Hi, sorry to hear about your mc. I'm no expert but you could have missed your surge so you didn't get the dark dark line? Are you tracking anything else that might give you a clue like Cm or temp?

Hi @Abi58 thank you- it was horrible but finally getting back on my feet. Yeah I thought that, we've been having sex when we can just in case- it's just so annoying! I did a few tests yesterday and they looked like they were getting darker then they just stopped. I've not had any EWCM yet, but it's changing from creamy to more slippery/wet currently. I think I'll try temping next month as OPK's are so hit and miss- I'll have to look into it as I haven't got the first clue! Thanks for getting back to me x

💕
Sounds like you could have kissed the surge (on the opks) but if you dtd around that time 👍🏻🤞🏻

Or if your Cm is like that maybe you haven't ovulated yet and you had a sort of surge but haven't actually ovulated yet?

You would need a Digital thermometer that goes to 2 decimal places. And either an app to track it or some graph paper. Try and take it the same time each day (within an hour) as soon as you wake up (I'm naughty and get up go to the bathroom sit down and take it - it's supposed to be first think you do don't even lie there and think for a few minutes as your temp starts to rise as soon as you're awake - but I think because I've done that consistently my results have followed a pattern) if you wake up early then go back to sleep for less than 3 hours again it might not be reliable. If you don't think it was after enough sleep it in the right time band you can take it but mark as questionable so you can exclude it from the overall pattern.

It's an overall pattern you would be looking for rather than day to day shifts. I'm no expert but been looking at it a lot so I'm happy to help where I can if you have any questions about it.

I only started opks and temping because I came off the pill and wanted to gain a bit of control and know what my body was doing :)

Are you using any apps?

Hi Abi

I actually didn't ovulate the cycle that started with my mc bleed. I did opks every single day, non positive, then had a bleeds about 30odd days after mc and did ovulate this last cycle. Sometimes I think it's takes your body time to get back to normal.

@Abi58 yeah I'm thinking exact same! I'm swaying to the idea that I haven't yet ovulated... thanks for all the info on temping- so helpful and if I'm not successful this cycle I'm going to give it a go!!

I really want to know what my cycle is doing too, after my MC (and even before it a little) my cycle is just totally buggered!! It's slowly adjusting but not ideal when TTC!
Xxx

@Kayjay2018 totally with you on that one! I thought after almost 3 months I'd be back on track with my cycle but I think you're right in saying that a MC defo messes everything up a bit! X

@susso

I am just having my first proper af (I know I ovulated this cycle) and it's horrendous. I was awake at 3am with period pains and it's really really heavy. I'm hoping this is the final kick to get itself back to normal (only had an 11day luteal phase this month). I'm desperate to get pg again as I'm 38 and hubby is 52.

I used pre mom last month and thought it was great. I would recommend temping as that way you do actually know that you ovulated (as I believe you can sometimes get peak opk and still not ovulate)

@Kayjay2018 yeah my first AF after my MC was pretty horrendous. I can feel my body slowly getting back to normal but like yourself I'm just feeling so desperate and impatient! Got my fingers crossed for you 🤞🏼
I'm defo going to give temping a go! Anything is worth a try at this point! X

Just a little update...
Does this look like I'm gearing up to ovulate? Tests are from last 3 days, bottom 2 today. Not yet positive but nearly right??

Definitely looks like you're getting there! 🤞🏻 mine keep getting a bit darker then lighter 😩

Ah thanks @Abi58 ! It's so annoying isn't it! Mine were doing that for days then tonight they've finally gone dark! No doubt they'll probably go lighter again because it's just my luck 😫😂

I'm in the same boat as you at the minute been off the pill since middle of March had 2 periods but been all over the place. Been using ovulation sticks for the past 3 days had bloating, watery cervical mucus and today had back ache. Tonight is the first one I've had that's quite dark but not dark enough similar to your bottom one. So fingers crossed it happens over the next day or so. I used them on my last 2 cycles but never managed to catch it don't think I tested for long enough as didn't know where I was with my cycles

If it gets darker then lighter but doesn't get positive you might have just missed testing at the peak so it doesn't mean it didn't happen. Good way to confirm is also by tracking Cm and temp (you get a temp rise after ovulation) 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Hiya @FearnRJ ahh it's so annoying isn't it! I was the same when I can off my pill and when I had my MC, absolutely all over the place! I got a positive OPK one month and this is the month I got my BFP (ended in MC). But tonight I have twinges on one side, back ache and overall just feeling rubbish so fingers crossed I'm ovulating! Fingers crossed for you x

@Abi58 mine did get lighter again tonight! But they got lighter last night then darker again this afternoon! So so confusing! But I have O pains tonight I think so fingers crossed! X

@susso yes I've been the same tonight with OV pains at one side. Going to test again in the morning to see if anything has changed.

Sooooo hard and confusing though! Just want a positive as always missed it but obviously ovulated cause had periods.

Good luck to you too!

@susso hope you've had some luck!

I've tested this morning and this is my result..... bottom one x

@FearnRJ ahhh brill!! I've had a lie in this morning so gonna text shortly and will let you know! So pleased for you x

Negative for me! Annoying! But it did this yesterday morning then went dark again later on so I don't think I have much LH in my system in the mornings. Or I've missed my surge but my OPK's were so nearly positive so think I've still ovulated. And we were DTD at right times etc... so fingers crossed! I'll still test today to see if there's any change tho! X

@FearnRJ yay! 😁

I finally got a flashing smiley on clearblie ones I was testing. Will do cheap one when I get home as I think the cab detects oestrogen as well that rises before oh surge so 🤞🏻

@susso if you dtd that's all you can do 😁🤞🏻 you can easily miss the surge when testing and I've also read that it's stronger later I the day so the opposite to hcg that is best to test in the morning oh rises throughout the day - possibly different for everyone as I've read people getting better results on pg test later in the day than in the morning so who knows!

Ladies sorry to jump on this post but if I am looking to use the cheaper opks which ones would you ladies recommend? I have been off the pill 12 months and af is still so hot and miss had a lot of stress but that has all calmed down now thanks in advance for any advice xx

@mummyjojo19 hi I've been using the clear and simple ones. Can get a pack of 5 for 99p in savers. I've had some cheap ones off eBay too but they weren't very clear some give 2 lines all the time but one more faint that the other. The clear and simple ones only give 2 lines if LH surge is detected, that's what I find anyway x

@mummyjojo19 hi! I've also used the ones from savers but I had a cycle where they weren't working for me and I didn't know if it was the OPK's or me! So I switched to the ones from Poundland, 5 in a pack. These have done the trick for me. Good luck! X

@mummyjojo19 also would say make sure you're not just testing once a day when you're getting close to OV'ing as it's soooo easy to miss your surge xx