OV Testing question??

[Flumpytigger]

Hi ladies,

I said I wouldn't but I have succumbed to the OV tests. The reason being because I was starting to wonder when the heck I actually OV!

I have a clockwork 33 day cycle (although the last one was 45 for some crazy reason) so I assume that I normally OV around CD's 19/20.

However I'm not very up on the whole biology of it all and I'm just wondering if someone could explain something...

I did a test yesterday afternoon (CD19) and the test was negative. I've done the test at about the same time of day today (CD20) and the test is positive.
So when will I OV? Do I have like a 4 day window now or something to get lots of BD'ing in????

Sorry if this is a really dumb question but I've checked loads of threads and can't find the exact answer!

Thanks! xx

I would be wary of using OPK's anyway as they work on two misleading principles. First off usage of such kits assumes that there is only one rise in LH each month and that such a rise is followed by ovulation. This is not true.

If you are also one of many women who are producing higher than normal levels of LH the kit just reads that.

I would have thought your last cycle was anovulatory as the cycle length was 45 days.

Ovulation can occur earlier, later or not at all in ANY given cycle; to assume ovulation happens two weeks before the start of the next period is thus incorrect.

I would suggest you make love when you both feel like it and put thoughts of it perhaps being "ovulation time" out of your mind. Two or three times a week throughout your cycle is fine. Also any rigourous timing of intercourse is often a big mistake and can do more harm than good.

HTH

Sorry to jump onto your thread. I had the same question. Glad to hear that I was not the only one.

I was just about to order some online, but could not decide between a Persona monitor or test strips. Now I am unsure if either are going to be reliable.

I have always wondered if that too much BD'ing can do more harm than good too.

hi, i bought the ov sticks but got my bfp so didnt need thme. we went for the every 2/3 days approach and it does work. however i think if you get a positive opk then your supposed to ov within the next 24 to 48 hours. so as much sex as possible would definitly keep on trying every other day though just in case its wrong though. good luck

(Just changed name. Not quite so ClaireHappyGal at the moment)

Think that DH may be happy with that too.

Maybe I will try some ov sticks anyway and carry on as normal.

Hi Attila, Claire and Spugs!

Thanks for all your advise and it's good to know that I'm not the only one too Claire!

Congrats on your BFP Spugs - you're so lucky!

Claire - I've been using the 'Quick Check' easy prediction one step tests. They are like the normal HPT. I got a box of 5 tests from Quality save for £7. I know a lot of people buy batches of testing strips from eBay really cheap which is a good idea but aren't persona kits really expensive.

I know that too much BD'ing can take the fun out of sex, it certainly has with us

I know that it's probably best to leave things to chance and bd whenever we fancy it, but the problem with that is that we'd manage it about once a month and that's if we both made a concerted effort! we're not the best when it comes to sex!

2 or 3 times a week is like crazy talk! We've tried this a good few months now and by the time we get to cd 16/17 dh is knackered and not up to the job if iykwim..

Hence why I have decided OV tests may be the way forward. That way I can pin-point the most ideal times. Surely if I have a rough idea when I ov anyway, aren't the tests just supported this theory?

DH isn't going to know what's hit him tonight and the next week or so!!

Thing is as well, I don't live in England so the internet is the only way I can buy them. I thought that Persona was expensive and hoped that I would conceive the next time, as you do. Both DD's conceived on first cycle.

As I have no idea of when I OV, we are practicing as much as possible. So I suppose that a few well timed quality attempts iykwim, using a monitor or test would help increase chances.

Alson, gives DH time to recover between cycles.

Sorry, a slight hijack.......

Attila, when you mention long cycles as probably anovulatory...how long a cycle is this likely to be? I usually have about a 32 day cycle but sometimes they are longer....this year had a 37 and a 39. Are these likely to be anovulatory? Also EWCM...does it mean you're ovulating, or can you have one without the other?

sorry....back to the thread

A normal cycle is a cycle length of between 21 and 35 days or with less than 4 days of variation from month to month. Longer length cycles are more likely to be ones in which ovulation did not occur.

Generally speaking ovulation is more likely to be happening if periods are regular, less so if periods are consistently irregular.

The surest way of knowing whether ovulation has occured in a particular month or not is to have blood tests done.

Another question....if you have ewcm are you ovulating?

Its supposed to be a sign of ovulation but I would personally not take it as a given.

I would go to your GP and get a day 21-24 serum progesterone done

I think it's probably a bit early for that...only 2nd month of ttc. The longer periods I had were the two periods previous to my wedding and I was under a huge amount of wedding and other stress, so I would imagine that's why they were longer and irregular.