Am I ovulating

[PerfectPear]

Pic attached is the strongest line I've ever had using ovulation tests. Am I just not ovulating or are the tests not strong enough to detect it for me? Been testing for 4 months. Currently 9 days late for period according to the app I'm using (periods very irregular). Pregnancy tests definitely negative.

If there's any other information I can give that might help please ask

Some people don't get positive ovulation tests. I didn't get any even slightly positive and I did them the whole month twice a day. I'm now 10 weeks pregnant so I obviously did ovulate.

how many have you been doing a day and what time?

ive been doing them for this first time this month and am still yet to get a positive, started on cd9 and now on cd22. App told me i should have been ovulating from sunday to thurs.. but haven't had anything near positive on my opks either and its already driving me mad!

have you been keeping a record of them to compare?

For the last few days I've done one morning and afternoon and just starting to keep a track of them on an app. Before this I just threw them away but took a photo of that one above as it was actually a line whereas all of the others don't seem to show anything.

I am going to keep going with the ones I've got and see if I see any changes. Do you think it's worth buying more expensive ones?

I would say that if your expected period is 9 days late and pregnancy tests are negative, it’s unlikely that you ovulated when the app thinks you did. That’s not to say you haven’t ovulated or you haven’t conceived this month, you may have just ovulated later and it’s too soon for a positive test.

I had very irregular cycles whilst TTC no2 and found out quite quickly that fertility tracking apps are very inaccurate for women like us. Fortunately I was able to rely on OPKs since they worked for me, but I have heard of other women like @Gorillaandme who the tests just don’t work for.

Have you tried tracking cervical mucus or taking your BBT to try and pinpoint your fertile period instead?

If you are really concerned about whether you’re ovulating, the only way to fully confirm is with a progesterone blood test taken 7 days after believed ovulation date.

Thanks, not sure how I'd track cervical mucus as I don't really ever notice any.

Any idea how to track bbt? I've heard of it but not sure how it works.

I have had blood tests but as they don't know when I'm ovulating or whether I am it's all guess work. The bloods for progesterone were low each time I was tested

@PerfectPear hey I just wanted to tell you about my experience with these tests? How long do you leave them before checking? Mine were all coming up with no second line and it was frustrating me, someone on my thread said to leave it for about 10mins and since I’ve been doing that I’ve seen very slow progress with the lines. I was also advised to use the Premom app which is so helpful, you just upload the pic of your stick and it will give you your score low or peak.

I also have irregular and long cycles and was told I have low progesterone so I’ve been testing twice a day in case I miss my surge but I also temp which can be quite a faff. The advise I was given was to temp as soon as you wake up don’t move or talk! But it’s not ideal if you aren’t a great sleeper. I’m not sure if any of that was helpful but maybe you can take something from it. Good luck

Thanks @AllHopeAndNoResults
Have been leaving them 10 minutes but lines still very faint. Also only just found out about premom app so starting to use that.

Will start trying to track temp. Any particular thermometer I should use?

@PerfectPear so maybe you just aren’t ready to ovulate yet. I do suggest carry on testing twice a day. 1pm and 4pm without having any liquids beforehand and of course I’m sure you know not to use fmu.

I just got a cheap basal thermometer tbh and it reads well. How are you finding Premom?

Yes will keep testing.
Premom seems ok atm time will tell
I'll have a look for thermometer

Thanks this is reassuring as I'm about to give up

@PerfectPear perhaps just try and keep an eye on any cervical mucus you notice for a while. I know that I didn’t think I got much/didn’t know how it varied until I started properly looking out for it and seeing how it changed throughout the month.

I did also try temping but couldn’t get on with it, personally. You need a specialist BBT thermometer and to take your temperature the moment you wake up, before you even sit up in bed. After ovulation, your BBT should have a sustained rise for a few days. It confirms ovulation HAS happened rather than when it is going to happen, so it’s no good for helping you time when to have sex, but it might give you an idea of when it is happening so you can get more of a handle on when you’re ovulating in your cycle.

I imagine that your progesterone would be low in the tests anyway because they weren’t taken at the right time of your cycle if you didn’t know when you were ovulating- when in your cycle were they taken?

Thanks some great points
Will try to keep an eye out for cervical mucus.
Definitely going to look for a thermometer with good reviews.
I think I'll have to check back when the bloods were taken and see what happened during that cycle if I can get the right information.
At least there are a few things I can be getting on with for the time being.

Also TMI but if anyone can advise if there is anything I Can do to stop the semen coming out straight after sex please let me know. As soon as my partner pulls out it comes out regardless of what position we are in.

Glad you’re feeling proactive, best of luck with everything and hope you get your BFP soon.

@PerfectPear have you tried using preseed? I don’t know if it stops the sperm from coming out but it’s supposed to help it travel to the right place, maybe it could work? Also I think that it probably isn’t all falling out it’s just the dregs. If you know what I mean.

Have you tried clearblue OPK’s - I was like you, never had a positive on the cheapies. At the very most I had it a little darker than your photo but never positive. I tried multiple testing during the day and different times but it was never as dark as the guide line.

I switched to clearblue and my first cycle I got 2 days positive. You can use it with FMU which is great and I don’t need to stress about set times while I’m at work.

Have just searched preseed can just find a lubricant. We don't need a lubricant but it suggests using a syringe and inserting it inside. Is that what you are supposed to do with it?

Think I'll get some clear blue tests for next cycle

Thanks everyone. Off to search amazon now

I had very irregular periods. I found temping was the only way I could get any clear picture about what was going on with my cycle. I didn’t really get on with opks, Which I tried before temping. But then I don’t actually think I was ovulating most cycles, so I guess they were accurate, but I just founded it confusing scrutinising the lines to see if they were dark enough. I found temping less stressful.

@PerfectPear yes it’s a sperm friendly lube that copies fertile Cm to help the swimmers go in the right direction. It is inserted so it’s used as a guide for them really, some people do use it on themselves instead of inside to prevent dryness if dtd regularly. As I say I’m not sure if it would be helpful to you but given that it’s role is to move the sperm along it can’t hurt to try 🤷🏻‍♀️

will be placing an amazon order today.

I've found two different clear blue ovulation tests online. One says advanced digital and the other just says digital. The digital one has a higher star rating than the advanced. Any idea which I should go for?

Have ordered.

A thermometer
Clear blue ovulation tests (advanced)
Preseed
First response pregnancy test

Think I'll wait until after my period (not that it's arrived yet) to use these to hopefully give me the best chance possible in my next cycle

Looks like a good start op I’ve found the better you know your cycle the easier it is and it can be quite difficult to pin point ovulation if you have irregular periods (like I do) good luck

I suggest you use Easy@Home's ovulation tests. They are much more sensitive than Onestep's opk with almost the same price.