Which opks? Possible ovulation issue.

[ALittleBitAlexis]

I think I have an issue with ovulation. We've been TTC for 5 months now and while I know that's not a long time I've never once had a positive on an opk.

I've tried Clearblue digital opks, and using those I got a flashing smiley but never a solid smiley.

I've also tried cheapy ones from Amazon, in 2 months I've never seen a second line on them at all (they're called One Step). I'm following the instructions to the letter.

So this month I'd like to get as accurate a view of what's going on as possible, before going to the gp if there is an issue. I think Clearblue is the best bet, but as I'm probably going to do them 2x a day once I get the flashing smiley to try to catch the surge, that could get expensive.

I have no faith in these One Steps, is there anything else I can try that's cheaper than Clearblue or shall I just suck up the cost?

Have you tried tracking your temp? You have to take it first thing in morning, before you get up and around the same time everyday. When you ovulate your temperature rises slightly and stays up until af. While you can get a positive ovulation test but not actually ovulate your temperature will only rise if you actually do ovulate.
You need to use a specific thermometer which has two decimal places. It's call BBT (basal body temperature)

One steps and the Poundland ones worked perfectly for me.

I have a really short lh surge, so although my opks get dark, they aren't truly positive. I measured my bbt and that showed clear ovulation, 2 days earlier than I thought I ovulate and I'm now pregnant.

Are your cycles regular?

I never got a positive any day of the month with one step OPKs, but bought these and got positives
www.amazon.co.uk/Pack-60-Sensitive-Ovulation-Fertility/dp/B073PX31GX?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

But I'm not sure wether i was actually ovulating a few cycles ago as it was closer to the time I'd came off my pill so maybe it was still settling ? Xx

Thanks very much everyone. I've bought a thermometer suitable for BBT and those Ovaview opks. I did try temping a few years ago for general cycle tracking and never got a spike in temperature, but it was probably a rubbish thermometer.

My cycle has always been a very regular 28 days but for the past two months it's been 22 days, which is obviously another concern! So I want a month of solid data collecting before going to the doctor.

What day do you start testing on?

I have been testing from around day 12 onwards, but this month I'm going to start much earlier just in case I have a particularly long luteal phase.

Definitely start earlier than cd12, especially if your cycle has shortened. My cycles are around 23-25 days and I ovulated on cd10 this cycle, so it's possible you have missed it.

Are you dtd regularly? If you're unsure of ovulation day you might be better trying every 2-3 days throughout your cycle, rather than trying to pinpoint your ovulation day.

Thanks for this, last month we dtd every other day from day 10 onwards - this month we'll start a couple of days earlier, and I'll definitely start opks earlier too (I'd like to know what's happening, even with regular dtd)

Just throwing in my 2 cents. If you have a very short cycle I would start opk maybe day 8, in case you are missing it. I think temping is also a good idea. I haven't used it myself but I've heard it can be very accurate when done properly. I think if your cycle is very regular it's likely you are ovulating but would be nice to prove it. Good luck!

Yes yes to checking earlier. I've always had a 28 day cycle. I only found out when I started using ovulation sticks that I get my LH surge on day 9! I'd probably never have conceived if I hadn't found this out. Good luck.

The very cheapest test sticks are absolutely fine by the way. They are extremely sensitive.