Can not get my head around my fertile window!

[Newbie1981]

I think I'm a bit thick on this one. I have various apps and all say my window is different, based on my last period. I've got ovulation sticks and now see they only show up positive in the days BEFORE you ovulate. Is this right? This is so complicated, I'm so confused 😩

Hey op. So the surge you get is positive when the test line is as stronger or stronger than the control line. In theory you should ovulate within the following 24-36 hours (although it can vary). Ideally you want to dtd in the build up to ov so that the sperm is there ready when the egg pops. Hope this helps.

Ah ok. So I see the positive line then get to it, and it doesn't matter that It doesn't mean I'm ovulating right then. Thank you so much for replying @Chefwifelife

As the line on the ov sticks gets darker, you want to dtd lots. When it goes very dark and the next day not so dark, that means you'll ovulate 12-36 hours after the darkest stick.

With apps, they're more accurate the more data you enter, so if you're only a month or two into ttc they won't be as accurate.

Once you've been data logging for a while you'll get used to noticing changes in your cm or mood or whatever to have a fairly good idea of when you're ovulating. The sticks help to start with.

Thank you @SallyLovesCheese xx

Bin it all! Every single person I know that used ovulation kits has negative experiences. I used to get really upset as I “wasn’t at my peak” very often. I’d also only bother having sex if I was ovulating. It totally killed my sex life and my “confidence in conceiving”. Have sex as often as possible and enjoy it, don’t let it become a chore because you’re ovulating.

We dtd every other day and when I got what I think was a positive or almost a positive ovulation strip we chucked a wee extra one in there. Must have worked as I'm 26 weeks now.

@Newbie1981 I wouldn't worry too much. I was using ovulation sticks and missed some of the crucial days. DTD 4 days before ovulation and on the day of ovulation so only twice and I got my BFP a few days ago. Last month we DTD on both the 2 days before ovulation and was unsuccessful so it is just down to luck!

Fingers crossed for you ❤️ x

Thank you everyone for getting back to me xx

@FearnRJ congratulations 😀😀😀😀

@smartcarnotsosmartdriver congrats lovely, thank you for your reply. Noted x

@Chocolate35 thanks. It's not taking over my life so don't worry, but I get you x

Sperm can live inside you for 48-72 hours, it can take anything from an hour to days for sperm to reach the egg. Baring in mind only a few will survive the journey is why having sex before ovulation is more important than right as you are ovulating.

I think it actually lives inside you for 6 days. My biggest question, I guess is when should I pee on the ovulation stick?

Thanks @user27495824

I had to have drugs to help me ovulate but the time we did get pregnant we had sexual every day for 3.5 weeks. Commitment I know that's not recommended but I was basically swimming in sperm so it worked.

We had sex, not sexual

I think getting to know your cervical mucus is much more helpful. When it's stretchy "egg white" consistency, it's time to do the deed!

It takes a few months to get the hang of it, but it's worth it.

@ItsABubbleParty haha that is dedication.

@PhoenixBuchanan erm, not sure that's for me but thanks haha

@Newbie1981 @PhoenixBuchanan me neither 😂 I can't get my head around the whole CM thing! I can't even reach my cervix!! And trust me I've tried! I had the coil for 18 months and only once found one of the strings 😂 and how do you tell the difference between ewcm and all that semen hanging around in there??😂

I'm with @Chocolate35 all that opk testing seems to be driving people crazy! I'm only on ttc#1 and cycle #1 so very well may change my mind, but I'm currently firmly in the "let nature take its course" camp. We're dtd every 1-2 days whenever I don't have AF 👍🏼

@FearnRJ oh wow, congratulations! That's amazing

With ov sticks it's actually really easy to miss your surge unless you pee on them twice a day (mid morning at late afternoon). Best thing to do it track cervical mucus and have sex every other day from cd8 until your cm goes pastey.

If you wait until a positive you'll likely miss ovulation unless you can jump on DP right then.

Hahaha @Hmmmbop 😂jump on DP right then!! 😈 love it!!

Haha you guys are great. I'm gonna "hop on" every day from now until I get a positive 😀

Sperm can live up to five or six days, but you’d be nuts to think you can have sex six days prior to ovulating and have the same chances as the day before! There are some sperm left alive at five days sometimes under perfect conditions but that’s info that is more useful when deciding when to avoid sex if you don’t want a pregnancy as there’s the tiniest slimmest chance. Whereas if you’re TTC you don’t want that approach, you want the best chance possible. So have sex every day or every other day leading up to ovulation.

Bin it all! Every single person I know that used ovulation kits has negative experiences.

That’s not been my experience! For almost everyone I know who’s used them online and offline they’ve been a godsend, enabled more accurate cycle tracking and understanding, removed the pressure to have sex every other day of the entire month, meant you can focus your efforts when it’s most likely to be fruitful if you’re busy or encourage you to have sex at times you might not have bothered if you weren’t TTC. I love OPKs and don’t see how they would cause any more stress than just winging it.

@Newbie1981 if you can afford but the clear blue opks they are expensive but I think better in the fact you use them once so not twice or 3 times a day which I think can be quite obsessive.
You use FMU
And they show blank circle of low peak flashing smiley is high peak and static smiley when you are ovulating