Are my OPKs normal?

[Katnissx]

I'm not really sure where I am in my cycle due to a suspected CP last month, but I've been doing OPKs (mostly twice a day) and I keep finding they will get darker, nearly as dark as the control like but then be fainter again the next time I test and then a day or so later be darker again and then faint and so on. I haven't got a positive yet. Is this normal?
I've circled some of the ones where I feel like the test is darker in picture 2 to show what I mean.
Other months I haven't been able to pinpoint ovulation with OPKs either.

Mine do that a bit- I'm always getting high readings. Tbh I think it's the brand I'm using (bulk pack from amazon) I've started temping the last 2 month's to be sure of when I have actually ovulated and it matched one of my darker days and I've ignored the rest. I also go off my cm as some of the days that looked really dark I know I wasn't fertile.

Thanks, yeah I tried a new brand this month as I'd heard the Onestep ones I was using aren't always that reliable on showing a positive. But the new ones I have (Wondfo) are meant to be better but now not so sure.. I keep thinking they're going to turn positive and then they don't, so annoying!
I keep trying to temp but end up waking up through the night with DS so it never seems I've been asleep long enough to do the temp 😕

I've brought mine off Amazon, MomMed they are called and I got 40 ovulation sticks. However my results are the same as yours! I don't seem to have my postive just yet! Praying I get it soon before AF comes.

Thanks for the reply @anee786f , nice to know it's not just me! I hope someone might have an answer for why it's happening 😬
How long have you been trying for? X

Hi, this happened to me too this cycle. Now I've ditched the OPK strips and have DTD every day for 20 days, then stopped when I ovulated confirmed by a temp rise. Will use CB digital (purple one) next month if I haven't caught as it takes the guesswork out of the strips I think x

You're welcome @Katnissx I know it's just so annoying. Last month I did use the clear blue ovulation pink tests even then no smiley face showed up! This month thought I would try the cheaper sticks instead 😨 I had a miscarriage in July 2019 so every since then have been trying 😭 seems like forever! X

Ahh okay @danielasummer I'm thinking of purchasing CB digital purple ones also... x

Hey I've just been reading up on this as and high LH throughout your cycle could be a sign of PCOS so might be worth asking a doctor about testing for it

@lucymagoo thank you so much for your reply. That's so helpful, I had no idea the two could be linked! I have wondered before if I could have PCOS as I have very irregular periods and seem to have anovulation some months. But I don't have any of the other symptoms so thought probably not. This has given me steam to go back to the DRs and ask them to do some more testing!

@anee786f sorry to hear about your MC. I had a MC before I fell pregnant with my DS and I can remember how hard the wait was to fall pregnant again and you just desperately want it. It was about 6 months until I fell pregnant after the MC and felt like an eternity, but it was so worth the wait. I really hope it happens for you soon 🤞

Rather than take 2 a day, it's much easier to compare how the level of your hormone is changing if you take 1 per day, and try to take it at the exact same time every day - the instructions on my ones says ideally in the middle of the day somewhere between 10am-6pm. LH fluctuates a lot throughout the day with the highest level between those hours. Might show a clearer pattern that way?

Thank you @bluemoon2468, I will give that a go. I have a serious POAS addiction hah, I also worry about missing the peak if I only do once a day. But that does sound like a more sensible way and eliminates the fluctuations 👍x

@anee786f let me know how you get on with the CB. I'm holding off on buying one until I get AF this cycle, just incase I'm lucky and don't need to order one! x

@Katnissx dw you definitely won't miss the peak 😊 it lasts for at least a day if not two so 1 per day will catch it!

@Katniss thank you! I'm glad to hear your story gives me hope and I really hope I get pregnant soon fingers crossed 😇 I'm going to put a picture up of my ovulation stick chart 🙈

I've started spotting since yesterday and my whole body is aching, I've got a cold 😷😭

@danielasummer sure will do just waiting for my AF to start properly 😭 then will order it

@anee786f hope you don't have to buy one this cycle!! But if you do, we'll experiment with them together :) x

I could never get a positive on those cheap ones. I bought the clear blue ones and literally dipped in the same urine and the cheap strip was still faint but clear blue was positive

@lucymagoo just wanted to send a quick update as you got me started thinking about PCOS and prompted me to go to the GP... I had bloods done a few weeks ago showing a slight imbalance and had an ultrasound yesterday and they found lots of follicles in my left ovary which I've been told is indicative of PCOS. So I just wanted to say a big thank you for commenting on my post and sending me in the right direction for help ❤️ really shows what a difference this forum can make xx