How accurate are opk sticks - please help!

[MayDay27]

I've had a positive test recently although after a few scans blood tests it doesn't look good.

I've got one major question though!! My cycles are 28/30 days and after using opks for the past few months it appears I ovulate day 20. This month I got my peak on the 31/03 so assumed to have ovulated around the 01/04. After testing positive I've had some spotting and the EPU did some blood tests and scans. They asked me the first day of my last period which was 12/03 and on the 22/04 dated me 6 weeks my scan showed 7mm gestational sac but nothing else. Based on this they have said they should see more and be prepared for miscarriage (I have another scan on Thursday).

I don't disagree and have prepared for the worse but I was always dating myself from
the day of ovulate which was a week earlier. Does anyone know whether this is more/less reliable than day of first period and if so for next time how will I know my ovulation day more reliably?

Thanks!

I have long cycles and I always consider ovulation as "2 weeks" and count from there. Makes you 5 weeks. I would've expected them to have known that as well but maybe a "computer says no" kinda thing.

Maybe still a possibility that all good as 5 weeks is too early to see anything I think?

Hi @ApplePie86 thanks for your reply, well I've not mentioned it to them yet, I think at my next appointment I'll see depending on what the scan says. The problem is that they've done my bloods as well and my hcg levels are really high much more consistent with 6 weeks than 5 weeks so I think based on that they are pretty sure I'm more the 6 than 5. I was just wondering how accurate the opk sticks I use are and if they could be a week out? But how would I get an lh surge a week after I've ovulated in so confused!! At the scan on Thursday they saw a gestational sac of 7mm but not yolk sac or embryo which I think you should see from 5.5 weeks but I'm not sure!

@MayDay27 I think unless you have fertility issues like PCOS then I don't see OPKs being wrong (I have PCOS and even OPKs work for me).

If your cycles are fairly regular and you've been ovulating around that time and OPK confirms it for last month I'd say it's pretty accurate.

Of course it could still end with not so great news.

BUT...HCG levels vary massively.

I really hope this works out positively. I have my hopes up for you 🥰

@ApplePie86 thank you! It's just good to hear that they are reliable! I'll see what happens Thursday!

I found them reliable. I am now 18 weeks. Initially nhs calculator told me my due date was around a week earlier. I knew id ovulated late, around day 22. At my booking appointment they basically said wait for your 12 week scan. Ive since had 2 private scans at 8 weeks, 11 weeks and 12 weeks, all of these scans agreed with my ovulation dates x

Hope all goes well, i feel for you. I had a miscarriage last july and found the wait between appointments awful. Fingers crossed for you x

Hi @kent1991 yes the waiting and not knowing is the worst! I'm now wondering if I could have implanted really early at day 3/4 to try and make sense of things! I just have to try not to think about it until Thursday!

All my fingers crossed for you, i found keeping busy helped where i could xx @MayDay27