Ovulation testing and so on!

[DanTheVan]

Hi, I'm a first time poster in these here parts, but a longtime MNer! No DC yet.

I've started testing for ovulation this month. It's for IUI (intrauterine insemination) so it's quite important to nail down exactly when I ovulate. (Not trying yet, just getting to grips with testing!)

I have a 26-28 day cycle.
So far when testing, first thing:
Day 12 - faint line.
Day 13 - faint line.
Day 14 - much darker line.
Day 15 (today) - line as dark as test line.
Day 15 evening - line as dark as test line.

So from this I'm thinking day 15 is my peak. I had assumed it would be one day with a dark line and maybe a faint line the days either side of that, whereas this seems a bit vaguer. Will test again tomorrow...

I've been reading conflicting things, some suggest testing later in the day is better (I had assumed first thing as urine more concentrated). Also that ovulation actually happens 12-36 hours after the peak. Also differing estimates on how long sperm takes to reach the right place, (although I'm thinking it's a bit more direct with IUI).

At this point I realise I've been so focused on preparing to have a child in my life, I haven't really done my research on how to make one!

Pretty much any advice appreciated, I know MNers are a knowledgeable lot!

I feel like there should be some online course you sign up to when you decide to stop contraception and actually TRY to have a baby.

-I’ve found the easy at home ovulation tests are best as you can download the premom app and take a picture of each test, it gives you a digital score for each, compares them for you and plots it all on a graph.
-In terms of when to take the tests it’s anyone’s guess. Some, like the clear blue digital ovulation ones you’re supposed to do with first morning urine, whereas the easy at home ones you can do any time from what I’ve read. Some say they’re best in night/morning etc but I just decided to do them A LOT at all times as I got a box of 100 on Amazon. You just need to hold your wee for 2-3 hours first for the best result.
-Yip some places even say 24-48 hours after your peak reading is ovulation but in my book it said it’s very rare for women to ovulate that late and it’s most likely 24 hours for most people.

good luck!

Thanks!
Yes a course would be great wouldn't it. Kind of the opposite of school sex education, where you are TRYING to get pregnant, not avoid it!

I've downloaded the premom app now, and logged test results so far, which has made things a lot clearer. It seems the peak was yesterday morning, so am likely ovulating today.

I think I'll test morning and evening approaching my next peak to get the most accurate idea.