OPK help. Photos attached, any/all help appreciated!

[MrsBP15]

Apologies for what will no doubt be really obvious to some. Summary below along with photos 😊

On day 7 of current cycle, decided to take OPK as soon as period finished as Flo app was saying I’d be fertile within a few days and I just wanted to check/didn’t want to miss anything.

We DTD on Monday and Tuesday night and will probably continue to have sex whilst there is some kind of line there so as not to miss anything.

My question is, is it “normal” to get second line so soon after finishing period? I know I haven’t had a positive test but I don’t want to “go for it” too much with my husband and then find in a week we should be doing it every day/every other day. Fortunately, having sex regularly isn’t a problem for us if you know what I mean 😏 but I’m only human not to mention totally shattered with work 🤣

Thanks all!

OPKs will usually give you a line every day at any point in your cycle. It's the darkness of the line relative to the control thats the important thing. It doesn't really appear to be getting any darker currently (suggesting ovulation isn't imminent) but keep testing ever day as they often suddenly change.

Hi there, I’m not expert but have been obsessive about my ttc journey so can tell you what I’ve learnt!

i always get a second line regardless of where I am in my cycle I think that’s pretty normal for most. Lh tests are different to preg tests in that way. It’s all about how darkt the second line is. The second line will get steadily darker for some the closer you are to O or will stay quite light then suddenly be super dark when the time is right. Everyone is slightly different but if you have an app to log them in then you will see your pattern each month.

your Monday one does look slightly dark but as you know it’s not a positive until it’s undeniably as dark if not darker than the control line.

If it helps be more consistent id make sure you were testing at the same times each day, pick a time and stick to it if you can and make sure you’re holding for the same amount of time each time. As they get darker I’d recommend testing twice a day so as to catch your “peak”, 11am and 4/5/6pm for example as lh is normally present from mid morning to early evening.

hope that helps!

Thank you both so much that is really helpful!

I tend to test at about 7:00am every morning (apart from the odd lie in at the weekend). I’ve had a few come back with no line at all and I have had a few with a darker line as well which prompts us to DTD. Would you say DTD when the line is dark or is it a good idea to do it a couple of days afterwards too? Presumably before is good as well but it does seem to creep up on me despite testing every day!

i’m so grateful for Mumsnet there is SO much that no one tells you about TTC. I don’t have a bloody clue!!!

Yes totally normal this is what mine looked like last cycle and ovulation was on cd13.

Thank you, that's really helpful. So is it generally that the day after you have a positive test, is when you would ovulate?

@MrsBP15 yes a day or two after peak.

@MrsBP15 For me it’s two days after a first positive.

Thank you for replying so quickly. So sounds like it is good to DTD the day you get positive test and the two days afterwards to cover all bases?

@MrsBP15 Exactly I always aim for day of peak. There was a study that shows the day before ovulation had highest rates of conception.

Ok great thank you! I suppose there’s no way of knowing if it’s the day before ovulation or is that when the line is darkest? Sorry so many questions!!

@MrsBP15 you can’t really know if it’s the day before ovulation or not. After some time you get a hang of how your Lh rises and you get better at knowing when you’re ovulating.

I'd recommend using the Easy@home ovulation tests. There's an app called Premom that you can upload the strips to and it helps you track your peak.
It's also recommended to test in the afternoon and not the morning as that is when levels are highest (opposite from pregnancy tests).
I tested 2-3 times per day for my first cycle to make sure I didn't miss a surge as sometimes they can be over very fast.

Thanks so much both. Tracking is helping me learn more about when I peak etc and I’m testing every day other than when I’m on my period. I’ll be honest, testing in the afternoon is tricky for me as I work full time (not from home) so logistically I’m not sure I’d manage at work. I use ovulation strips from Amazon (pictured above) and they seem easy to read, not sure if they are easy@home or not? I’ve heard of premom, might look into getting it!