First time using OPK’s - help!

[katie416]

Hey ladies. Af arrived today so I caved and bought some OPK’s because just winging it doesn’t seem to be working this time round. All I use is a period tracking app and dtd around when that says I’m ovulating but no luck as of yet. Baby no 1 was an amazing surprise and now we’re ttc baby no 2. Definitely had unrealistic expectations of how fast it would happen this time round. Can anyone explain how to use them?! Obviously I know it’s just poas 🤣 but how do you read them, when in your cycle should you start testing and how long for etc.? If anyone has any tips please do let me know. Also hardened ttc ladies, how do you manage to keep your strength up when you know you’re out that month as I’m feeling so defeated x

How long are your cycles?

Best thing to do would be to download the free Premom app, you upload your tests into there and it automatically detects your ovulation for you based on the results. Over time it is very accurate with predicting fertile periods for you.

As it's your first time using OPKs I would start tracking as your period finishes, you test initially once a day but not FMU. Then when your tests start to darken you can test more (two or three times a day, still not with FMU). You can stop testing once a peak has been confirmed and your tests go back to negative.

If not using an app, then you are looking for the test line to be darker than the control line to confirm ovulation.

Tracking ovulation becomes a lot more accurate when combined with tracking BBT, with that you take your temperature prior to getting up each morning and log it. Again if you have the Premom app it will use the information to confirm ovulation, etc.

@OctopusWave I agree 100%.

Premom is great, and takes away your guess work. It quantifies your results, so if you like black and white results, this is the closest you’re going to get. OPKs tell you when you’re about to ovulate, ie when you need to dtd.

BBT tracking is free (after you’ve bought a two decimal place thermometer!) and more accurate than OPKs. But, it only confirms that you have ovulated, so you’d need to dtd pdq to catch the egg!

Another vote for Premom, it’s really good

@Pollywoddles My cycles are about 29 days

Thank you so much for that @OctopusWave thats so helpful exactly what I was looking for 🥰

I’ve already downloaded Premom app in anticipation 😂 I’ve got easy@home tests and it recommended that app in the description so glad to hear it’s a good one to use.

Off to look for a 2 decimal place thermometer right now @FoodFann haha x

Hi girls, hopefully one of you will see this and be able to reply to me. I started testing yesterday (first day after my period) and decided to test 2x a day. Does this look right? I know it’s only been a couple of days and it does look like the levels are steadily rising but other tests I’ve seen they jump like .10 a day and obviously mine have only gone from .21 to .29 in just over 24hrs. Thanks ladies xx

Yeah completely normal, mine didn't even normally steadily rise, they were all low (different readings completely) and then suddenly shot up for ovulation. Once you get your peak then ovulation usually occurs within 12 to 48 hours 😊

@OctopusWave Thank you! Unfortunately now I’ve had the lowest yet of 0.15 this afternoon so not sure what’s happened there as it’s clearly dropped quite a bit 😵‍💫 is that what you mean when you say you had different readings? X

@katie416 dont worry too much about the numbers, just concentrate on the low result for now. Try to tests around the same time everyday with a couple of hours of urine hold and make sure you take the photos in the same place with the same lighting for most accuracy. The numbers will vary throughout your cycle and that really doesn’t matter. What you are looking for is a high reading, that’s when to start DTD, for you it won’t start to rise until around day 14/15 of your cycle. Once you get your peak result, you’ll likely ovulate around 24 hours after.

@katie416
Your LH doesn’t start low and steadily rise to a peak, it will fluctuate over the course of your cycle. Until your test line is as dark as or darker than the control line then it’s not positive. You’re testing very early too, I really wouldn’t start until CD10 or so with that expectation that my peak would be anywhere from CD12 to CD15 for a 29 day cycle.

Are you temping as well this cycle?

@PickledScrump @Pollywoddles Thank you for your replies. I was under the impression that it should just like steadily rise and then peak not be all over the place 🙈 but it makes sense now.
I haven’t been temping as I thought you were supposed to start the first day of your period and I didn’t so was going to do that next cycle when I start afresh x

Got my first high result this morning and it’s definitely darker than the control line 🥰 fingers crossed 🤞🏼 x

@katie416 yay. Get DTD today and tomorrow. It may stay high for a while or it might dip again quickly both are absolutely fine. Good luck

@katie416 Yay 😁😁 Go go gooooo!!!!

@PickledScrump @Pollywoddles Thank you both!
I got a higher result which was my peak and then just tested again and it’s still high but started to dip. Patiently waiting for my oh to get home from golf so we can dtd 🤣🤣 x