Positive but short OPK, I think- any reassurance?

[HeavenlyHoping]

Hello all…

I’m hoping someone can give me some reassurance and advice. I’m currently obsessing reading google and mumsnet feeds from years ago trying to find someone in the same position as me…I didn’t want to get so obsessive trying for a baby but here I am….

So sadly I had a natural miscarriage in June this year at 9 weeks (blighted ovnum), period came back within 5 weeks and the 2 since have been 28 and 29 days. We only started ttc last month again but we wasn’t so lucky so this month I decided to start testing with Easy@home opk strips. To say I’ve become a little obsessive is an understatement.
I started on CD13 with very faint test lines as expected…. Testing 3-4 times a day, holding wee for Approx 3-4 hrs, minimal water. Dtd CD17. Moving onto CD18 I got a lot of EWCM. CD19 my test line was gradually darker so we dtd, CD20 tests getting darker still but partner wasn’t home to dtd. CD21 my 10am one was darker still, 2pm I would say the lines were as dark as eachother (so technically positive?) then 6pm me and OH said my test was slightly darker. Premom app also put this darker so we dtd/legs up for 30 mins after. I was so relieved as I thought I had peaked. ANYWAY I always test before bed at 10pm so I did another test and it was lighter than my earlier one, maybe the same as control line or maybe slightly lighter. Then CD22 am this morning it was definately lighter, 10am and 2pm have again decreased.
I have scanned google and mumsnet and from my understanding women get a peak and it stays positive for days. I technically only had one test strip darker (although not massively darker) Does the test strips turning negitive so quickly mean anything? Did I surge to ovulate? I feel deflated now and worrying…

Ive attached my Premom app image which shows my peak (CD21 6pm) and I’ve also attached a photo of my 2pm (identical lines so assume positive) test strips for closer inspection lol.

Any guidance on this I’d be really grateful…my OH tells me to relax but it’s easier said than done when you read so much and understand it’s how technical conceiving is…. Thank you in advance to anyone willing to read my short story long!

My peak lasts literally a few hours it starts rising in the evening peaks probably in the middle of the night because the mornings test is peak then by the evening it's already dropping so totally normal not to have peaks that last ages! Good luck with TTC

Hi OP, no you do not need to have positives for days for it to mean anything, as long as you've got a positive opk you can be pretty sure you've ovulated. I don't want to add to your obsession but you could try temping, then you'd know for sure you've ovulated. I personally used to temp but don't bother anymore, just use opks now.

Thankyou both @bringmearainbow & @Girlfolk for coming back to me so quickly! It’s reassuring to hear short is ok. I panicked assuming it’s supposed to stay peak high for a couple of days. I wasn’t expecting my tests to decrease so quickly.
Looking at my images would you agree I hit a peak? Does 1.32 seem high enough? Again, I’ve seen people posting pics of a lot higher.
Can I ask how long have you both been ttc for?
I know I’m only technically in month 2 but I’m already feeling the stress take over me which I know doesnt help. After coming off the pill and my periods being somewhat irregular and being 34 I just hope it takes quickly.
@Girlfolk I did buy a thermometer a few days ago actually but I’ve not seen a temp increase yet, I sit around 36.20… how many days does it take to spike after a positive opk?

I also used premom, I usually only got a peak of about 1.1 for a couple of hours before tests went negative again. I successfully conceived so I'd say not a problem at all to have a short peak. I also used bbt to confirm ovulation, I usually ovulated about 2 days after my lh peak, so DTD again today if you can!

@HeavenlyHoping yes that's a good peak sometimes I get one just over 1 so a lot lower but then I only do a couple of tests when I see it rising so probs just miss anything higher. I've been TTC for 18 months I fall pregnant within one or 2 cycles but I keep losing them. When I was temping with a thermometer I wouldnt get my rise until about 3 days after O day it's not always instant. Now I track with my Apple Watch which isn't as accurate but once you know what your looking at you can see a rise and drop clear enough. If you can manage it without stressing yourself too much keep with the tracking you can learn a lot about your body doing it

I am in exactly the same position as you and completely feel you when you say its now an obsession.
I have been testing for ovulation since my miscarriage three weeks ago and i finally got a peak fertility this morning. I haven't previously had any high results. Just this mornings peak, all my other ones have been negative. I am guessing my LH rises and falls very quickly.
Good luck ttc! Hoping we can all share some good news soon.

Hi @LavenderSweetPea Thankyou for coming back to me & congratulations, it’s reassuing to hear you conceived with a short surge! I’ll keep an eye on my tempreture for the next 2/3 days and see if it confirms my ovulation. Assuming if no spike I didn’t ovulate?
I did have more EWCM yesterday and twinges in my lower left ovary area yesterday and today so hopefully something is happening! Yes! OH has been prepped we go again tonight haha.. fingers crossed!

Thanks @bringmearainbow sorry to hear about your losses! At least you can get pregant fairly easily, that’s something… Hopefully the next one sticks, fingers crossed for you!
i will defo keep an eye on my temp and see what happens. Since doing these OPKs for just over a week I have actually learnt so much through google and mumsnet and actually how small of a window we have and technical it all is. I was originally following the flo app but this peak was exactly a week late so I would of actually missed my chance if I just used the app.

Hi @tlw14 sorry to hear about your loss, I also had a m/c earlier this year and it’s tough but we have to keep positive and try again… what’s meant to be will be and hopefully we can all share good news soon. Have you tested again this afternoon? Are you still ‘peak’ or are your results decreasing too?

Yeah anything over a 1 on Premom means it’s darker than the control line, so that’s classed as a peak.
I’m currently TTC baby number 2 and in my 9th cycle trying, was trying for my first for 6 cycles. I did temping when I was trying for my first. I can’t remember how long it takes for temp to spike but it might be worth using an app to track that, it may take a little while to establish your baseline temp (a full cycle ideally) and you should make sure you’re always taking your temp the minute you wake up to get it most accurate. Basically temping takes commitment to make it properly accurate!

@HeavenlyHoping perfectly normal. Mine peaks even quicker than yours with barely any any rising until peak day when BAM get my high readings and then straight back down. Have conceived 3 times this year... Hoping this one sticks around 🙏🌈

This was last cycle. I only DTD twice this cycle - peak opk day and day after (presumed ovulation).

@HeavenlyHoping i haven’t tested again no.. I have digital ones so it stays as peak for 48 hours so I can’t retest. It’s probably a good thing to be honest though as it does get a bit much when doing it all the time. Sends us crazy!!
my last two pregnancies I’ve conceived quickly, the last time we literally had sex once in 6 weeks and I fell pregnant so I’m hoping it doesn’t take too long this time round either.

@SnookyPook hello! Sorry to intrude but I’m very new to these test strips - I prefer digital but they are SO EXPENSIVE!

Ive just downloaded the app myself but I don’t understand how premom has marked a higher score for the 25th sept vs the 27th and 26th sept when the line is clearly darker? Am I missing something 😅 xx

@Yolo23 it isn't always perfect although lighting etc on the pics plays a part. I always keep the strips and it's always clear to the naked eye tbf when there is a rise/peak. This is just a gimmick. When I conceived my son I just gauged it by eye and it obviously worked 🤪 In this case, it was clear from both app and naked eye that the peak was morning of 26th so that was all I needed to know, combined with seeing it drop again the next couple of days.

As for DTD, you don't have to do it the minute you see the peak - as long as you've done it (ideally) sometime in the 24hrs preceding and the 24hrs after. As you can see, my peak reading was 9.30ish am. I had dtd midnight the previous night, and did again midnight that night, and we got our BFP. We hadn't managed any more during fertile days due to toddler being poorly and needy so it was literally twice and got lucky.

Good luck to you all.

Hi,

I use cheap OPK's alongside the digital advanced clear blue OPK's which really take the guesswork out of it for me, I highly recommend them.
You get a flashing smiley face leading up to ovulation, then a solid smiley face when an LH surge is detected which is the green light to dtd (or inseminate in my case)

Good luck

Thanks @SnookyPook - it’s reassurring yours are quick and also successful, sorry for your previous loses but yes fingers crossed for you now. How far along are you?
We dtd yesterday which was my day of peak and today but we wernt able to the day before my peak, but we did the day before that so hopefully that’s enough and we’re covered!

@Girlfolk thankyou that’s good to know! By eye it was peak and Premom measures as peak but where it’s my first time I’ve just compared everything to google and got worried. Good luck to you on baby #2!

@tlw14 Ahh I need the ones where I can’t test for 48hrs, would save alot of anxiety lol. If I’m not lucky enough this month I may even try the CB digitals next month to save the stress 4 x day.
Congratulations on your previous quick pregnancies! Hopefully we can all share some of your good luck! All my fingers are crossed!

It would be great to hear any success stories, good luck to all! X

Tagging to follow as similar situation, praying for us xx

When I did opks I got a peak two days before ovulation and the day after a peak my tests were very light reading at 0.5 even tho I have yet to ovulate.

@HeavenlyHoping I would 100% recommend the digital a. Yes they are more pricey but it really does stop you guessing what line is darker.
and you are completely right, not being able to test does save a lot of anxiety. Otherwise I think I would be testing before we had sex everytime which just kills the mood.

really hoping to see some positive stories on this thread soon. I think I am now in the TWW and will really try my best not to test as I don’t want to feel disheartened

@HeavenlyHoping totally normal to have a quick surge. Some women have long ones that last for days and some have short ones.

I always have short surges. Lh would rise, peak then fall again within a day, sometimes within 12 hours or so.

I conceived just fine on cycle 5 of trying, with a peak that lasted less than 4 hours. 12+4 today and all is well.

@HeavenlyHoping certainly sounds like you've given yourself a good chance 🤞🏻 Thanks, I'm only at 5+2 so very early days and feeling quite tentative still but here's hoping 🙏🌈

@SnookyPook thank you so much 🥰 I appreciate the insight and additional info. Really useful and so pleased you got your BFP ✨ xxx

This is great news @XenaTheWarriorPrincess, congratulations too! It’s good to hear that there’s no exact textbook for everyone. I’m Currently in my tww at 6dpo and my bbt is looking good so far so I’m keeping everything crossed, feels like the longest wait!!

Hey @xxxndbm welcome, how are you getting on? It would be nice to chat to anyone in the same position ttc/tww. Where are you at in your cycle?

Just remember that sperms can live for up to 7 days inside you so if you try to dtd every 3 or 4 days from the end of your period till mid cycle you'll have it covered.

Only managed to DTD day before ovulation as was away in build up.

had a couple of headaches, couple of light twinges/pains but could be completely unrelated as I’m only 5/6 DPO.

doubt it’ll happen this month but will keep you all updated. Xx

@xxxndbm oh same as me then, I’m 6dpo, it’s a long ol’ wait isn’t it!
I’m the same with symptom spotting but as you said we’re quite early really. I’ve had twinges/left side ovary pains, headaches and even mild waves of nausea but it’s probably more in my head or related to the luteal phase. I’m trying to keep positive but I also don’t want to be too positive and really disheartened. It’s tough.
Do you track your tempreture? This is my first month and I’ve already become obsessed but it is interesting. How long have you been trying to conceive for? Would this be your first pregnancy?