OPK help needed, what does it all mean?

[sarah73076]

(posting as new thread, but also posting in Temping Buddies!)

HOLY CRAP! Please help, anyone who knows anything about OPKs as I've never used before!

As I think I've said here or elsewhere, I was just using a box out of curiosity (given to me by a friend, 5 months expired). I used 1-2 a day for the past three days, not being particularly careful to test at same time a day or waiting four hours to pee.

After what just happened, I dug through the bin to get four of them (of course have no idea what order they were done in).

Every single one of those four shows a very faint line, which I understand is to be expected with PCOS (which is why I shouldn't even be using these!).

So the weird thing is the two I did today....

At about 5pm I sat down with one, and for some reason couldn't pee very much, and what did come out mostly missed the stick. I capped it, left it by the side, and thought I'd try again later. I think I waited about an hour then tried again. I did look at it a few times before this and the control line didn't appear and the window didn't seem to have moisture, so I thought might be okay to use again. Sooooo.....I did.....and this time the test line is darker than it's ever been, I think pretty close to the control line (not darker though). Then I freaked out, grabbed DP and raced to bedroom demanding that he 'give me [insert disgusting word DP uses to refer to semen that makes us both laugh]!'

I had one OPK left, so did that at about 9pm, and this time it's pretty much what I'd call a negative result, though it's still darker than any of the others before.

So what do you think ladies? Did I catch my LH surge on the way down? Is a 5 months expired test any good on a PCOS lady? Did I make it go weird by partially peeing on it an hour before the real test? Should I just never be allowed to POAS again? I've been staring at the gallery on FF and think my positive looks a lot like what other people are calling positive!

I told DP I want to BD again tomorrow just in case! How long after pos OPK do you ovulate? Experiences please?

From FF itself....

Ovulation Prediction Kits (OPKs) and Fertility Monitors

Ovulation Prediction Kits (OPKs), also sometimes called Ovulation Prediction Tests (OPTs) have become quite popular and can be quite useful to help you find your fertile time. OPKs work by measuring the presence of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in your urine. LH surges about 24 hours before ovulation. This causes your ovary to produce enzymes which in turn cause the dominant follicle to rupture and release the ovum into the fallopian tube. This is ovulation. An OPK is thus expected to be positive the day before you ovulate. It is also not unusual to see a positive OPK result the same day you ovulate. Following a few guidelines can help you get the most out of your OPK.

Like any product, follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

If you do not test every day from before you expect to be most fertile, you may miss the surge. Likewise, if you test too late, you may miss the surge.

Testing daily once you have started to test is the best strategy since. Your first positive OPK result probably means that you are about to ovulate. Since OPK packages include only a limited number of test strips and are fairly expensive, timing when to start testing is crucial.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions about the time to take your OPK. First morning urine is usually not the best for OPKs since your LH surge usually begins in early morning when you are still sleeping and may not be apparent in your first morning urine. If you test in the early morning, you may miss your surge entirely since LH levels may already be reduced by the next morning. Late morning or early afternoon is usually best unless the instructions (or your doctor) suggest otherwise.

Unless the manufacturer's instructions suggest otherwise, record your OPK results as positive if the test line is as dark as or darker than the control line. Record your results as negative if the test line is lighter than the control line. For digital tests, follow the manufacturer's directions.

Do not rely exclusively on OPK results to time intercourse as you may not see an LH surge (positive OPK) even though you may be fertile. Your increased fertility begins before you see a positive OPK result since sperm can live in the reproductive tract for a few days in fertile cervical fluid.

During your potentially fertile time, have intercourse at least every other day even before you see a positive OPK result. Switch to every single day once you see a positive result until ovulation has been confirmed by your temperature data. (Talk to your doctor about intercourse frequency if you suspect any sperm issues).

Lets hope you did catch it on the way down. I don't really think there is any way of knowing for sure how much you affected your test stick by your earlier attempts so I'd just go for it as if it were a pos.

These kits are of no benefit at all if PCOS is an issue. Please don't waste your cash on such things. Certainly do not use expired kits!!.

These kits measure LH; as an excess of LH is common in such women the kit often reads this excess level instead.

OPK's use two misleading principles; namely that women only have one rise in LH every month and that such a rise is immediately followed by ovulation. Both of these are simply not true.

If PCOS is present as well the surest way of knowing whether ovulation has happened or not is to have a blood test done. Many women with PCOS do need some medical assistance from a gynae in order to conceive.

Thanks ladies, I'm not going to use OPKs ever again--they just make me too obsessive. I only did it this time because they were a) free, and b) sitting next to the toilet, mocking me with the cute baby on the front.

I did have a blood test once that apparently told them I wasn't ovulating (that cycle anyway). I know that I do ovulate in some cycles due to temps rising and really painful boobs about 3 days afterward. I will just have to BD every other day whenever it might be remotely possible that I'm ovulating! Poor DP.