Another month another cycle. How to correctly read opk strips PLEASE HELP! (Pics included)

[PoppyGirl222]

We pulled the goalie in December so January was our first month trying technically, i got my period last week 19/01 and it’s away now 23/01 which is grand i wasn’t expecting anything this month but turns out ttc is a minefield of information. So these are the tests today this morning. One step - green, Clear & simple- dark blue, Easy@home - light blue. How do i know which is right? I ovulated day 8/9 last month (early i know, don’t know if that matters good or bad) and i’m on CD 5 currently. Obviously we do it all month but decided from December we were going to put in a little extra effort during the window. I know there’s an app that reads the tests i’ve downloaded it but i mean why do the tests all look different with their lines. According to the e@h one that line’s getting stronger yea? But the others say nope not yet. How many times a day do you test it? Next month I’ll have a thermometer i’m gonna order one today but even that i’m clueless with like what the temp should be, does it go up and down i’m lost totally lost. The more i read the more confused i get lol. I need a simple guide lol.
Thanks in advance x

Hey!

I would recommend just sticking with one brand of OPK, easy at home is usually best!

I would give it a few days before you start testing. I usually start testing around CD10 and I get my peak around CD15. Make sure when you are testing, that you are doing one at least twice a day. Sometimes mine can be no where near positive and then 6 hours later they are blazing!

lve attached a pic of what it will look like when you’re close to ovulation, I would recommend baby dancing the day before a test this dark, on the day you get a test like this and the day after. If you can manage to get the day after that then even better!

I think if you can do that, you should be covered.

wishing you luck💗

@LucyLou0527 Thanks so much. That’s soo dark that’s a great picture for me to check mine with. I tend to ovulate early so i’d started testing last month the day after my period finished (probably enthusiasm lol) and it was day 9 i actually think because it definitely was the slightest but darker that day than day 8…unless i missed it by only checking once whoops. Anyway we did it two days before, day before, day of and day after. We weren’t lucky this time but it was only the first month. I’ll do two a day from now on, i’ll do morning and afternoon. Are you ttc? I’ve not told anyone we’re trying because then you get people asking and i put enough pressure on myself in life without others joining in. It’s great to talk to genuinely nice people on here with zero judgement just good honest advice. This only my second post but i find it a dead nice space. x

Yeah that all sounds perfect!

Ive been ttc since July last year, I had a MC in November 23 so decided to take a break but I wish I didn’t as it just feel like it’s taking forever now!

Will this be your first baby? It will be mine!

I honestly love mumsnet, I’ve been on a thread with the same ladies since September and we all update each other through out the month it’s so nice and reassuring to speak to people in the same boat. My friends know I’m trying but they don’t have children and aren’t at that stage yet so they don’t understand anything about the process! They think you just have sex and a baby pops out 9 months later haha if only it was that simple x

@LucyLou0527 I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, life’s so dam cruel and rubbish at times. Maybe the break was a good thing because you might have burnt out otherwise. Yea this will be my first baby, he’s got no children either. I’m on the older end of the scale now, i’m 38 i know it’s not the end of the world but i didn’t expect to meet the absolute love of my life and for everything to fall into my lap like a fairytale honestly i just thought i’d be alone forever. I’ve been with him since 2022. We’re getting married 2026 and a little baby would just mean the world to us. Awk i really hope you get a positive soon. When are you due your period? Mine’s due Valentine’s Day bloody typical 🙄 guess who’ll show up to ruin the day.