Never getting a positive OPK

[lilyflower1803]

Hi,

Irregular cycles here. Started temping and testing last month, did an OPK daily and never saw a surge until right before my period came. It was a short cycle for me (25 days) when mine can go up to 40 days and apparently I ovulated on day 10 (?) but the tests were so light- usually I thought it was around day 20!

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this? I tried multiple times a day/different levels of hydration and still couldn't manage to get one. This cycles not looking very hopeful either..

Are you using the premom type tests? I would test twice a day (morning and evening) for a whole cycle in case you peak really quickly. I would have missed two of mine if I didn't have my eye in and was testing twice a day (I test three times a day when I see anything suspicious).

Are you testing for your whole cycle? I spent months testing from a few days before when I thought I'd ovulate based on my (longish) cycle length, and had no luck at all. I finally twigged that I ovulate very early in my cycle and had been missing it.

That said I found CM much more reliable once I learned to understand my body better.

Yes I'm using the premom tests. I used one step in the past but still never got a positive even when I thought I was ovulating! The only time I got a positive was when I was pregnant 🤣

I wonder if it happens quite quickly. I do only usually test once a day, perhaps I need to try more. How quickly can the surge happen and be over and done with?

Thank you for you reply :)

Hi

Yes I've been doing everyday due to my cycles being all over the place

Usually I go off symptoms but I was a bit thrown if I think back to last cycle, EWCM when I thought I would usually ovulate (around day 20) but actual ovulation happened just as I finished my period so very early on! Really surprised me!

When i used these ovulation tests I never got a single positive. I would also test multiple times a day.
I switched to the Clear Blue ones where you get flashing or static smiley faces and these worked straight away. I ovulated way later than I thought so this helped me understand my cycle more.
They're alot more expensive but I found once I understood my cycle better, I could be more sparing with the sticks and it didnt cost so much.
I used these for 3 months before I got my BFP.

So for me, I can be 0.4 at 7am, 1.4 (so peak) at 1pm and back down to 0.6 by evening. So even testing twice a day I could miss it.

Glad I'm not alone, maybe I try the clear blue ones! Was put off by the price as my cycles are irregular but could use both, so when I think I'm due to ovulate I could try the clear blue!

@Whatabouthow

That's really interesting- I wonder if I'm the same, I just had a very small increase (I'm day 11 and have never got a reading as high as 0.18 🤣-although I know that's low and still negative), last month I ovulated on day 10 so I'm keeping an eye, have ovulation signs (EWCM and cramps)

Wonder if it's already happened or if it's gearing up to !

@lilyflower1803 keep testing and let us know! Best of luck!

It's gone back down to 0.06 so would this be my 'peak', I've never had tests this dark before as on day 11 (yesterday)?

I keep trying to add the photo of the tests but it won't post with it attached!

Frustrating isn't it.
I got a high reading on day 11, but no other high tests around it. Then thought I peaked on day 17, but now on day 21 I'm getting even higher peaks!
I did 3 times a day testing from day 11 in case there were rapid spikes like others have said.
Good luck ✨

I think you should try to test twice a day so you don't miss out. I would keep testing and then when you periods arrive you can go back 14 days and see what kind of result you had back then to learn what peak looks like for you.
At one point I stopped testing and relied on being able to tell my ovulation from feeling aroused and EWCM and that worked for me as it took some pressure off and I just seduced my DH because I felt aroused.

So a little update. This is what it is looking like. I think I have ovulated! And have now had a high-ish result on an opk! First time ever!!

Question: do you ovulate on the day your temp drops?

Also not actively TTC this month