20 day OPKs.. some very beginner questions...

After "winging it" for 2 months and using EWCM as a guide, I decided to bite the bullet and use some OPKs. I have a 20 pack of First Response OPKs from a friend.

My questions:
1. I'm headed to Vegas in 10 days. I will be there for CDs12-18, pretty much my most fertile time based on past experience with EWCM. My dilemma is that I don't know what to do about testing the same time every day because of the time difference. If I were home that entire time, I'd probably do it in the evening, like at 6:00. But there is no guarantee I'll be in my hotel room at 3:00 every day. (Same applies with the AM, if I do it at 6am here, I'm DEFINITELY not waking up at 3am there to do it!) How important is testing at the same time each day?

2. 20 days seems a bit of overkill, considering I think I have a rough idea of when I O base on EWCM (~CD15). What if, instead of doing 1 a day for 20 days, I did it 2x a day for 10 days (CD 10-20, maybe?) that way it would probably be less of a big deal that i can't do it at the same time every day? I'm, obviously, making this up.

Any pearls of wisdom would be appreciated on this lovely Friday!

TIA!

Re: 20 day OPKs.. some very beginner questions...

first let me ask - how long are your cycles? there is no need to test for 20 days straight unless you don't get a surge. i have short cycles and always started testing on CD 8 or 9. (CD 6 or 7 was recommended but i thought that was overkill). you test until you get the positive then BD that day and two more days in a row if you can.

secondly, i never tested the same time every day. as long as it's in the afternoon and you have held your urine for 3-4 hours without drinking much, you should be fine.

if you're testing in the afternoon (you should not use FMU), i personally don't see the need to test twice a day but not everyone will agree with me.

do you get any other O syptoms? like O pains, cramping, etc?

also, i used to check my CP (cervical postition). it was always high (hard to reach) and very soft right before i O'd so i knew i HAD to BD as soon as possible. i checked several times a day to be sure!

Re: 20 day OPKs.. some very beginner questions...

Re: 20 day OPKs.. some very beginner questions...

Re: 20 day OPKs.. some very beginner questions...

1. its not so much the time of day that is important, but rather that ur urine is either FMU or u have held it for at least 4 hours so the LH can have time to build up.

2. i agree 20 is excessive. i think you should start using them like 3 days before you normally o and then once u get a positive keep testing and then once the positive goes away u can stop.

good luck!

Re: 20 day OPKs.. some very beginner questions...

Just a follow-up. The 20 are all sealed together. It says once you open the pouch that you can't use them after 30 days... so that's why I thought I would double up and do them twice a day instead of stretching them out over 20.

Again, just making this up....

Re: 20 day OPKs.. some very beginner questions...

Message edited 10/30/2009 2:06:26 PM.

Re: 20 day OPKs.. some very beginner questions...

I have always had success using OPKs once a day after holding pee for as long as possible, not FMU. Only testing once & I have always gotten a + test following these steps & beginning testing on CD10 and testing until I got +.

Re: 20 day OPKs.. some very beginner questions...

Posted by headoverheels

Posted by melbalalala

first let me ask - how long are your cycles?

On average, they are about 29 days. Not sure if that's short or what that means about when I should start?

that's totally normal. you will probably be "told" by the OPKs (there should be a guide on the box) to start testing around CD 9 or 10 - it's based on your shortest cycle.

Posted by melbalalala

do you get any other O syptoms? like O pains, cramping, etc?

Yes, I get O pains approximately a day after EWCM

i think that's a good sign. to me, it means that your EWCM is a reliable O indicator. checking your CP should help confirm this, along with the OPKs.

Posted by melbalalala

also, i used to check my CP (cervical postition). it was always high (hard to reach) and very soft right before i O'd so i knew i HAD to BD as soon as possible. i checked several times a day to be sure!

How do you do this exactly? I read it in TCOYF but really didnt "get" it. Is there a website that teaches you how to do this? Or any tips?

i taught myself you just use your fingers. i try and use 2, less and it just didn't feel like i was getting an accurate reading. when you reach up, you should be able to feel it at the top. when you are close to O it will be high up and hard to reach, and very soft (like your lips). when you are not about to O, or if you have just recently O'd, it will be low, and hard and smooth. as you get closer to AF (or a BFP) it might move up and get a bit softer, from what i've read, but i don't know for sure because i never checked once my CP confirmed that i had O'd.