does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

both my ob/gyn and my RE do not recommend using them.

ob/gyn said they are unreliable.

RE basically said the same thing, he said that they just aren't quite there yet as far as being a good tool to really predict ovulation.

just thought that was interesting since i know a lot of us spend a lot each month on them .

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

I've started to rely on them and thought that NOT using them isn't helpful. Grrrrrr.....all these different opinions can really drive a TTC woman mad!

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

All my dr really said was don't bother using them until my cycle is regular from coming off the pill. He said unless you have a regular cycle, it's just a guessing game and a waste of money I can see his point.......

That said, I have a pack of 20 OPKs from Big Lots up in my closet and ready to go!

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

They didn't work for me at all because of PCOS. I never tested positive when i was taking them.

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

I have PCOS and before I went to the RE they didn't work for me. After he put me on Clomid he told me to use them. He suggested the digital ones because the ones with the lines are often hard to read.

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

I'm using them to confirm what I know already based on my physical symptoms, and they're accurate with me. I have a very regular cycle though.

Message edited 11/10/2009 8:54:08 AM.

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

my OB/GYN did not recommend I use them.

my RE says they are accurate but you should not wait until you get a + to start BDing. she said the days leading up to ovulation are the most fertile.

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

i get +'s that dont lead to Oing A LOT. i had 3 days of +'s last cycle then 10 days in between another 5 days of +'s (both line tests AND digi smileys so im 100% sure im reading them right).. and i never ended up Oing.

ob/gyn seemed to hate them.

RE said he prefers CBEFM or similar monitors since at least they show a pattern.

Message edited 11/9/2009 11:39:59 PM.

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

My Dr. said to use them to make sure I'm ovulating.. that they can't hurt, but I shoudn't get obsessed with them.

Ha!

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

WOW!! Surprised they would say that. My RE had me use them EVERY month to track ovulation in addition to all the tests and monitoring they were doing on me every month. When I got my trigger shot to ensure I released my egg (the month I got pregnant) the RE told me to make sure I used the OPK's later that day after the trigger and call them as soon as I saw the surge. I can tell you from my experience that the First Response OPK's and the CBEFM are 100% accurate. They have been dead-on in tracking my ovulation every time I've used them. They are more accurate than any other at home method of tracking ovulation.

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

I just bought a bunch of them but I have PCOS so I guess I shouldn't bother? My dr wants me to log my bbt to predict ovulation.

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by Tilde

Posted by Hofstra26

WOW!! Surprised they would say that. My RE had me use them EVERY month to track ovulation in addition to all the tests and monitoring they were doing on me every month. When I got my trigger shot to ensure I released my egg (the month I got pregnant) the RE told me to make sure I used the OPK's later that day after the trigger and call them as soon as I saw the surge. I can tell you from my experience that the First Response OPK's and the CBEFM are 100% accurate. They have been dead-on in tracking my ovulation every time I've used them. They are more accurate than any other at home method of tracking ovulation.

But that was while you are being monitored. You can get a + and still not ovulate, you can NEVER get a + and still ovulate . . . so without a doctor's supervision I CAN see how they can be more harm than good.

I am going to start using them next cycle though just to see what is going on in there LOL

All the OPK's are doing is detecting the LH surge. They don't tell you if the egg actually releases. You can surge and not release your egg and therefore not ovulate. I've had cycles where I've had a surge but then didn't ovulate. I knew I didn't ovulate because AF never came around.....not for months and months. (I have irregular cycles) As with any at home testing it's always better to be under a doctor's care in addition to what you are doing because you will get a more definitive answer as to what's going on. All that being said, OPK's are still a useful tool.

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

My doctor did recommend them as I was concerned that I hadn't been ovulating at all since my mc. She didn't say anything about their reliability though.

Re: does your Dr. recommend OPK's?

yes OPK's are great for detecting ANY LH surge. BUT an LH surge doesnt necessarily lead to Oing so that's why they arent as accurate as people think.

i think using them in combination with temping and charting CM makes sense - but i dont think i would rely on them as my primary O predictor.