help me understand OPK's

I stand in the aisle and STARE at them...ultimately walking away thinking "we'll keep trying the old fashioned way for a bit longer" BUT I'm seriously considering using them soon.

sooo I know NOTHING about OPK's...

when do you start testing?
do you have to do it with FMU?
should u do it at a certain time of day?

Re: help me understand OPK's

When you start testing really depends on how long your cycle is but CD 10 is a good rule of thumb at least for the first month or until you learn approx. when you O.

Some brands say not to use FMU. The CBE digitals say you can test at anytime. I find them the easiest b/c there are no lines to interpret just a for a positive and a circle for negetive.

Just some OPK FYI:

1. OPK's test for the LH surge which happens just BEFORE ovulation. So getting a + OPK does not mean you definitely will O, just that you should within 12-36 hours of the last + test. The only way to confirm O is to temp (or sono or bloodwork of course).

2. Everyone has different length surges. Some people get + OPK's for 2 or 3 days, some only get it for 1 day. If you get + OPK's for an extended amopunt of time, let's say 5 or more days and for more than one cycle you may want to call the doctor as it COULD be a sign of something being off.

3. Everyone O's at different times so don't be discouraged if let's say you get to CD16, 17 or 18 and still haven't gotten a +. Some girls myself included don't O until somewhere in the 20's and some even later.

Re: help me understand OPK's

Im going to have to notebook this info thanks! If we are out this cycle we are gonna try the OPK again.

Our first cycle i tried them and I misread the instructions and thought when you got a + on the OPK meant you were O right at that moment

Re: help me understand OPK's

Posted by MrsDeVito

When you start testing really depends on how long your cycle is but CD 10 is a good rule of thumb at least for the first month or until you learn approx. when you O.

Some brands say not to use FMU. The CBE digitals say you can test at anytime. I find them the easiest b/c there are no lines to interpret just a for a positive and a circle for negetive.

Just some OPK FYI:

1. OPK's test for the LH surge which happens just BEFORE ovulation. So getting a + OPK does not mean you definitely will O, just that you should within 12-36 hours of the last + test. The only way to confirm O is to temp (or sono or bloodwork of course).

2. Everyone has different length surges. Some people get + OPK's for 2 or 3 days, some only get it for 1 day. If you get + OPK's for an extended amopunt of time, let's say 5 or more days and for more than one cycle you may want to call the doctor as it COULD be a sign of something being off.

3. Everyone O's at different times so don't be discouraged if let's say you get to CD16, 17 or 18 and still haven't gotten a +. Some girls myself included don't O until somewhere in the 20's and some even later.

Re: help me understand OPK's

Christina couldn't have said it better!

Good luck!