I've never used an OPK before, tips?

Lilaala · Feb 27th, 2010, 18:55 PM

Like the title says... my specialist said I should get some and get back to BBT as well so planning on it for next cycle. I have some IC's ordered that should be here on time for CD 1 (praying there won't be a CD 1 for another 8 months!!!!) but what are the specifics? I know it's not actually positive until it's as dark or darker than the control line, but do you have to use FMU or make sure to test the same time of day every day? Anything else I should know?

WannaB · Feb 27th, 2010, 19:01 PM

With the ics you dont use fmu, test between 10am and 8pm. You can miss your surge quite easily so when you think your getting close to O day you may want to do two a day, mid morning and night if you havnt picked it up yet. Im on a 26-28 day cycle and I usually start using them about cd10, dont really need to anymore as once you get the pattern of when O happens you can just start using them just before and the BBT will confirm it.

Lilaala · Feb 27th, 2010, 19:06 PM

Thanks much! My previous BBT charting indicated I ovulate anywhere between CD 12 and CD 19 so I was thinking I'd start testing on CD 10.... I can't do a mid morning test if I'm at work but I'll test as soon as I get home on those days I guess! Thanks!!

Kat_F · Feb 27th, 2010, 19:11 PM

I test at 2pm every day (in the work toilets haha) with the little line strip ones and if they start to look positive I'll test again 4 hours later at 6pm for the smiley face with the digital ones to confirm.

Also try to hold your pee in for at least two hours before testing (4 hours is good) and cut down on your fluid intake. Kills me because I drink a lot of water and have to cut down until you get the +ve...

Lilaala · Feb 27th, 2010, 19:12 PM

Didn't even think of that!! Will definitely make sure to hold first, thanks!!

Kat_F · Feb 27th, 2010, 19:31 PM

No problems! I hope it all works out well for you

Do you think you will also chart your temp to indicate when you O? That helps so you know when to give DH a rest haha!

Lilaala · Feb 28th, 2010, 01:49 AM

Hahaha he doesn't get to rest pretty much ever!

Okay that's an exaggeration, he gets a bit of a break in the last bit of my cycle but he's more than okay with all the rest

Only CD 7,8 and 9 this month I had a cold!!

I'm only starting the OPK's on the specialist's recommendation, never figured they were needed so long as we babydanced enough we couldn't miss ovulation, and we pretty much never have! Which is why I'm supposed to start the OPK's now, to help make sure I AM ovulating! And yes, BBT also he said, so will do that for a couple of cycles at least. Won't change our babydancing schedule though, just to confirm a surge

Nessicle · Feb 28th, 2010, 06:13 AM

as the other girls have said, best time to test is between 10am and 7pm ish, as LH surge usually happens later on in the day rather than overnight so FMU isn't reliable.

I did three opk's a day this cycle and with my third opk around 3pm yesterdayafternoon I got my surge! Remember that the test line has to be the same darkness or darker than the control line - two lines don't indicate a positive like with hpt's.

I bought a urine cup from accessdiagnostics.co.uk that has a screw top lid so I can carry it in my handbag and do my opk's at work too when I go to the toilet!

Once you have your LH surge go at it like rabbits that day and the following two days!

Nessicle · Feb 28th, 2010, 06:14 AM

oh and bbt can only tell you once ovulation has occured not when it's about to happen. Once your chart shows you have ovulated it may be too late so don't rely on that to predict ov. It will however show you that you have ovulated and you can continue to monitor temps to help you see if you're en route for a bfp or if AF is on her way (hopefully not though!) xx

2016 · Feb 28th, 2010, 07:15 AM

I find between 9am and 10am works best for me (that is SMU after my first pee at 6am) - I use one of the plastic drinking fountain cups in the loos at work!

Good luck. x

Feb 27th, 2010, 18:55 PM	#1
Lilaala Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 3,116	I've never used an OPK before, tips? Like the title says... my specialist said I should get some and get back to BBT as well so planning on it for next cycle. I have some IC's ordered that should be here on time for CD 1 (praying there won't be a CD 1 for another 8 months!!!!) but what are the specifics? I know it's not actually positive until it's as dark or darker than the control line, but do you have to use FMU or make sure to test the same time of day every day? Anything else I should know?

Status: Offline

Feb 27th, 2010, 19:01 PM	#2
WannaB Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 5,415	With the ics you dont use fmu, test between 10am and 8pm. You can miss your surge quite easily so when you think your getting close to O day you may want to do two a day, mid morning and night if you havnt picked it up yet. Im on a 26-28 day cycle and I usually start using them about cd10, dont really need to anymore as once you get the pattern of when O happens you can just start using them just before and the BBT will confirm it.

Status: Offline

Feb 27th, 2010, 19:06 PM	#3
Lilaala Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 3,116	Thanks much! My previous BBT charting indicated I ovulate anywhere between CD 12 and CD 19 so I was thinking I'd start testing on CD 10.... I can't do a mid morning test if I'm at work but I'll test as soon as I get home on those days I guess! Thanks!!

Status: Offline

Feb 27th, 2010, 19:11 PM	#4
Kat_F Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 729	I test at 2pm every day (in the work toilets haha) with the little line strip ones and if they start to look positive I'll test again 4 hours later at 6pm for the smiley face with the digital ones to confirm. Also try to hold your pee in for at least two hours before testing (4 hours is good) and cut down on your fluid intake. Kills me because I drink a lot of water and have to cut down until you get the +ve...

Status: Offline

Feb 27th, 2010, 19:12 PM	#5
Lilaala Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 3,116	Didn't even think of that!! Will definitely make sure to hold first, thanks!!

Status: Offline

Feb 27th, 2010, 19:31 PM	#6
Kat_F Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 729	No problems! I hope it all works out well for you Do you think you will also chart your temp to indicate when you O? That helps so you know when to give DH a rest haha!

Status: Offline

Feb 28th, 2010, 01:49 AM	#7
Lilaala Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 3,116	Hahaha he doesn't get to rest pretty much ever! Okay that's an exaggeration, he gets a bit of a break in the last bit of my cycle but he's more than okay with all the rest Only CD 7,8 and 9 this month I had a cold!! I'm only starting the OPK's on the specialist's recommendation, never figured they were needed so long as we babydanced enough we couldn't miss ovulation, and we pretty much never have! Which is why I'm supposed to start the OPK's now, to help make sure I AM ovulating! And yes, BBT also he said, so will do that for a couple of cycles at least. Won't change our babydancing schedule though, just to confirm a surge

Status: Offline

Feb 28th, 2010, 06:13 AM	#8
Nessicle Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Elite Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 12,678	as the other girls have said, best time to test is between 10am and 7pm ish, as LH surge usually happens later on in the day rather than overnight so FMU isn't reliable. I did three opk's a day this cycle and with my third opk around 3pm yesterdayafternoon I got my surge! Remember that the test line has to be the same darkness or darker than the control line - two lines don't indicate a positive like with hpt's. I bought a urine cup from accessdiagnostics.co.uk that has a screw top lid so I can carry it in my handbag and do my opk's at work too when I go to the toilet! Once you have your LH surge go at it like rabbits that day and the following two days!

Status: Offline

Feb 28th, 2010, 06:14 AM	#9
Nessicle Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Elite Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 12,678	oh and bbt can only tell you once ovulation has occured not when it's about to happen. Once your chart shows you have ovulated it may be too late so don't rely on that to predict ov. It will however show you that you have ovulated and you can continue to monitor temps to help you see if you're en route for a bfp or if AF is on her way (hopefully not though!) xx

Status: Offline

Feb 28th, 2010, 07:15 AM	#10
2016 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 6,460	I find between 9am and 10am works best for me (that is SMU after my first pee at 6am) - I use one of the plastic drinking fountain cups in the loos at work! Good luck. x

Status: Online

Similar Threads
5 to 7 week cycles using an OPK?	Trying To Conceive
Can you use an opk as an hpt?	Trying To Conceive
THIS is exactly why you should never use an OPK for an HPT	Pregnancy Tests
Using an OPK	Trying To Conceive
Ever get an OPK before CD8? CD10?	Trying To Conceive

User Name		Remember Me?
Password