I stopped taking birth control pills 3 months ago and I am not sure that I have started ovulating. I have been using OPKs and doing BBTs. I have never had a positive OPK but I do have thermal shifts. Which is more accurate. Is it possible that I am ovulating even though I am not having positive OPKs? I don't know what to think. Can anyone help?
It's very possible. If you are having thermal shifts, you are o'ing. I have been doing a lot of reading on OPKs and it seems that they are not all created equal. Consumer
level it wont turn pos for many women. Of all brands combined wont work on 12%! I OPK 2-3x a day. This month I finally got a pos w/one brand-the worst rated-Answer. Internet strips and midstream cassettes did not show pos. My thermal shift showed o when I got pos. If you have a short surge and only test 1x a day, you may not see a pos either. They rated the clear blue opks and monitor the highest. Answer and First Resp worst. However, FRER ranks highest on HPTS. Far above everyone else. Sorry for such a long answer. I just happened to look into it today.
The only sure way to know if you are ovulating is to have your progesterone level checked 7 day past ovulation, which can be pinpointed by a positive LH
surge on an OPK or a sustained thermal shift on BBT. I found that I have both a thermal shift and a positive OPK and am still not ovulating (indicated by low progesterone at 7 dpo).
WOW- I am glad to hear that! I just finished my 1st round of clomid. During the days my doctor told me to expect ovulation, all the ovulation test kits were negative but I definitely had a temperature
change and have been hotflashing for 2 weeks. The OPKs had me feeling like this 1st cycle of clomid failed. I am going in today to have my progesterone taken. Maybe its bad that I read this since it has given me a little hope. :) We'll see. My husband and I have been trying for 3 years. We are ready to start a family