OPK lines are driving me cazy.........Positive or not?

[brwneyes]

First of all I would like to thank you all in advance for any help you could give on my issue. My heart goes out to all TTC and I didn't realize how frustrating this all can be and it is nice to see people coming together to help support each other.  This was my first time using an OPK and bought Answer brand. My cycle has been 30-31 days, but I had a m/c on 9/17 and first regular cycle on 10/22.....based on a 31 day cycle I would have O'd yesterday or today. I started testing on cd#10 once a day so I would know what a - looked like and then on cd#14 starting testing twice a day...morning and afternoon. Since I knew I was getting close I couldn't wait until 2pm yesterday and tested at 10am the test line was pretty dark, and there was a thin strip of the line that was darker than the control line (never had this on the others)I was sure it was a positive test, so I tested again last night at 7pm and it was -. My question is has anyone else had half positives on OPK strips and do LH surge disapate (sp) that quickly if that was a + test strip

[wonderme]

Hi.  I tried OPKs several times and found them to be immensely annoying.  The problem is (in my opinion) that the surge isn't detected in your urine for ~6-8 hours after it can be detected in your blood (not that that's an option)-- so if you're only testing once a day and you surge right after you test the day before, you could easily miss the surge altogether.  I think you have to test 2x a day for multiple days before and after your anticipated O day.  Not everyone ovulates exactly at the same time -- and if your cycle is 30-31 days, your "anticipated" ovulation day would be day(s) 16-17 of your cycle (average 14-day luteal phase regardless of cycle length).

Good luck.  Let us know if you have success in getting a +.

[JJety]

You're only supposed to use an OPK in the afternoon or evening.  If you're using it in the morning it may be inaccurate.

I would not believe the 10 a.m. reading, if you got a negative reading that same day at 7 p.m.

I also used the Answer brand OPK and had good luck.  I tested in the evenings, around 6 or 7 p.m. every day.  The day you detect your surge is the day that shows the darkest test line in comparison to your other days, and if all the tests have the exact same darkness then the first positive test should be considered your surge.

[lawgirl17]

First of all, I want to invite you to join us on the Fertility/Infertility forum. We would love to have you!

What day are you at now? You mentioned that you started testing on CD10 and twice daily on CD14, but I must have missed where you are now. This was my first month to use OPK too (I am not sure why I didn't buy it earlier ... we have been ttc for 15 months). I have a 30 day cycle and O on CD17 (first positive OPK CD16 and another positive OPK CD17). So, it is possible that you haven't missed your surge but instead, you haven't gotten it yet. It is also possible that the 10am test was a positive. In the event that the 10am test was a positive, I would start bd'ing daily and continue testing with OPKs twice daily through CD19 to confirm you don't get another surge. I would bd daily or every-other day until two days AFTER you O (three days after your surge).

I read on peeonastick.com that some women get shorter surges (don't worry ... that doesn't make it more difficult to conceive ... it just makes it more difficult to catch your surge). I recommend going to this website when you get some free time and reading about OPKs ... the author states that she regularly used OPKs and when using them frequently leading up to O, she took like three (I think) in 24 hours, and the middle one showed positive, but had she only taken one per 24 hours, she would have missed her surge altogether.

Best wishes! Hopefully OPKs are the answer for both of us. Keep us updated on your progress!

[lovefamily]

OPK driving me nuts too.  Keeps saying I am having LH surge since I M/C in Sept.  Maybe some hormones still running loose.  Hope you get pregnant soon...blessings!

[sajo]

The way I understand it is that once you detect the LH surge you should have sex in the next 24 hrs.  You could have detected it at the end of it's peak, but you still have time.  A more effective way is to check your cervical mucus and BB temp.

GOOD LUCK!!!