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OPK's 101
A question came about OPK's, so I'm copying this from a previous post that I had.
This is as much info as I can gather about the use of OPK's.
The following is paraphrased from the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. She is a huge proponent of CM tracking, but dedicates a small section of the book to OPK's. She indicates that OPK's can be misleading for the following reasons:
1. Kit only tests for LH surge, does not indicate definitive ovulation. Sometimes you can have LH surge and now egg pops out.
2. Direct quote pg 148 "A woman could easily miss her LH surge if she is one of those who have surges that last less than 10 hours, and she only checks once a day. She could also miss it if she is one of the significant number of women who peak below the threshold that the kits actually test"
3. you can have "false" LH surges in minipeaks before the real one, causing bd to be to early. Women w/PCOS body may continually produce false surges that are not indicative of potential ovulation.
4. Even if you surge, it can't tell you if your CM is friendly or not.
5. The kits are only as smart as their users.
6. Direct quote pg 149 "The kits are accurate only if they test a woman's fertility right around the time of ovulation. This is very significat point, because often the type of woman who purchases them is one who, by definition, has irregular cycles. Therefore, the typical kit, which has only 5 to 9 days' worth of tests, will often not have enough to cover the range necessary for her to determine ovulation"
7. Direct quote pg 149 "Women with short luteal phases may not realize that the kits instruct them to test for ovulation based on an average length luteal phase. This may lead a woman to test much earlier than she is actually ovulating. Therfore, the test results may reflect anovulation, when in reality, ovulation has probably not yet occurred."
8. Certain drugs can hinder results - fertility drugs (those that contain FSH, LH, or HCG), antibotics containing tetracycline, HRT, birthcontrol
9. Women over 40 can have elevated levels of LH and a daily basis If the surge shows more than one day, it could be inaccurate.
10. If you're already pg, it will just tell you that you're not O'ing. Same for post partum and breasfeeding.
She then goes on to discuss alternative methods of detecting O, such as fertility monitors and ferning tests.
This is as much info as I can gather about the use of OPK's.
The following is paraphrased from the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. She is a huge proponent of CM tracking, but dedicates a small section of the book to OPK's. She indicates that OPK's can be misleading for the following reasons:
1. Kit only tests for LH surge, does not indicate definitive ovulation. Sometimes you can have LH surge and now egg pops out.
2. Direct quote pg 148 "A woman could easily miss her LH surge if she is one of those who have surges that last less than 10 hours, and she only checks once a day. She could also miss it if she is one of the significant number of women who peak below the threshold that the kits actually test"
3. you can have "false" LH surges in minipeaks before the real one, causing bd to be to early. Women w/PCOS body may continually produce false surges that are not indicative of potential ovulation.
4. Even if you surge, it can't tell you if your CM is friendly or not.
5. The kits are only as smart as their users.
6. Direct quote pg 149 "The kits are accurate only if they test a woman's fertility right around the time of ovulation. This is very significat point, because often the type of woman who purchases them is one who, by definition, has irregular cycles. Therefore, the typical kit, which has only 5 to 9 days' worth of tests, will often not have enough to cover the range necessary for her to determine ovulation"
7. Direct quote pg 149 "Women with short luteal phases may not realize that the kits instruct them to test for ovulation based on an average length luteal phase. This may lead a woman to test much earlier than she is actually ovulating. Therfore, the test results may reflect anovulation, when in reality, ovulation has probably not yet occurred."
8. Certain drugs can hinder results - fertility drugs (those that contain FSH, LH, or HCG), antibotics containing tetracycline, HRT, birthcontrol
9. Women over 40 can have elevated levels of LH and a daily basis If the surge shows more than one day, it could be inaccurate.
10. If you're already pg, it will just tell you that you're not O'ing. Same for post partum and breasfeeding.
She then goes on to discuss alternative methods of detecting O, such as fertility monitors and ferning tests.
I'm in the #2 and #7 categories. I found testing around 2 PM worked best. Also tracking CM and waiting to start OPK testing until I saw eggwhite helped me figure out the right time to use the tests.
Also, you can purchase them very cheaply online through amazon ($5 for 40 OPKs + 10 Pregnancy tests). I haven't found the cheap pregnancy tests to be very effective due to my low hcg levels, but the OPKs work great.
Also, you can purchase them very cheaply online through amazon ($5 for 40 OPKs + 10 Pregnancy tests). I haven't found the cheap pregnancy tests to be very effective due to my low hcg levels, but the OPKs work great.
Bumping again :)
Thanks!!
I think I fall into the #2 category.
Feeling good about things!
I think I fall into the #2 category.
Feeling good about things!
Bumping for Nancy!
Here we go! Last bump! :)
.....lovin point number 5!!!
The OPK I have at home is called Answer. It has a nice little graph about when you are supposed to start POAS. It is based upon a 28 day cycle, w/the assumption that you O on day 14. It says to start testing on day CD11 I find this a little late, as I'm beginning to think I O around CD12.
The test detects LH surge in urine, indicating that you should O in the next 24-36 hours. It says that you can test anytime of the day, but that you should test at the same time each day and reduce your liquid intake 2 hours prior. I also disagree with this as I've read in several places that you should use afternoon urine and never FMU.
It does agree with the above #8 that certain things (like PCOS) can effect the accuracy of the test.
"Q. How does the test work?
A. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is always present in your urine and increases just before ovulation. This increase or "surge" in LH triggers ovulation, which is the release of an egg from your ovaries and the most fertile time of your cycle. Your two most fertile days begin with the LH surge. If you have intercourse within the next 24-36 hours of your surge, you will maximize your chances of becoming pregnant."
The test detects LH surge in urine, indicating that you should O in the next 24-36 hours. It says that you can test anytime of the day, but that you should test at the same time each day and reduce your liquid intake 2 hours prior. I also disagree with this as I've read in several places that you should use afternoon urine and never FMU.
It does agree with the above #8 that certain things (like PCOS) can effect the accuracy of the test.
"Q. How does the test work?
A. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is always present in your urine and increases just before ovulation. This increase or "surge" in LH triggers ovulation, which is the release of an egg from your ovaries and the most fertile time of your cycle. Your two most fertile days begin with the LH surge. If you have intercourse within the next 24-36 hours of your surge, you will maximize your chances of becoming pregnant."
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