pinpoint ovulation

[nzazzaro]

I am doing single iui with frozen donor sperm. No meds. We have tried twice with no luck. I am concerned that we are not timing the iui correctly. So far we are using the OPK sticks. The only problem is the peak LH surge seems to last more than 1 day. Our Dr told us to schedule iui 24 hr after the surge. So do we go 24 after the first day surge or the second day surge? The donor sperm will only last 24 hr so the timing is critical. We have just started temp and CM charting , but temp will only tell you when it is to late. We have also just started using the Clearblue fertility monitor , hoping that will give us a better idea of when the absolute peak LH surge is. Any thought?

[BC-DKNY]

hi nzazzaro,

it's totally normal to get 2 peak days with the OPK's. you'll probably get the same reading on the CPFM. the surge is indicative of an impending O which will take place anywhere between 12-36 hours after the first ++ OPK. some women have even O as much as 48 hours later.

it makes sense that your doc said to schedule your IUI 24 hours after the surge because that will cover you either way. if you happen to O within 12 hours of the surge, your egg is still viable for another 12-24 hours after it's realeased. should you not O for another 36 hours, your IUI has already been done (at the 24 hour mark, giving the sperm an additional 24 hours to do it's job)and the sperm will be there waiting for the egg to be released. if you go in on the day of your first surge and then don't O for another 36 hours, then the sperm (assuming it's washed) likely won't last long enough. if you wait until your second day of LH surge and then you make your appointment (24 hours from that point), there's a good possibility that you may miss your window of opportunity.

you are also right about temping in that it's a hindsight sort of a science.

your doc sounds like he's right on the ball. i would follow his directive and schedule your IUI 24 hours after the first surge.

best of luck and ++ thoughts

[BC-Maura]

Dina: I agree with Dina... the first day you see a ++OPK, not the second, should start the clock running and you should schedule it for 24 hours after that!

You can try the Monitor, although I don't know that it will help you any more than a regular old OPK. Yes, it ideally gives you high days leading up to a peak, but since you care only about the peak, then the only thing the Monitor will tell you is that the peak is going to happen soon. But you're going to be testing every day anyway, so I think a regular OPK would suffice.

One thing I would recommend is testing more than once a day since the timing of the procedure is so critical. This way you have a better chance of catching the surge when it's beginning, and not at the tail end.

Best of luck and let us know how it turns out!
+++++++++++++++
Maura

[BC-DKNY]

Originally posted by mod-Maura
One thing I would recommend is testing more than once a day since the timing of the procedure is so critical. This way you have a better chance of catching the surge when it's beginning, and not at the tail end.

i agree 100%. i've known a few people who were doing IUI's and instructed by their doc's to test 2x a day so there was no possibility of messing up the timing. good advice maura!

although as a side note: you couldn't do that with the monitor b/c it's configured to do it once a day. but you could do a disposable OPK in conjunction with the monitor if and when you're using the monitor.

[hilarynjon]

I had a positive OPK at 830am. I then ovulated at 10pm that nite. i had my IUI the next AM at 11am.They said it was perfect timing. Cross your fingers.

[BC-DKNY]

well that sure is wonderful!! question tho...how do you know you O'd at 10 that nite?