explain OPK's to me please!

tigerjen77 · 08-03-2006, 11:19 AM

This was our first cycle using clomid and our first cycle using OPK sticks. It seemed pretty simple enough.

On cd12 I got a faint 2nd line. Yay! Cd 13 I got a darker second line and my cm was wet wet wet! Dh and I DTD even though we knew that the OPK was saying we were not ready to O for at least 24 to 48 hours. Cd 14 (Wednesday) and the OPK line was even darker! Dh and I decided to hold off and bd late tonight making it a little over 24 hours since the OPK result. Still with me?

Here is where it gets odd. Today I poas (OPK) and nothing. No second line at all. What happened? Did we miss it? Should we both bd'ing? What did I do wrong? This is our 11th month of ttc you would think I would know all of this by now but I don't!! Please help!!!

Pecan · 08-03-2006, 12:04 PM

Hi, I am by no means an expert on the subject. As I understand it when the test line is as dark as or darker than the control line that means that you will O within 24 -48 hours (with most tests). The surge detects the luteinizing hormone (LH) in your system. We always have LH in our system, however it peaks right before ovulation. Most tests say that once you detect a surge there is no need to keep testing.

Sounds like you may have caught the beginning and end of your surge (that sometimes happens when women test twice a day so as not to miss the surge). Sounds like you had enough bms to cover your bases. Typically, once you get the surge any additional opk's will not be positive.

Good luck with the cycle,
Pecan

wan2b3+ · 08-03-2006, 12:14 PM

For me the darkness doesn't follow a trend. I can be darker and then lighter and then right before my +ve I usually get almost nothing. I use the store brand from CVS/Safeway/Waalgreens. For all of them the package inserts say don't pay attention to the darkness of the line. The tests are just +ve and -ve. On days my CM is really wet, i test 2x per day just in case I miss my surge.

Here's some info from www.peeonastick.com

20. Will I see my OPK lines get darker before I get a true positive? Maybe. Some women do experience a "fade-in" pattern, and some experience an "almost positive" shortly before their true positive. However, it's not necessary to observe this pattern. In fact, you might see your test darken and then get lighter. It doesn't necessarily mean you missed your surge; some LH (luteinizing hormone) fluctuation is normal, and there are variations in the individual tests as well (some have more or less dye, for instance.)

Ultimately, there is no need to compare your OPK's; each test can be read in isolation, either positive or negative. If you are one of the women who sees a fade-in pattern, consider yourself lucky; you have some extra, advance notice of your impending LH surge.

Keep POAS and good luck.

wan2b3+ · 08-03-2006, 12:15 PM

Did you ever get a +ve for sure? If not keep POAS until you think you have O'd -you might have just missed it.

**BC-Maura** · 08-03-2006, 02:00 PM

Hi there! I would still BMS tonight just in case, but I also wouldn't stop OPKing just yet. Clomid is notorious for making women ovulated later than usual, so it might be you had high levels of LH (but not yet a surge), and you will actually surge and O later in the month, closer to cd 20.

Are you temping too? If so, just BMS until your temp rises. If not, BMS every other day, except if you see good cm, then BMS on that day too, even if it is the next day after a day you've BMS'd on. As long as you continue BMSing regularly, then regardless of what happens with your OPKs, you'll be fine

!

Best of luck and keep us posted++++++++++
Maura

08-03-2006, 11:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
tigerjen77 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 315	explain OPK's to me please! This was our first cycle using clomid and our first cycle using OPK sticks. It seemed pretty simple enough. On cd12 I got a faint 2nd line. Yay! Cd 13 I got a darker second line and my cm was wet wet wet! Dh and I DTD even though we knew that the OPK was saying we were not ready to O for at least 24 to 48 hours. Cd 14 (Wednesday) and the OPK line was even darker! Dh and I decided to hold off and bd late tonight making it a little over 24 hours since the OPK result. Still with me? Here is where it gets odd. Today I poas (OPK) and nothing. No second line at all. What happened? Did we miss it? Should we both bd'ing? What did I do wrong? This is our 11th month of ttc you would think I would know all of this by now but I don't!! Please help!!!

08-03-2006, 02:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
BC-Maura Board Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 12,946	Hi there! I would still BMS tonight just in case, but I also wouldn't stop OPKing just yet. Clomid is notorious for making women ovulated later than usual, so it might be you had high levels of LH (but not yet a surge), and you will actually surge and O later in the month, closer to cd 20. Are you temping too? If so, just BMS until your temp rises. If not, BMS every other day, except if you see good cm, then BMS on that day too, even if it is the next day after a day you've BMS'd on. As long as you continue BMSing regularly, then regardless of what happens with your OPKs, you'll be fine! Best of luck and keep us posted++++++++++ Maura

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08-03-2006, 12:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pecan 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Fl Posts: 4,379	Hi, I am by no means an expert on the subject. As I understand it when the test line is as dark as or darker than the control line that means that you will O within 24 -48 hours (with most tests). The surge detects the luteinizing hormone (LH) in your system. We always have LH in our system, however it peaks right before ovulation. Most tests say that once you detect a surge there is no need to keep testing. Sounds like you may have caught the beginning and end of your surge (that sometimes happens when women test twice a day so as not to miss the surge). Sounds like you had enough bms to cover your bases. Typically, once you get the surge any additional opk's will not be positive. Good luck with the cycle, Pecan

08-03-2006, 12:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
wan2b3+ Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,109	For me the darkness doesn't follow a trend. I can be darker and then lighter and then right before my +ve I usually get almost nothing. I use the store brand from CVS/Safeway/Waalgreens. For all of them the package inserts say don't pay attention to the darkness of the line. The tests are just +ve and -ve. On days my CM is really wet, i test 2x per day just in case I miss my surge. Here's some info from www.peeonastick.com 20. Will I see my OPK lines get darker before I get a true positive? Maybe. Some women do experience a "fade-in" pattern, and some experience an "almost positive" shortly before their true positive. However, it's not necessary to observe this pattern. In fact, you might see your test darken and then get lighter. It doesn't necessarily mean you missed your surge; some LH (luteinizing hormone) fluctuation is normal, and there are variations in the individual tests as well (some have more or less dye, for instance.) Ultimately, there is no need to compare your OPK's; each test can be read in isolation, either positive or negative. If you are one of the women who sees a fade-in pattern, consider yourself lucky; you have some extra, advance notice of your impending LH surge. Keep POAS and good luck.

08-03-2006, 12:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
wan2b3+ Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,109	Did you ever get a +ve for sure? If not keep POAS until you think you have O'd -you might have just missed it.