Poll: OPK

[aprilz81]

When do you use OPK tests and how many time a day do you test?

I've never used them before due to my PCOS and want to try them out.  This is my first cycle on Clomid and my midcycle monitoring appointment is Wednesday (CD15) and I'm a little concerned that I could ovulate before my appointment so I'm hoping to catch a surge (if there is one) so I can call my RE if I get a peak reading before my appointment.

I bought the ClearBlue Easy Advanced Monitor with 10 tests and this morning (using FMU) I got a high (blinking smiley face) reading.  I'm not sure if I should test again today or just wait until tomorrow.

If the Clomid doesn't result in a BFP this cycle I will likely switch to cheaper OPK but for this cycle I wanted easy to read results for this go around.

Thanks!

[cnf2013]

I generally tested twice a day. I'd do my first at school around 10:45am during my planning period and another when I got home sometime around 3:30-4pm. I stuck with those times on weekends and breaks for consistency and I always managed to turn positives at some point every cycle sticking with this method.

I'm no help with the whole blinking smiley thing. I only ever used wondfos.

[kawaiikitsune]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I am fairly certain I remember someone saying that Clomid can cause false positives on OPK's.

[aprilz81]

Aug 15, 2015 14:33:00 GMT -5 kawaiikitsune said:

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I am fairly certain I remember someone saying that Clomid can cause false positives on OPK's.

They can if you use them too soon after your last dose.  My RE's nurse said three days after the last dose (cycle day 10 for me) and I read a few articles that used the same timeline.

I got a negative reading yesterday afternoon (around 5:00) which leads me to think that the hormone reading *might* be legit.  Again between the PCOS and the Clomid I'm not sure what to expect, I'm just doing my best to make sure I get a monitoring appointment before I ovulate to make sure I'm not over responding.

[wannabmama]

I try to test two times a day but it's not been consistent when exactly I do it. I tried to do SMU and early evening. I tried for two cycles without getting a positive and then this time around finally got a positive, it was an early evening test. The next am it was neg again. I used the clearblue but not the advanced (solid smiley only).

[mill23]

I just started taking them this month, and have been doing SMU and then around 4:30 or 5 when I get home from work. It was too awkward to try and use them at the office.

So far, I haven't seen any positives but it got a bit darker this morning. I'm curious to see what everyone else does too!

[kawaiikitsune]

Aug 15, 2015 14:40:37 GMT -5 aprilz81 said:

Aug 15, 2015 14:33:00 GMT -5 kawaiikitsune said:

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I am fairly certain I remember someone saying that Clomid can cause false positives on OPK's.

They can if you use them too soon after your last dose.  My RE's nurse said three days after the last dose (cycle day 10 for me) and I read a few articles that used the same timeline.

I got a negative reading yesterday afternoon (around 5:00) which leads me to think that the hormone reading *might* be legit.  Again between the PCOS and the Clomid I'm not sure what to expect, I'm just doing my best to make sure I get a monitoring appointment before I ovulate to make sure I'm not over responding.

Gotcha. That being said, I usually had the best results with OPK's when I tested in the afternoon(ish) and again in the evening. FMU is not generally recommend. I highly suggest Wondfo's if this month is not your month. Really makes testing multiple times a lot more wallet-friendly. The Newbie Blog has a list of trusted sellers on Amazon, as there are a few people selling fake Wondfo's.

[mugster]

With the clear blue advanced you should only test once a day. They will always give you a low reading the first day you test because they use that day as a baseline. The blinking means your lh was higher today than yesterday but not high enough for a surge. On two medicated cycle I got a solid smiley face when I was two days from actually surging soni switched back to wondfos which have been more accurate for me

[aprilz81]

Aug 15, 2015 14:46:48 GMT -5 kawaiikitsune said:

Aug 15, 2015 14:40:37 GMT -5 aprilz81 said:

They can if you use them too soon after your last dose.  My RE's nurse said three days after the last dose (cycle day 10 for me) and I read a few articles that used the same timeline.

I got a negative reading yesterday afternoon (around 5:00) which leads me to think that the hormone reading *might* be legit.  Again between the PCOS and the Clomid I'm not sure what to expect, I'm just doing my best to make sure I get a monitoring appointment before I ovulate to make sure I'm not over responding.

Gotcha. That being said, I usually had the best results with OPK's when I tested in the afternoon(ish) and again in the evening. FMU is not generally recommend. I highly suggest Wondfo's if this month is not your month. Really makes testing multiple times a lot more wallet-friendly. The Newbie Blog has a list of trusted sellers on Amazon, as there are a few people selling fake Wondfo's.

One of the reasons for the poll is because I've read frequently on here to use SMU but the instructions for these specifically stated FMU and I did get a "high" reading this morning using FMU.  I'm going to test again this afternoon to see if it is still high...

[mugster]

I happened to have blood work done on the days I got the false positive and lh was around 9, and they want to see around 20 to indicate you are surging... The advanced also look for estrogen when moving to flashing, so it isn't surprising that they get there fast with fertility medication

[aprilz81]

Aug 15, 2015 14:48:38 GMT -5 mugster said:

With the clear blue advanced you should only test once a day. They will always give you a low reading the first day you test because they use that day as a baseline. The blinking means your lh was higher today than yesterday but not high enough for a surge. On two medicated cycle I got a solid smiley face when I was two days from actually surging soni switched back to wondfos which have been more accurate for me

That is very helpful information, thank you!

[kawaiikitsune]

Aug 15, 2015 14:49:53 GMT -5 aprilz81 said:

Aug 15, 2015 14:46:48 GMT -5 kawaiikitsune said:

Gotcha. That being said, I usually had the best results with OPK's when I tested in the afternoon(ish) and again in the evening. FMU is not generally recommend. I highly suggest Wondfo's if this month is not your month. Really makes testing multiple times a lot more wallet-friendly. The Newbie Blog has a list of trusted sellers on Amazon, as there are a few people selling fake Wondfo's.

One of the reasons for the poll is because I've read frequently on here to use SMU but the instructions for these specifically stated FMU and I did get a "high" reading this morning using FMU.  I'm going to test again this afternoon to see if it is still high...

I have never used the CB monitor so I'm not sure if the same procedure for using Wondfo's applies to it.

[ceejay]

I only test once per day around lunchtime, between 12-1 pm. My O day is very regular so I usually start using OPKs around CD11 or 12, and typically get my first positive around CD13.

I use the Clinical guard brand of OPKs, and they have always worked well for me. They are similar to Wondfos but the test strips are skinnier and they cost about half the price on eBay.

[requiressnacks]

I have used all the CB digitals (advanced, regular and the monitor) and they should only be used once per day.

Also, you will get a high reading (blinking smiley) until you actually get a peak reading (solid smiley) so the blinking smiley can stay for many days until you actually see peak. Every body is different, obviously, but I usually have 4 days of blinking smileys before an actual solid smiley. The blinking smileys drove me crazy, so last cycle I used the regular digitals and preferred them much more. Good luck!

[mill23]

For those of you who have been using OPKs for a while, how many positive readings do you typically get?

Sorry to threadjack aprilz81!

[ceejay]

Aug 15, 2015 15:59:55 GMT -5 mill23 said:

For those of you who have been using OPKs for a while, how many positive readings do you typically get?

Sorry to threadjack aprilz81!

I usually get 2-3 days of positives (testing once per day). A couple cycles I only got one positive day.

[helloamanda]

I've used the CB digital ones and have never gotten a positive OPK. My RE said that if you have PCOS it's possible they just might not work -_- Thanks.

But the results are good for 24 hours since it'll tell you when you are almost going to O. GL!

[helloerrbody]

I need to be able to select more than 2 answers. I pee on cheapie OPKs 3-4 times a day starting CD 10ish. Morning, noonish, afternoon, evening.

[youdontsay]

I've used them all, my favorite were Dollar Tree Store brand. I would use them when I got home from work (5pm) after a two hour hold.

[twocents6708]

I do it with SMU and again when I get home from work, about 5 PM. I use Clinical Guard cheapos off of Amazon. I have PCOS and have gotten positives these past two cycles.

[cheezee]

I test with FMU and on days I'm off work I will again in the afternoon sometime. I use wondfos and the CB original digital ones to confirm I'm not seeing things. I usually have at least 2 days of positives and *knock on wood* I haven't had a problem catching my surge yet.

[cnf2013]

Aug 15, 2015 15:59:55 GMT -5 mill23 said:

For those of you who have been using OPKs for a while, how many positive readings do you typically get?

Sorry to threadjack aprilz81!

For me I usually turned positive for 1-2 days but I also got multiple surges per cycle, so I wouldn't stop using them until I confirmed O with temping. 

[hydrangea1019]

I use CB OPKS (not the advanced). I can't remember who said it, but over on TD someone had mentioned that the advanced wasn't that great.

I test once in the AM with FMU starting on CD11 ish. That's worked for me and I test through the surge (- + -). I've only had 1 instance where I didn't really catch my surge but that was bc my body decided to O on cd12.

To answer mill23 I usually have 2 + OPKs prior to O but I've had 1 and then a few that gave me 3. Then I've also had a few + OPKs around normal timing with no O then to surge back up about 10 days later.

I'm kind of all over the place with OPKs lol

[wilmaroo]

Has anyone used the cheapies from target?

[hydrangea1019]

Aug 15, 2015 20:30:34 GMT -5 wilmaroo said:

Has anyone used the cheapies from target?

They were the very first ones I used. I didn't really like them. They barely turned + for me.

[peaseblossom55]

I was on femara during my medicated cycles. I did use wondfo OPK's, and was able to get positives which corresponded to good sized follicles from observation from the RE. The medicated cycles were the only times I ever got clear positives on an OPK.

[madamewaffles]

Aug 15, 2015 20:30:34 GMT -5 wilmaroo said:

Has anyone used the cheapies from target?

Yes, hated them.

[lavinia]

I am late to this OPK discussion, but I have a question for you ladies... I asked this on my WTO thread but wanted to ask here too...
I am wondering what to count as my FMU. I know this is a weird question, but half the time I wake up in the 5:00 hour (sometimes earlier) because I have to pee and then go back to sleep until 6:30 or 7:00. I plan to use the Clear Blue digital OPKs when I get close to my predicted O date, and I know those say to use FMU. So, I guess I should use it whenever it is that I wake up and have to pee, even if I am half way asleep?
Also, with Wondfos, if I use SMU, should I use it when I wake up the second time around 7:00ish or wait until my next pee around 9:30 or so? Probably I am overthinking this, but I wonder if its more important to be at the same time every day or to get the correct concentration of urine. TIA!

[getzystark]

Aug 18, 2015 9:59:36 GMT -5 lavinia said:

I am late to this OPK discussion, but I have a question for you ladies... I asked this on my WTO thread but wanted to ask here too...
I am wondering what to count as my FMU. I know this is a weird question, but half the time I wake up in the 5:00 hour (sometimes earlier) because I have to pee and then go back to sleep until 6:30 or 7:00. I plan to use the Clear Blue digital OPKs when I get close to my predicted O date, and I know those say to use FMU. So, I guess I should use it whenever it is that I wake up and have to pee, even if I am half way asleep?
Also, with Wondfos, if I use SMU, should I use it when I wake up the second time around 7:00ish or wait until my next pee around 9:30 or so? Probably I am overthinking this, but I wonder if its more important to be at the same time every day or to get the correct concentration of urine. TIA!

FMU would be the 5am hour one. If you ALWAYS pee at like 3am, then again at 5am, you could try either and see what happens, and probably still just call the 5am the FMU. It has to do with how concentrated your urine is. If you pee at 3am, it likely wont be more concentrated than it was initially, at 5am. If that makes sense.

[hydrangea1019]

Aug 18, 2015 9:59:36 GMT -5 lavinia said:

I am late to this OPK discussion, but I have a question for you ladies... I asked this on my WTO thread but wanted to ask here too...
I am wondering what to count as my FMU. I know this is a weird question, but half the time I wake up in the 5:00 hour (sometimes earlier) because I have to pee and then go back to sleep until 6:30 or 7:00. I plan to use the Clear Blue digital OPKs when I get close to my predicted O date, and I know those say to use FMU. So, I guess I should use it whenever it is that I wake up and have to pee, even if I am half way asleep?
Also, with Wondfos, if I use SMU, should I use it when I wake up the second time around 7:00ish or wait until my next pee around 9:30 or so? Probably I am overthinking this, but I wonder if its more important to be at the same time every day or to get the correct concentration of urine. TIA!

I usually wake up at least once a night to pee, however I usually always test at 6am. Now if I woke up at 5, then I'd probably go ahead and test, but when I wake up around 3, I just go back to bed and then use the CB digi opk at 6 am. I haven't had any problems catching my surge that way.