Talk to me about OPKs.

[Deleted]

I have questions.  

1) Do you use them? Why/why not?

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are?

3) What brand do you use?

4) Anything else to add before I buy some?

[Deleted]

1) Do you use them? Why/why not?

Yes! To me its a bit less error prone than BBT in that a lot of things can mess up the temping (lack of sleep, etc.) so its great to have the secondary validation. Also its easy and I am a data nerd, so I love more data.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are?

I think they're good in tandem -- opks only detect the surge (so you know when your fertile days are) and then temping confirms the o. You don't know when you're surging (i.e. fertile) with temping alone, you only know you oed once you spike. So together you know both before the o and after, if that makes sense.

3) What brand do you use?

Last month I used both CB Digital and Wondfo. The CBDs are expensive but fun to have the smiley. The wondfos are cheap and pretty easy to tell the difference. This month I'll likely only use wondfos.

4) Anything else to add before I buy some?

Don't go pee crazy like I did. That being said there is some debate about using FMU or SMU, etc. It didn't make a difference to me.

eta: also you only need to use the wondfos around the time you should o. There's guidance on the package of when to start testing based on your average cycle length. Also note that some women get multiple LH surges, so you can have a positive OPK but no O. That's why they can't be trusted without temping..

[ldubhawksfan]

]1) Do you use them? Why/why not? Yes, because I'm fortunate to not get more than one surge and we can time TTC.



2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are? I temped with OPKs for 6 months, and in that time, I confirmed O and the time relationship from + OPK to O. I stopped temping after that, and it works for me. I know I can't confirm the absolute O day, but it's pretty close for me. I advocate temping though, at least for a few cycles to get to know your cycle.



3) What brand do you use?[ Wondfo for life


4) Anything else to add before I buy some? Make sure you but from actual reputable sellers on amazon. Buy some little plastic cups, unless you are talented enough to pee in the package. And I recommend testing 2x a day starting on like CD11, just to make sure you don't miss your surge.

[Unknown]

1) Do you use them? Why/why not? Yes, I have irregular cycles and can O anytime between CD15-35, and I'll be damned to miss my window.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are? very, you don't know that you O'd until after your temp rise w/ just temping.

3) What brand do you use? Walgreen's BBT and Wondfo OPK

4) Anything else to add before I buy some? agree w/ the suggestion to get the little plastic cups to pee in. I've done the pee in the package route the first time I was TTC, and the little cups this time is so much less pee on my hands ETA: I would do OPK with SMU and again early afternoon.

[Deleted]

You guys, this is super helpful. Thanks!

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2015 11:52:26 GMT -5 Unknown said:

1) Do you use them? Why/why not? Yes, I have irregular cycles and can O anytime between CD15-35, and I'll be damned to miss my window.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are? very, you don't know that you O'd until after your temp rise w/ just temping.

3) What brand do you use? Walgreen's BBT and Wondfo OPK

4) Anything else to add before I buy some? agree w/ the suggestion to get the little plastic cups to pee in. I've done the pee in the package route the first time I was TTC, and the little cups this time is so much less pee on my hands ETA: I would do OPK with SMU and again early afternoon.

Why not just pee on the strip? 

[daisy818]

I'm seriously admiring the skill of those who pee in the package. I have nothing to add but thanks for this thread @pugsandwine - I plan to start using them tomorrow (CD10) and the info is really helpful!

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2015 11:54:58 GMT -5 @pugsandwine said:

Jan 27, 2015 11:52:26 GMT -5 Unknown said:

1) Do you use them? Why/why not? Yes, I have irregular cycles and can O anytime between CD15-35, and I'll be damned to miss my window.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are? very, you don't know that you O'd until after your temp rise w/ just temping.

3) What brand do you use? Walgreen's BBT and Wondfo OPK

4) Anything else to add before I buy some? agree w/ the suggestion to get the little plastic cups to pee in. I've done the pee in the package route the first time I was TTC, and the little cups this time is so much less pee on my hands ETA: I would do OPK with SMU and again early afternoon.

Why not just pee on the strip? 

With wondfos at least, you can't get the urine above the line or it messes up the test. You have to be very talented to get the pee in just the right place. Other brands you can pee directly on, but they are $$.

[heatherj9603]

No. I've temped for so many years that I stopped about a year or so ago. I just learned my normal range of ov. But we are on a little break so I'll probably start up again in May. 

My rule of thumb when I temped was to have sex at least every other day starting a week before normal ov time and going a week after. Then when I saw my spike, I'd know we hit our window. 

[Unknown]

Jan 27, 2015 11:54:58 GMT -5 @pugsandwine said:

Jan 27, 2015 11:52:26 GMT -5 Unknown said:

1) Do you use them? Why/why not? Yes, I have irregular cycles and can O anytime between CD15-35, and I'll be damned to miss my window.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are? very, you don't know that you O'd until after your temp rise w/ just temping.

3) What brand do you use? Walgreen's BBT and Wondfo OPK

4) Anything else to add before I buy some? agree w/ the suggestion to get the little plastic cups to pee in. I've done the pee in the package route the first time I was TTC, and the little cups this time is so much less pee on my hands ETA: I would do OPK with SMU and again early afternoon.

Why not just pee on the strip? 

Wondfo's are really small strips and I can't imagine anybody being able to pee directly on them w/o messing up or peeing on your hand anyway.

[anonymouseliza]

1) Do you use them? Why/why not?

Yes, because I can have long cycles and long fertile windows and being able to narrow down the timing for sex is better, so we're not tired when we really need to have sex. Also, an additional piece of confirming information is a good thing, imo.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are?

Still necessary. Temping is an after-the-fact confirmation. Temps don't tell you if you are going to ovulate, only confirm that you have. In terms of establishing timing, opk's are the better option (remembering that a + doesn't confirm ovulation took place).

3) What brand do you use?

Previously, my preferred brand was Clearblue Digital. Loved those. But they are pricey and my disposable income dropped significantly after I had a kiddo, so I stick with Wondfo's. Meh. They're fine.

4) Anything else to add before I buy some?

Remember that they are a tool to use. Helpful, but not definitive. They have to be considered in the bigger picture of things.

[anonymouseliza]

Dip strips are the cheapest option. There are certainly versions you can pee directly on, but they are more expensive (and wasteful, imo). You can control the accuracy of any test by dipping it in a container of urine. If you pee on it, you can't be sure if you've got enough or too much urine, which can impact the accuracy of the results. Cups for lyfe.

[Deleted]

This is such awesome info! Okay - I now have Wondfos on their way from Amazon - and I already have small cups at home.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2015 12:13:02 GMT -5 @pugsandwine said:

This is such awesome info! Okay - I now have Wondfos on their way from Amazon - and I already have small cups at home.

Be careful ordering Wondfo from amazon -- something I neglected to mention. There have been a few batches of fakes going around. I think Wondfo has an authorized seller list somewhere, lemme see if I can find it for you.

eta: www.amazon.com/gp/aag/details/ref=aag_m_fi?marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&isCBA=&seller=A8A0W43XRSZY5&isAmazonFulfilled=&asin=&orderID=#custom


Authorized Sellers

TEST `A-SURE
iFast
Easy @ Home
Fairview Mart
Ding!
Formosa Medical
Quality Deals
IN-N-OUT
USHealth Tests and Products

[inwinethereistruth]

I am about to start using them next cycle, so I will let you know!

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2015 12:18:39 GMT -5 @spicymama said:

Jan 27, 2015 12:13:02 GMT -5 @pugsandwine said:

This is such awesome info! Okay - I now have Wondfos on their way from Amazon - and I already have small cups at home.

Be careful ordering Wondfo from amazon -- something I neglected to mention. There have been a few batches of fakes going around. I think Wondfo has an authorized seller list somewhere, lemme see if I can find it for you.

eta: www.amazon.com/gp/aag/details/ref=aag_m_fi?marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&isCBA=&seller=A8A0W43XRSZY5&isAmazonFulfilled=&asin=&orderID=#custom


Authorized Sellers

TEST `A-SURE
iFast
Easy @ Home
Fairview Mart
Ding!
Formosa Medical
Quality Deals
IN-N-OUT
USHealth Tests and Products

Thanks! I actually remembered this scandal - I ordered from In-N-Out.

[ldubhawksfan]

Jan 27, 2015 12:22:31 GMT -5 mistabinx said:

I know you already got a ton of info and ordered but I wanted to feel helpful and add my two cents

1) Do you use them? Why/why not? I do. I do not temp because I am a control freak and I think temping would suck me into OCD overdrive. So I have printed monthly calendars where I chart my whole cycle: CD #'s, symptoms if relevant, and I use opks daily and mark the results for each day. This helped me immensely in trying to predict what was happening and when.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are? N/a

3) What brand do you use? Wondfo

4) Anything else to add before I buy some? If you're going to use opks only and not temp, come up with some sort of system for yourself, be it a printed calendar like me, or something else. You will get more out of it information-wise and prediction as well. Also will give you a better picture of your cycle.
Good luck!

You can still use FF with only OPKs. It will give you a dashed vertical line for "O" day. I still keep track of my OPKs and CM in the program.

[ldubhawksfan]

Jan 27, 2015 12:22:38 GMT -5 @pugsandwine said:

Jan 27, 2015 12:18:39 GMT -5 @spicymama said:

Be careful ordering Wondfo from amazon -- something I neglected to mention. There have been a few batches of fakes going around. I think Wondfo has an authorized seller list somewhere, lemme see if I can find it for you.

eta: www.amazon.com/gp/aag/details/ref=aag_m_fi?marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&isCBA=&seller=A8A0W43XRSZY5&isAmazonFulfilled=&asin=&orderID=#custom


Authorized Sellers

TEST `A-SURE
iFast
Easy @ Home
Fairview Mart
Ding!
Formosa Medical
Quality Deals
IN-N-OUT
USHealth Tests and Products

Thanks! I actually remembered this scandal - I ordered from In-N-Out.

In-N-Out is only good for burgers and amazing fries!

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2015 12:25:25 GMT -5 ldubhawksfan said:

Jan 27, 2015 12:22:38 GMT -5 @pugsandwine said:

Thanks! I actually remembered this scandal - I ordered from In-N-Out.

In-N-Out is only good for burgers and amazing fries!

I may have ordered from them because of the name and my love of animal style burgers... and sex.

[piccyami]

Jan 27, 2015 12:00:46 GMT -5 Unknown said:

Jan 27, 2015 11:54:58 GMT -5 @pugsandwine said:

Why not just pee on the strip? 

Wondfo's are really small strips and I can't imagine anybody being able to pee directly on them w/o messing up or peeing on your hand anyway.

I pee directly on them. So far, I haven't had too much of a problem. I'll occasionally knock the absorbent part loose, but they're so cheap that I don't mind.

1) Do you use them? Why/why not?

I like them to give me a heads-up.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are?

I feel like I still need both to give me a good idea of when I should ovulate and when I did ovulate.

3) What brand do you use?

Wondfo.

4) Anything else to add before I buy some?

Not much, just figure out what works for you.

[anonymouseliza]

Jan 27, 2015 12:24:44 GMT -5 ldubhawksfan said:

Jan 27, 2015 12:22:31 GMT -5 mistabinx said:

I know you already got a ton of info and ordered but I wanted to feel helpful and add my two cents

1) Do you use them? Why/why not? I do. I do not temp because I am a control freak and I think temping would suck me into OCD overdrive. So I have printed monthly calendars where I chart my whole cycle: CD #'s, symptoms if relevant, and I use opks daily and mark the results for each day. This helped me immensely in trying to predict what was happening and when.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are? N/a

3) What brand do you use? Wondfo

4) Anything else to add before I buy some? If you're going to use opks only and not temp, come up with some sort of system for yourself, be it a printed calendar like me, or something else. You will get more out of it information-wise and prediction as well. Also will give you a better picture of your cycle.
Good luck!

You can still use FF with only OPKs. It will give you a dashed vertical line for "O" day. I still keep track of my OPKs and CM in the program.

Did that during our tta cycles where I wasn't charting bbt.  I can't use hormonal birth control, so I used opk's to track and help avoid sex during fertile times.  It's not 100% accurate, of course, because it is possible to have multiple surges in a cycle, but I found it worked reliably well for me (never had multiple surges during that time - but also tracking other fertility indicators like cm and cp will assit there too).

[abc531]

I don't have anything to add, but I'm glad you asked this because I'm finally deciding to start using them this cycle and there's some really good information in here!

[spartanchick88]

UO I think In-N-Out is overrated.

In addition to the other info, I find it helpful to use an OPK around 1-3 pm. That gives me the best result as FMU never gave me a +. I read something somewhere about timing of the LH surge and it seems to hold true at least for me. And another Wondfo user here

[mrsjene]

I have questions.

1) Do you use them? Why/why not? Yep! I find it helps in conjunction with temping.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are? They help because with temping I usually don't know I've O'd until after.

3) What brand do you use? Wondfo

4) Anything else to add before I buy some? Yes to little cups. I take them to work so I can test in the late morning/early afternoon.

[mrsjene]

Jan 27, 2015 12:38:29 GMT -5 spartanchick88 said:

UO I think In-N-Out is overrated.

)

Did I really just see this? Am I already drunk?

[spartanchick88]

Jan 27, 2015 12:44:19 GMT -5 mrsjene said:

Jan 27, 2015 12:38:29 GMT -5 spartanchick88 said:

UO I think In-N-Out is overrated.

)

Did I really just see this? Am I already drunk?

DH hyped it and hyped it and hyped it and it was a burger. I was a bit let down. I found them to be greasy.. give me Five Guys any day

Edit - words and letter and stuff

[ldubhawksfan]

Jan 27, 2015 12:53:36 GMT -5 spartanchick88 said:

Jan 27, 2015 12:44:19 GMT -5 mrsjene said:

Did I really just see this? Am I already drunk?

DH hyped it and hyped it and hyped it and it was a burger. I was a bit let down. I found them to be greasy.. give me Five Guys any day

Edit - words and letter and stuff

Meh, I think their burgers are overrated, but I really do love their fries. I love watching them freshly cut them with their contraption!! I also like their Neapolitan shakes.

[Unknown]

Jan 27, 2015 12:26:26 GMT -5 piccyami said:

Jan 27, 2015 12:00:46 GMT -5 Unknown said:

Wondfo's are really small strips and I can't imagine anybody being able to pee directly on them w/o messing up or peeing on your hand anyway.

I pee directly on them. So far, I haven't had too much of a problem. I'll occasionally knock the absorbent part loose, but they're so cheap that I don't mind.

Maybe I have crazy stream, that takes mad skills.

[jennytwoshoes]

1) Do you use them? Why/why not? I do use them. I realize that only temping can confirm ovulation, but I think they give you a tad bit more info that is helpful. And they can help you predict ovulation, where temping can't tell you until afterwards. If you can't do EOD sex, OPKs are very helpful for narrowing your fertile window.

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are? Necessary only if you'd like a warning before you O. A positive OPK means you should O within 24-72 hours. Temping will only confirm you Oed three days later. Nothing to be done about it then.

3) What brand do you use? I use the 30-pack (pretty cheap pack) from Walgreens. I always mean to order cheapies from Amazon and then forget until I have only one left.

4) Anything else to add before I buy some? Remember that even a positive OPK doesn't guarantee that you've ovulated. It detects an LH surge, but only temping can guarantee you ovulated. Your body could gear up to O but not do it. Also, make sure you read the directions as a positive is only positive when the test line is darker then the control. "A line is a line" is not accurate for OPKs.

ETA: I've also heard differing opinions on when to stop testing with OPKs. I have positive OPKs for multiple days so I've always just kept testing until it's no longer positive. I've heard other ladies say they stop testing when they get one positive. I don't know the correct answer, but I figure I should keep HIO until it's no longer positive or until O has been confirmed. With my daughter, I had positive OPKs for five days. Last cycle I had positives for three days. I find it odd. 

[peaseblossom55]

1) Do you use them? Why/why not?
I use them, the more information I have the better

2) If you're temping, how necessary would you say they are?
Helpful

3) What brand do you use?
Wondfos and I may use clearblue advanced digital next cycle because I'm having trouble telling when I O, if I O..
4) Anything else to add before I buy some?
Nope. I am able to pee directly on the wondfos, and yes I've gotten it on my fingers/hand. I should buy cups though...