GKU Talk - All about OPKs

[Deleted]

Sept 16, 2015 15:25:11 GMT -5 sleepymonkey said:

Sept 16, 2015 14:51:06 GMT -5 daystardreams said:

Do you use them? Do you like them? Yes and yes.

What types/brands do you use? Wondfo

When do you start testing? Used to be around CD 17 because I usually ovulate around CD 20 but since my last two cycles have been medicated TI cycles, I started at CD 10.

Do you use FMU/SMU/Both? Second morning urine at around 10-12 and then again at 5-6 pm

Any advice, anecdotes or OPK-related sage advice? Keep testing if you aren't sure. I've quit too early way too many times!

Yes, especially if you're not temping! I had a consistent 27-29 day cycle for over a year before I started TFAS. The first month TTC, I didn't temp but used OPKs. I used them from day 11-18 with no surge so I assumed I missed it and stopped testing. My cycle ended up being 36 days and I obviously stopped using the OPKs before I actually surged because I assumed my cycle would be the "normal" length.

I had the opposite issue where I didn't start them early enough and barely caught the surge.

[wannabmama]

Do you use them? Do you like them? I try...but do not have good luck with them. I liked the one time I got a pos (and it lined up with O temp) but otherwise I'm a failure.

What types/brands do you use? Was using CB digi (not advanced) and I love smiley face, ha. Somehow I broke the "reader" though this last time, so switched to wondfos.

When do you start testing? I usually O CD16-20 so I start around 13-14.

Do you use FMU/SMU/Both? Usually FMU and then later in the day after work sometimes.

Any advice, anecdotes or OPK-related sage advice? I'm an OPK failure so don't come to me for advice ha!

[lilsneezy]

Do you use them? Do you like them? I use them but haven't in a few months due to being on fertility meds. I do like using them though. 

What types/brands do you use? I use Wondfo and then (sometimes) Clearblue digital to confirm. I found that the Wondfos work just fine though and I haven't used my CB OPKs in months. 

When do you start testing? Usually once a day around 13-14DPO and then twice a day when they start to get darker. 

Do you use FMU/SMU/Both? FMU.

Any advice, anecdotes or OPK-related sage advice? I don't dip my Wondfos even though the directions tell me to. I pee right on them and I've never had a problem ::shrug::

[cheezee]

Do you use them? Do you like them? Yes and yes.

What types/brands do you use? Wondfos and CB digitals to confirm. I love the happy faces!

When do you start testing? Usually CD 12

Do you use FMU/SMU/Both? Both.

Any advice, anecdotes or OPK-related sage advice? Out of the blue I had a cycle where I had two surges...not my norm. All the signs of O and a positive opk but no temp rise. This really showed me the importance of temping along with OPKs and that you can get a positive and still not O.

ETA - this is also a safe place to ask any OPK related questions (flame free, of course)
Is there any advantage to keep testing until negative? or do you stop after your first positive?

[spunkybrewster]

One thing I haven't seen discussed much is the use of a fertility monitor instead of OPKs. I bought one at a hefty price when I was TTC last time, and I liked it because I did not have to pee on all the things all the time. Mine was a little gadget you put in your mouth first thing in the morning, and it took your data (not temp) every day and eventually gave you "blue days," which were the days it predicted leading up to ovulation. It also had a vaginal wand to use to confirm ovulation.

I obviously do not know the science behind how it does either of these things except I know it's not based on BBT. However, since I also temped every morning, I will say the chart it gave me always lined up with my FF chart, so I feel confident in what it was doing. Also, you did not have to use the vag wand. I did not like it. It's long and metal and scary.

I never figured out a good way to enter the data from the monitor into FF though, which was annoying.

I'm not sure if I'll use it again this time around. It might be more valuable to those with very irregular cycles. For me my O day didn't vary much from cycle to cycle, so temping to confirm O was probably good enough. I love gadgets though, so there's that.

I cant remember the brand, but if anyone is interested I can check later.

TL:dr Fertility monitor is a fun but expensive alternative to OPKs if you like gadgets and have irregular cycles.

[Rama]

Sept 16, 2015 17:57:01 GMT -5 cheezee said:

ETA - this is also a safe place to ask any OPK related questions (flame free, of course)
Is there any advantage to keep testing until negative? or do you stop after your first positive?

The biggest advantage of continuing to test until negative is just to see when your surge is ending, so you know that ovulation is impending.  Some people get multiple positives, so if you quit before it starts getting lighter again and you would be getting 2-3+ days of positives, you might think you've already ovulated when you're still about to.

I haven't even gotten a true positive, but I personally keep going until I'm certain they're negative.  Half for the reason above, half for fake out surges.  Okay, mostly for fake out surges.

[Deleted]

Sept 16, 2015 18:34:42 GMT -5 spunkybrewster said:

One thing I haven't seen discussed much is the use of a fertility monitor instead of OPKs. I bought one at a hefty price when I was TTC last time, and I liked it because I did not have to pee on all the things all the time. Mine was a little gadget you put in your mouth first thing in the morning, and it took your data (not temp) every day and eventually gave you "blue days," which were the days it predicted leading up to ovulation. It also had a vaginal wand to use to confirm ovulation.

I obviously do not know the science behind how it does either of these things except I know it's not based on BBT. However, since I also temped every morning, I will say the chart it gave me always lined up with my FF chart, so I feel confident in what it was doing. Also, you did not have to use the vag wand. I did not like it. It's long and metal and scary.

I never figured out a good way to enter the data from the monitor into FF though, which was annoying.

I'm not sure if I'll use it again this time around. It might be more valuable to those with very irregular cycles. For me my O day didn't vary much from cycle to cycle, so temping to confirm O was probably good enough. I love gadgets though, so there's that.

I cant remember the brand, but if anyone is interested I can check later.

TL:dr Fertility monitor is a fun but expensive alternative to OPKs if you like gadgets and have irregular cycles.

I have one but it requires peeing on things. It's on loan to another to GKU'er at the moment.

The brand I have is Clear Blue. It's pretty easy to use as long as you read the instructions(I'd to wing it.)

It always matched up with temping. Other than the fact that it was strict about testing times I liked using it.

[hydrangea1019]

Sept 16, 2015 15:25:11 GMT -5 sleepymonkey said:

Sept 16, 2015 14:51:06 GMT -5 daystardreams said:

Do you use them? Do you like them? Yes and yes.

What types/brands do you use? Wondfo

When do you start testing? Used to be around CD 17 because I usually ovulate around CD 20 but since my last two cycles have been medicated TI cycles, I started at CD 10.

Do you use FMU/SMU/Both? Second morning urine at around 10-12 and then again at 5-6 pm

Any advice, anecdotes or OPK-related sage advice? Keep testing if you aren't sure. I've quit too early way too many times!

Yes, especially if you're not temping! I had a consistent 27-29 day cycle for over a year before I started TFAS. The first month TTC, I didn't temp but used OPKs. I used them from day 11-18 with no surge so I assumed I missed it and stopped testing. My cycle ended up being 36 days and I obviously stopped using the OPKs before I actually surged because I assumed my cycle would be the "normal" length.

This exact thing happened to me when I first started temping and using OPKs. I was consistently 28 days and then the first month it was 35! When I finally ovulated on cd25 I then started freaking out over a 3 day LP lol so naive back then!

[twocents6708]

Do you use them? Do you like them? Yes and yes, although I think I am going to take a break from them for a bit to make TTC less scientific. They helped me narrow down my FW.

What types/brands do you use? I have used Wondfo and Climical Guard off of Amazon. They are cheap.

When do you start testing?I usually start around CD 14-15 as I O around CD 17-18.

Do you use FMU/SMU/Both? SMU and evening time when I get closer to O.

My advice would definitely be to start testing twice daily if you have a hard time catching your surge.

[joy]

BUMPING to say that I'm going to add a list of these threads to the sticky at the top.

Is there a schedule to when these threads will show up and who will start them? I just want to know when to keep an eye out.

Or just page me. I always pop in and out.

[requiressnacks]

Sept 21, 2015 9:59:09 GMT -5 joy said:

BUMPING to say that I'm going to add a list of these threads to the sticky at the top.

Is there a schedule to when these threads will show up and who will start them? I just want to know when to keep an eye out.

Or just page me. I always pop in and out.

I think we agreed on Wednesdays.  I don't think there is a certain person who will start them.  We'll be sure to page you!

[joy]

Imma going to mod abuse out that apostrophe.

[requiressnacks]

Sept 21, 2015 11:30:30 GMT -5 joy said:

Imma going to mod abuse out that apostrophe.

I fixed it. 

[joy]

Sept 21, 2015 11:44:39 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

Sept 21, 2015 11:30:30 GMT -5 joy said:

Imma going to mod abuse out that apostrophe.

I fixed it. 

HAHAHA.

You're awesome.