CM and O question

[HKF1120]

Hi,

So I am planning on TTC next month, but I am not confident with identifying when I ovulate...can anyone help?

This month I had some fertile CM on day 14, nothing day 15, the most on day 16 and some on day 17. I haven't used OPKs because of the potentially ambiguous results and the added expense. Based on my CM, would I assume that I ovulated on day 18, or day 17? Or something else?

The month before was a bit weird because my daughter decided to stop breast feeding, which affected my hormones, so it wasn't much help.

Any advice about OPKs?

Thanks in advance!

[aidansmum]

Hi. If you can monitor your O by just CM, go for it, but I don't trust my CM and need OPK's to know for sure. Why don't you give internet cheappies a try? You can buy a pack of 50 on ebay for 10-15 dollars. Make sure you buy the ones with the pink tips though, because the ones with the blue tip that says Lh are not good, too faint and hard to read. These always worked for me (until my course of Clomid that messed them all up that is), but it should work if you're not on any meds.

[atomic sagebrush]

You can't monitor your CM and pinpoint ovulation reliably and this has been proven in studies. You can get it close enough to use that method to increase odds of pregnancy and to use it as a reliable method of birth control, but you can't pinpoint ovulation down to the day or hour like some claim.

OPK are much more reliable than temping or CM.

Question - are you trying to do Shettles timing?? That really doesn't work and we've been having great results doing 3-5 attempts at or around pos OPK for blue.

YOu really don't need to pinpoint your ovulation to the day. If you think O is nigh, you can have 3-5 attempts over the next few days and then you're in with a great shot of blue.