Help! I don't understand OPK and ovulation and how you know when to DTD

[pinkfairydust]

Sorry I've been on this site ages now but I don't know how I'd know I've ovulated. Do I even have to know or does the day itself not really matter.

So I'm going to one attempt at first OPK - what does that even mean and what test strips are people using and are they complicated to understand?

What does OPK stand for?

I'm trying not to stress myself out with all this as I know it will sway blue but I'm really confused about all this and all the acronyms

Help!!!

[XXforhubby]

OPK- ovulation predictor kits to use to measure the amount of LH (Leutinizing hormone which causes egg to mature before ovulation).

Most use Wondfo opks (can be bought on Amazon or eBay). Some use Clearblue digital opks (Pink ones that give a solid smiley only). The Clearblue ones can be expensive and most only use these to confirm a positive result when one is seen on a Wondfo opk.

You don't need to know when you may have ovulated to TTC for pink. Some like to know their cycles but this may stress some swayers out too much. Using opks can even stress too many people out.

If you don't want to use opks, you can just BD (Baby dance = have sex) every four days (E4D) from the time AF (Aunt flo = period) ends until CD22 (Cycle day 22). This pattern ensures only one attempt in your fertile window like having an attempt at positive opk would. The only advantage of using opks is BDing then can be more targeted closer to when ovulation may be expected. Ovulation typically occurs within 24-48hours (sometimes as early as 12 hours) after the first positive opk result.

Don't hesitate to ask anymore questions- that's what we are all here for! FX and GL (fingers crossed and good luck) to you!!


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[emoji178]Baby Girl [emoji254]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji178]

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[pinkfairydust]

Thank you so much - I've been on this site for years and still get co fused by all the acronyms

So it's number of attempts that swings pink, rather than the timing in relation to ovulation?

So if I use the clear blue test, they advertise themselves as being able to identify 4 or more fertile days. You first of all get flashing smileys for a couple of days and then the smiley goes solid closer to ovulation.

I've asked atomic this too (as I've got a personal plan) but I just wondered if I should BD at the flashing smiley or at the solid smiley to get in with my best chance of girl?

[pinkfairydust]

Delete- duplicate sorry

[atomic sagebrush]

answered in sway plan

[pinkfairydust]

Thank you atomic :)

@xxforhubby - is it best to use the pink clear blue test sets then - the ones that only give a solid a smiley?

[XXforhubby]

Thank you atomic :)

@xxforhubby - is it best to use the pink clear blue test sets then - the ones that only give a solid a smiley?

I personally believe so. I have seen way too many people getting several days of flashing smileys, sometimes not getting a solid smiley at all, cause too many problems. I personally like using the inexpensive Wondfo opks starting at CD8, and then using a CBD pink opk to confirm a positive opk on the Wondfo. This is the cheapest way to use opks. A pack of the pink CBD can then last you several months, because you will only use 2-3 each month instead of using them all cycle long.

Some people love and swear by the advanced ones, but I never liked them.


[emoji170]8/2010 [emoji170]6/2013 [emoji170]11/2015 [emoji170]
[emoji178]Baby Girl [emoji254]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji178]

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[lovepink13]

I also bought the cheapie OPK from Amazon (Easy @ Home Brand) and have only used them one cycle so far but will use them again this cycle when I am actively TTC.

I tested twice a day, around 2 pm and 8 pm starting on cycle day 10. On the day I got a positive at 8pm I knew it was coming soon from my 2pm test because my test line was quite a bit darker than the day before (but not quite dark enough yet). I kept testing until the positive went away, I got a positive the next day at both 2pm and 8 pm but you're said to ovulate approx. 8-36 hours after your first positive.

[pinkfairydust]

Thank you so much both- really helpful

So I'll wait for the solid smiley and just DTD once- probably a day or two before O and hope for the best

I'll then just DTD 4 or 5 days after the initial attempt ...just incase the stick was totally wrong

Does that sound like an ok approach? I don't know why I find this so confusing! Think I'm much clearer now thanks to you ladies and atomic xx