Do OPK lines HAVE to be dark? When is it actually positive?

[cosmosis]

As per Atomic's suggestion, I will be using OPK's from early on so that I don't miss my window, however, I'm slightly confused with what exactly I'm looking for.

I see posts with ladies talking about their OPK's gradually becoming positive, as in, they get light lines and they continue to get darker. So when is it actually positive? I would assume that as soon as I see two lines, it is a positive and plans should be executed accordingly. Am I right or wrong here?

All input is appreciates! TIA!

[GirlieCat]

It depends on what kind you are using, but the cheapie internet ones will show a second line just about every day of your cycle. They get darker and darker as you get closer to your LH surge. When the second test line is "as dark" as the control line, then it is a positive. When you get a true positive, you will understand that the lines truly do become the same darkness. When in doubt, post a pic and ladies here will help.

[cosmosis]

I'll be using dollar store cheapies since I'll be doing two per day. This past cycle I definitely didn't see a gradual darkening of the line. One morning it was just dark and the 3 days after it slowly faded. I wish I had started using them sooner to practice lol.

[GirlieCat]

I would order some online if I were you. You will go broke buying them at the store, even dollar store. They are about 0.20 a piece online and I needed that cheapened so I didn't feel bad testing so much. Also know, that most OPKs need afternoon urine. Morning urine will give a false positive- unless you are using the expensive OPKs that specifically say to use morning urine. Read the instructions. If it doesn't say use first morning urine, test in afternoon.

[foxtrotmama]

OPKs with lines aren't positive until the result line is as dark as or darker than the control line. For most people, they will fade in and then fade out.

[cosmosis]

This makes me very nervous! What if the OPK just doesn't get very dark and I miss my window? lol

[foxtrotmama]

I probably wouldn't do a pink cycle completely dependent on OPKs if you've never used them before.

Are you a blue swayer? What is the frequency you have planned?

[cosmosis]

Yes, I'm swaying blue. I plan to BD every other day when AF is done and 3 attempts at +OPK.

[atomic sagebrush]

Some people get a fade in, others go right to positive. (and this can vary by individual, by month, meaning you can "always" have one pattern and then suddenly go to the other and in any possible variation)

What you're looking for is lines that are equally dark, or the test is darker than control.

IF you don't get that, what you can do instead, is if the test is quite dark but not quite positive, go ahead and hit it with the 3 attempts and then go back to eod. It's ok to have part of the 3 attempts in slightly before surge, and/or it's fine to go up to 5 or even more provided you're in the fertile window anyway, so if you BD at dark-but-not-pos and then get a positive the next day, you can still have more attempts, and that first attempt will BE in the fertile window because you are fertile just before you get a positive OPK as well. (I hope that makes sense)

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes, I'm swaying blue. I plan to BD every other day when AF is done and 3 attempts at +OPK.

Just go ahead and feel free to have an attempt if you see that line dark, but not quite there yet. Either scenario works:

1)This IS the positive and it isn't going to get any darker, thus have 3 attempts

or

2)You'll get a true pos tomorrow and so you can have 3 attempts counting this as one OR you can have 4 attempts total or even more because the fertile window is open!!