Waiting for OPK?

Hi everyone! We're gearing up for our attempt this month, but I had a question. Are people getting as good of girl results with 1 attempt every 4 days as with 1 attempt at positive OPK? I'm having EWCM for the last two days, but am still waiting on a positive OPK. Today would be the day 4 attempt.

Any advice on whether we should DTD today or hold out for the positive OPK? I'm getting nervous with each negative OPK since I know my window is either here or very close. TIA!!


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The every 4 day plan is so new we don't have much if any data on it. I say if you're worried and really don't want to skip this month, then try every 4 days. OPKs dont work for everyone. What brand are you using?

One thing to keep in mind as well is that you can have EWCM several days in advance of O. I get mine starting 6-8 days before but my OPKs don't start darkening until 1-3 days before O. CM isn't that useful for pinpointing O with any accuracy, unfortunately.

Thanks for your reply! I'm on CD 15, and my cycles are typically between 28-29 days. Thinking I should have either ovulated by now or it should be today/tomorrow. I've been using the CVS brand daily strips and just tried a digital test today, too. All been negative so far.


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My cycles are 28-30 days and I O CD17-20 usually, with OPKs darkening very suddenly 1-3 days before O. Many if not most women with 28 day cycles O later than CD14-15, from what I've observed. But I still think you should try BDing every 4 days just in case. What time of day are you testing? I get my darkest OPKs in the afternoon.

I test with FMU, based on the instructions. I used the digital mid-morning because I saw someone mention that's typically when your surge happens. We're going to wait it out this cycle and hope my positive OPK is coming :( I think the EWCM threw me off because previous cycles I had the positive with EWCM. This month, that seems to be tapering off with no sign of a positive OPK. Of course the month we decide to go for it things get wonky. Sigh... I guess if I have the tests I can check in the afternoons, too.


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I urge you to have an attempt ASAP if you don't want to skip this month. Not every woman gets positive OPKs and it's possible to get one the same day you O, with little warning. I've never had anything near positive with the CB digitals, personally. Do try around 3pm and see ifyou get a darker line then.

Both of these are relatively new ideas so I'm not sure we can pin it down.

What I'd do, if you really truly can't decide, is flip a coin and do what the coin tells you. I know it sounds crazy but we boy moms have a tendency to mull and debate things to such extent that it may even undermine their sway by raising testosterone (or whatever it is personality factor that seems to contribute to sway opposites)

If you're doing the every 4 day, then STICK to it! Don't postpone on the basis of not getting oPK. You can def. get pregnant with an attempt before positive OPK, but if O happens then you're out the month.

Thanks for the responses! Still no +OPK as of this afternoon. I had some lingering EWCM late morning, so I'm hoping that means we still have time for one more attempt this cycle. I'm on CD 16 today.

If I had EWCM, does that mean that I did or definitely will O? I know OPKs won't tell you for sure, but would the changes in CM be a sign that it happened/will happen? I'm a little concerned that because I didn't get a +OPK I didn't O at all this month. I'm almost 35, so I'm worried my body is slowing down.

DH and my schedule are chaotic today, but hopefully we can have one attempt by tomorrow.

Thanks for the helps ladies! Any other thoughts are very welcome!!


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CM can be so misleading. You can have 2 weeks or more of EWCM and never O; often ladies with PCOS will have long anovulatory cycles with no period for months and months and several patches of EWCM but no O - despite many positive OPKs. And then some women can have no fertile CM at all and only negative OPKs and yet they O; I've personally had 2 cycles while swaying with faint OPKs and only creamy CM, but confirmed O (via temp rise & bloodwork). The only way to know for sure that you've Oed is a sustained temp rise (and even temps aren't always perfect), blood work, or ultrasound - and unfortunately, all if these methods are only useful for confirming O days AFTER it has happened. That's why atomic developed the every 4 days plan, bc OPKs can be unreliable for many and bc trying to predict O is often so difficult and stressful.

At CD16 you still have time to O. It's also possible that swaying (if you're doing the LE diet and/or exercise and/or taking Vitex) has delayed O, as any of those factors can mess up your cycle. It's an extremely common effect. If your O is being delayed, then you have (potentially) more time than you think - though I wouldn't depend on that. I love atomic's idea of flipping a coin to decide whether to attempt - over thinking is best avoided when swaying pink.

Since we planned to attempt this month, I've been checking for O as best I could. I think trying to use the OPKs and everything is getting to be a bit much.

I definitely like the idea of every 4 days and will just stick with that next month. Sounds like it takes a ton of stress out of it! I really appreciate the responses! I feel like now I've got a better strategy for our next attempt :) Hopefully this will all pay off with a healthy little girl in the end!


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