OPK confusion : (

So I decided to try ovulation tests this month (we are currently on month 5 of TTC). I usually have a cycle of between 27-30 days so started testing on CD10. I had fertile CM from around day CD13 until CD18 yet during that time I only ever got the faintest of faint lines on the OPKs. I am now on CD20 with more or less no CM. Decided today would be the last time this cycle I use OPK and the line is more or less the same as the control line, arggggh! What's going on? (we have BD on cd10, cd14, cd16 and cd18 so unfortunately haven't really kept to the DTD every 4 days as planned, whoops!).

It's totally normal to have fertile cm before you O. By the time I O my cm has already been gone for two days and is always dry or sticky on O day. I've had two oops pregnancies so it doesn't seem to be a problem! I would just dtd tonight since you got your +opk. O'ing "late" may just be your norm. O'ing on CD20 and starting your period on CD31 gives you a luteal phase of 10 days which is within normal but may just be a bit short for implantation if it's at all shorter than that. So you may need some suggestions for lengthening your luteal phase. Hopefully Atomic will chime in.

Ah ok, thanks! I am worried that DTD tonight would essentially mean we have done it every other day from CD14 and I thought this swayed boy? Would I be able to rely upon the cd18 attempt to catch ovulation do you think and perhaps DTD on cd22 (i.e. 4 days from the last attempt). Thanks

If you want to stick with one attempt in fertile window stick with BD on CD18 and then on CD22.
The attempt on CD18 could catch O on CD21 and if O is any later attempt on CD22 will cover that :)

Good Luck!!

This is the sort if thing that has been happening to me. I haven't had much luck know using OPKs and planning BD. I've had accidental extra attempts and not been able to resist DTD when I see a positive OPK.
No advice, but I just wanted to let you know you're not alone. x

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Originally Posted by Sp4rkl3s

This is the sort if thing that has been happening to me. I haven't had much luck know using OPKs and planning BD. I've had accidental extra attempts and not been able to resist DTD when I see a positive OPK.
No advice, but I just wanted to let you know you're not alone. x

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Aw, thanks sp4rkl3s! Glad to know I'm not the only one battling opk/dtd every 4 days/waiting for bfp. Who knew ttc a girl would be so complex?! Think I'm going to stick with the cd18 and bd again on cd22

YOu can get a bunch of EWCM before O that dries up before you ovulate.

For best odds of conception, TTC again now. BEst odds of pink stick with CD 18 attempt.

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Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush

YOu can get a bunch of EWCM before O that dries up before you ovulate.

For best odds of conception, TTC again now. BEst odds of pink stick with CD 18 attempt.

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Thanks Atomic! I have just tested again and the line is darker than the control. I have also had a fair amount of creamy (but not stretchy) cm today. Today is what I think to be cd20. Do we BD tonight or tomorrow night (cd21)? Or perhaps tomorrow morn? We last DTD on cd18 so a couple of days ago.

Also, I am wondering if I have got this months cd rather out. I counted cd1 as the day I had a small amount of bleeding but my true AF didn't arrive for 2-3 days after that and continued for around 3 days. Could that potentially mean that today, rather than being cd20 is something more like cd17ish? Just a thought. Just worried that if ov hasn't taken place yet and probably wont for another 24-36 hours (as per the opk guidance) then on my usual 28ish day cycle it doesn't allow enough time.

CD1 is the first day of full flow requiring a pad or tampon so you are probably more like CD17 :)

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Originally Posted by True Blue

CD1 is the first day of full flow requiring a pad or tampon so you are probably more like CD17 :)

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Ah, lovely! Thanks for clarifying. Definitely makes more sense if I was around cd17 today. Also having a fair amount of tummy cramps and back pain so wondering whether I am ovulating today. Just need to decide whether to bd this eve (meaning we have more or less dtd every other day) or hold off until tomorrow morn or perhaps even evening. Argh, what to do!

The choice you have to make is whether you want to have more chance of pink or more chance of conception :)
If pink stick with the 4 day if you just want to conceive you can add an attempt now. More attempts will bring you into Blue frequency.

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Originally Posted by True Blue

CD1 is the first day of full flow requiring a pad or tampon so you are probably more like CD17 :)

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yes agree 110%

If you really can't decide, flip a coin. Don't sit around debating or writing big pro-con lists, just take a minute, turn it over to the higher power of your choice or Lady Luck, flip a coin, and do what the coin tells you.