OPK question.

[threelittlebears]

Hi ladies, sorry if I am in the wrong section for this question but this is the only site I visit. Last cycle I dropped my saliva ovulation microscope and have now started using OPK's for the first time ever. Atomic mentioned to BD at first positive OPK so that is my "new" strategy!

I am currently 7dpo and when I received my OPK's in the mail yesterday I thought I would give one a try so I know what to expect in regards to lines etc when it comes time to use them in a couple of weeks, plus I was curious! Yesterday when I used one a second faint line came up so I thought I would try again today and another second line came up but darker than yesterday.

My information sheet says that a negative result is no second line and a postive result is a second line that is stronger or as strong as the first line. It then goes on to say that a second faint line is either the beginning or the end of your surge.

So, I am confused now. Am I about to ovulate for a second time? AF is due in 7 days so I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be leading up to a surge. I did a quick google and I know some people use OPK as HPT, however mostly this is seen to be an inacurate way to use them.

I am just curious if others always have a second line on their OPK's. Should I continue to test every day until there is no second line? I just want to unserstand how to read them correctly.

Thanks so much for any replies.

[fresas]

The OPKs detect LH and pregnancy tests detect hCG. I have heard of women using OPKs to try to detect pregnancy, but I think it is probably better to try to use a pregnancy test.

I don't know if you have PCOS, but I guess us PCOS girls have more LH in our bodies than non-PCOS girls so sometimes this can interfere with accurate OPK readings, too.

Don't test in a hot room or steamy room. I am still trying to find the source I read for this, but I read that sometimes steamy rooms (like the bathroom with hot water running) can cause false + readings.

LH is always created in our bodies. I always have a second line on my OPK strips no matter where I am in my cycle. Sometimes it is darker than others, but I can see when I have a positive result...sometimes. It can also depend on the concentration of your LH in your urine when you test. The OPK detects a LH surge, not just the presence of LH in the urine.

[threelittlebears]

Thanks for such a quick reply! Ok, that makes sense now if LH is always in our bodies then I would see a second line. Since this is the first time using them I just wanted to know the variables in results since the information sheet was so black and white about results and as we know...there is always grey areas when it comes to conceiving...lol!

I guess that's why it's best to monitor changes in our body to detect ovulation and use ovulation tests as an extra tool also.

Thanks again for the tips, now I have a clearer idea what to expect when I use them close to ovulation!

[NeedAGirl!]

Yes, I always have 2 lines and on the cheap tests, mine is positive for many days after O. On more expensive tests, the test line is technically negative about 2 days after o but still pretty dark.