OPK confusion!!!

[Bayhay]

Hi,

I am very confused about when to do OPK tests. I have two kinds: the basic tests (Easy@home ovulation test strips) and the digital smiley face ones from Clearblue. With the Clearblue I know to do these as "back ups" during my fertile days - I do these after/to confirm results from Easy@home tests.

I know with Clearblue to only test after holding urine for four hours. But with Easy@home tests, should I not do first thing in AM? When should I do these? Does it have to be after holding urine for 4 hours? Help! So confused. Thanks.

[atomic sagebrush]

Follow the directions that come with your individual OPK.

RE holding urine, most people get positives without holding urine as long as you aren't drinking tons of water.

Also, since I try to answer all questions personally, it makes it a lot easier if you post just once. Otherwise I have to answer the same q in each thread for whoever happens to read them.

[Birthfree]

@Bayhay I have those exact tests and am using them now. I do them in the evening same time every day. But I'm checking in morning too just for curiosity sake to be sure I don't miss a surge (which would be unlikely, but hey, I have 50 of them so...).

[atomic sagebrush]

If they're made to be used later in the day they probably won't pick up a morning surge. Better to do those ones after lunch and evening.

[Birthfree]

The instructions don't actually say a time of day, strangely... I just do them in the evening because of online recommendations for OPKs as a whole.

[Bayhay]

Hi! Yes exactly. I am confused bc these ones don't say when to use them. They don't even state that you should hold urine, or not have urinated for four hours! Very confusing. @Birthfree do you do first morning urine with these too? Or just mid-morning? Thanks! And sorry Atomic, still trying to figure out this site and unsure where to post.

[Birthfree]

@Bayhay I use morning urine and then do it again at 5:00pm (alarm on my phone). It doesn't require holding your urine (neither did Dollar Tree ones).

[atomic sagebrush]

The instructions don't actually say a time of day, strangely... I just do them in the evening because of online recommendations for OPKs as a whole.

Oh that's very strange!! In that case then I'd try them after lunch and just before dinner.

[atomic sagebrush]

No worries, it's just to make it a little easier on me.

As long as you aren't drinking gallons of water ~most~ people don't have to hold their urine. A minority of peopel (maybe about 15%) does have to.

[Bayhay]

@Birthfree: did you wait to do your BD 24hrs after positive OPK as suggested by easy@home? Super confusing bc I got a positive yesterday PM at 11:30, then this was confirmed by Clearblue smiley face. But then when I tested yesterday morning no more smiley face but still dark line on easy@home. @Atomic: the easy@home instructions state:

"Ovulation will occur after 24-48 hours following a positive test. One Step Ovulation Urine Test is a qualitative test used to predict when there is a LH surge, and in turn, when you are likely to ovulate."

So we didn't have a chance to BD until 24 hrs after positive OPK. Oh well, last time we BDed right away and it didn't work. Nothing I can do now but wait and continue to BD every four days I guess...