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

[cosmosis]

That's definitely better than 1 shot! lol. I may have J&D'd on CD21, but I had alot of EWCM and used a tiny bit of preseed. I felt like I was getting a UTI so I didn't want to lay there more than a couple of minutes. I can't remember if this started the last few days or since CD21. I haven't felt like my brain is all there the last couple of days.

Trying not to worry myself as it's a done deal. Not easy when you like to control every little detail haha.

[cosmosis]

Alrighty, I have a decision to make here and I'd really appreciate your input ladies

My cycle is whack this month and I have a feeling it is due to stress I placed upon myself. At this stage, not matter if I O'd on cd14, cd16 or cd20, I should be getting a positive test by now. During the last two weeks I had tons of toilet issues, like diarrhea for instance and alot of night wakings for the toilet. It stopped in the last 4 days, which correlate with my temps evening out. Still waking up to pee though *sigh*

Knowing what I know, and understanding my body the way I do, I'm certain this was all hormone surges, estrogen was trying to take over and my chart reflects that battle lol.

Yes, my temps seem to have stabilized above 98F for the last 11 days or so, but I also take progesterone cream in small doses and although it has never raised my temps this high or stopped my period from coming (I always stop it when I spot), ever, there's still a possibility that this could be the case because my hormones may have evened out at this stage (I'm treating myself for that as I'm estrogen dominant) and my progesterone may be extra high due to my natural levels kicking in. Just a theory.

I can easily stop the progesterone and I'm fairly certain a period would come if I'm not PG. The downside is that if I AM PG, it can potentially cause a miscarriage, but again, I'm taking a small dosage so I don't really think that would happen.

At this point, I'm more than ready to move on to another cycle and have my supplies ready to go. How much longer should I wait? I was thinking of doing one last test tomorrow morning, or should I wait until I'm a full week late? That's in 2-3 days. I would feel alot more relief getting another shot at this lol. I got some good quality OPK's (clearblue digital) so there's no wishy washy lines to deal with.

Thoughts?

[atomic sagebrush]

I would compromise and start using it every other day for a few days and see what happens.

[cosmosis]

Good idea! I'm testing with a frer on wednesday, I'll update then Thank you! <3

[Burakoam]

Okay Cosmo...

First and foremost, take the last CB digital you have in the morning please. First morning urine, holding your pee as long as you can...humor me. To me i love that test so much that if THAT says not pregnant at this point im going to say you really probably are not. Then if you still cant bare the thought of stopping the progesterone completely just yet tomorrow is the day id start taking it every other day and see what happens.

As for your new opks..i want to stress that i wouldnt have known the difference between my opk on july 9th vs my opk on july 13th...both had solid smiley faces. But the line was undoubtedly MUCH MUCH MUCH darker on the 13th. So lines still play a role even with the digitals in my opinion..but at least then with a solid smiley you know it is detecting SOMETHING in your pee.

Otherwise approach this how you want. Thats what i would do at this point. Also keep in mind as ive posted..i went the whole month of june and didnt ovulate even though i DID get a solid smiley opk..but i never bled and had a period..then ovulated on time in july. However i also was not on progesterone. So your situation IS a bit different

[Throwaway_panther]

Alrighty, I have a decision to make here and I'd really appreciate your input ladies

My cycle is whack this month and I have a feeling it is due to stress I placed upon myself. At this stage, not matter if I O'd on cd14, cd16 or cd20, I should be getting a positive test by now. During the last two weeks I had tons of toilet issues, like diarrhea for instance and alot of night wakings for the toilet. It stopped in the last 4 days, which correlate with my temps evening out. Still waking up to pee though *sigh*

Knowing what I know, and understanding my body the way I do, I'm certain this was all hormone surges, estrogen was trying to take over and my chart reflects that battle lol.

Yes, my temps seem to have stabilized above 98F for the last 11 days or so, but I also take progesterone cream in small doses and although it has never raised my temps this high or stopped my period from coming (I always stop it when I spot), ever, there's still a possibility that this could be the case because my hormones may have evened out at this stage (I'm treating myself for that as I'm estrogen dominant) and my progesterone may be extra high due to my natural levels kicking in. Just a theory.

I can easily stop the progesterone and I'm fairly certain a period would come if I'm not PG. The downside is that if I AM PG, it can potentially cause a miscarriage, but again, I'm taking a small dosage so I don't really think that would happen.

At this point, I'm more than ready to move on to another cycle and have my supplies ready to go. How much longer should I wait? I was thinking of doing one last test tomorrow morning, or should I wait until I'm a full week late? That's in 2-3 days. I would feel alot more relief getting another shot at this lol. I got some good quality OPK's (clearblue digital) so there's no wishy washy lines to deal with.

Thoughts?

Boy, this is tricky. 16DPO and nothing one way or the other? From what I understand, if you absolutely O'd when you thought you did, you COULD have delayed implantation explaining the "no period," the higher temps and potential early pregnancy symptoms, etc., but I'm not sure how the progesterone cream could affect anything here. Maybe just lengthening your LP a bunch?

I'd say with the "early symptoms" and then them going away for 4 days you might just have had a chemical and need to wait for the bleeding slightly late :/ It sounds like it could be the classic case of, "Bajillions of women lose early pregnancies without ever knowing it," and because you were paying attention noticed the slight change, but just happened to test even after the HCG lowered?

[cosmosis]

Ok! I've got a great update!

So, I reluctantly used my CBD lol and it was a BFN, as expected. My temps dropped today so I already knew but just wanted to triple check before cutting off progesterone.

Apparently, yesterday I did temp, I just didn't remember but when I checked my thermometer memory there was one recorded which was on its way down already(98.08). Unfortunately, I erased the memory when I was checking it just now and had to guess today's temp, gha! It was one of my popular temps of either 97.90 or 97.79, I wasn't fully awake when I took it so I don't remember exactly and I chose 97.79. We'll just wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Clearly the progesterone doesn't prevent my natural levels from dropping. I'm telling you, I always spot on time and I cut it off and AF arrives fully. Some months I don't use it and I'm still on time with the same pattern even.

I'm actually quite excited to tackle the next cycle but I'm worried. What the heck happened here? Was this a chemical? I DID get a faint BFP on 13 and 14DPO, I didn't imagine it. They were my only two tests that showed a line out of a sea of stark white tests. Were those just evap lines? I doubt it. My last cycle was 31 days and the one before was 32 days long. This makes me 5-6 days late, this is the normal range for a chemical right?

If they were evaps, did I not ovulate? Wouldn't FF pick up a non ovulatory cycle and wouldn't temps stay relatively the same if there was no O? I'm pretty certain of that, but I'm a bit rusty as I've been so regular for years . 10 years ago my cycles were like 60-90 days long and I corrected that with a lifestyle change and have been like clockwork since with the occasional skipped ovulation, in which case I get AF a full week early, never late.

I find it almost impossible to believe there was no egg and sperm action with all of the changes I experienced, they were WILD. I kept a detailed log and I always keep a close eye on my health, especially bowel movements and things like that.

I'd like to gain some clarity on this because I'd like to prevent a repeat, although I'm aware there isn't much I can do about chemical PG's. I want to make sure everything adds up and I do handle that which I am able to.

I'm pretty certain AF is on her way now and I couldn't be happier to see her LOL. I really cannot deal with disorganization and when things go off schedule in any areas of my life, it almost paralyzes me. I spent the last week doing nothing but research trying to sort this out. Now I'm behind on packing and we move this Friday >_<

As for the OPK's, my plan is to get 3 attempts in as soon as I get a smiley, if I get another smiley later, I will do another 3 attempts and just do EOD in between. Is this appropriate, Atomic?

So, what are your thoughts ladies?

[atomic sagebrush]

For next month, yes, I want you to get in the 3 attempts and then EOD if you can, indefinitely, and if you think you're Oing later than normal, have ANOTHER 2-3 attempts if poss.

I, or anyone else can't tell you YET what day you Oed. I have only very rarely found chemicals to delay AF coming by 5-6 days and so if those were true BFP I still think you Oed late.

I would like to wait until AF comes and then look back to see if all this makes more sense.

[cosmosis]

Well, she's officially here and at her usual time, right before bed lol. CD1 for me.

This is my full cycle:

[Burakoam]

A period as reliable as yours suggests cd 22-23 then as ovulation date being as that was 14 days ago