When do I use an OPK?

I've been using OPKs for the first time this cycle. I've already gone through an entire box without getting a positive. I just realized today that I wasn't supposed to use FMU. DAMN! What time of day should I test?

Welcome to the world of mid-cycle peesticks! Some manufacturers claim that using FMU can cause false positives due to the urine being too concentrated... but in my personal experience I believe FMU is more likely to cause false negatives.

For you, my lovely citizens of Peestick Paradise, I recently did a little experiment. I tested using OPKs both with FMU, SMU, 3 pm and 8 pm. Here's what I got...


Of course, your results may vary. In fact, MY results may vary from cycle to cycle. But I've tested with OPKs using FMU before and have never gotten a positive. I believe this is because LH surges (typically) later in the day.

Different women find testing at different times works better. Just after noon, however, is a pretty common time to have success. Be consistent so you can see a pattern in your peesticks, if there is one. Some women notice the OPKs get darker and darker until they get a positive. This gives them a bit more advance notice of there impending fertility. For others, there is more variation and no real pattern.

You may want to consider getting IC (internet cheapies) OPKs. The store brand ones are very expensive and it can certainly add up. You can buy ICs from Babyhopes, Ebay, Amazon and various other outlets. I also sell them (through babyhopes and amazon) at the ttc store (look under ovulation tests). Some women do better with different brands of tests.

It is possible you missed your surge this cycle due to using FMU. It's up to you if you'd want to invest in more OPKs for this cycle or not. If you had other fertility signs, and you are well past your usual ovulation date, you may want to just write off OPKs this cycle and start fresh next cycle. (Of course, hopefully you caught the egg and there won't be a next cycle for a long time!)

Good luck!

Always a Second Line on OPK

I've been using OPKs to try to time the BDing. There is always a second line on the OPK, but it never seems positive. What's up with that?

The fact is, some women never get a positive OPK, but they are still ovulating. There are two things I will recommend that you try. First, try a different brand of OPK. They vary in sensitivity so you may do well with another brand of test. Second, I recommend that you try testing twice a day. Many women have short LH surge that would be missed if they weren't testing twice a day.

It is common to always see a second line on an OPK. That is because most women always have at least a little bit of lutenizing hormone (LH) in their system.

A third thing you may want to consider is charting. This will help confirm whether or not you are ovulating. It is possible that you are not getting a positive OPK because you aren't getting LH surges and ovulating. If, after a couple months of charting, you find that you are not ovulating - contact your doctor and bring your charts with you to the appointment. Your doctor may be able to help you start ovulating once again.

Brands of OPKs

This will be my first time using ovulation prediction tests. Which brand is best?

I can tell you my personal favorite brand are the cheapies sold by Babyhopes. I like them because they are cheap. Honestly. That is a biggest selling point for me. I often test twice a day, to make sure I don't miss a short surge, so I can go through a lot of tests in a single cycle. If I by a name brand test and pay $22 for a box of 7 OPKs... well, you can see how quickly the costs would add up. Babyhopes cheapie OPKs you can get 14 for $7.99... or 100 for $60 (plus 10 HPTs)! (You can get IC OPKs at the store - look for the OPK section) These are dip tests - meaning you have to collect your pee in a cup and then dip the strip. But who needs a big plastic casing when all we really want is that test strip?

While I've always had excellent results with the cheapies, not everyone in TTC-land agrees. Some people prefer Answer brand OPKs, or First Response, or Clear Blue Easy brand OPKs. Just like HPTs, different OPKs have different levels of sensitivity. Unlike HPTs, have a super-sensitive OPK isn't necessarily a good thing. It could always look positive - or you may have a week of positive tests and not be sure when you actually Oed. There is no one brand of OPK that is best for all women. It really depends on so many factors - including how often you want to test, how much you want to spend, and how strong of an LH surge you get before you ovulate.

So my advice is to start with either the cheapies... or if you prefer to not use a dip test, try the Clear Blue Easy OPKs (which have a pretty good reputation). Once you find one you like, it is best to stick with it. You'll be come familiar with what a positive result looks like for a particular brand and will become more confident in interpreting the results.

Good luck - and have fun peeing on sticks!