Negative OPKs but regular periods?

[chloesmommy]

Hi, I'm new to this site, and have some questions about OPKs. I am in my 4th cycle TTC, and a friend recommended using OPKs to track my ovulation. I have very regular periods, I always get them around the same time of the month within a day or two. I am on day 18 of a 30-day cycle, and have been testing for ovulation since day 12, but I still haven't received a positive result. I also don't get any symptoms when I ovulate (no discharge, no cramps, etc.) Has anyone else experienced this and still managed to get pregnant?

 

[bryceszwifey]

Well, I haven't managed to get pregnant but my sister who has 3 babies and is pregnant again bought OPKS and they would make absolutely no sense to her.. she would take one it would be a postive (for quite a few days) and then for a couple months they were all negative. Very confusing, what brand are you using? I have tried First Response and they seem to be working okay with me, hard to tell since I got off BC and my cycles are not normal. One way they say to check if your ovulating is taking your temperature when you first wake up in the morning, whenever there is a slight drop that could be signs of ovulation. Some people get the symptoms of feeling crampy and everything like when they start their period when they ovulate. It just depends on the person I guess. I would just try to make sure that you can "baby make" about every other day or every 2 days to be on the safe side since sperm can survive upto 7 days. If you think there are anyone other problems with ovulating I would make a appointment and talk to your OBGYN and see what they would say. Goodluck sweetie I hope you get it figured out.

 

[chloesmommy]

Thanks! I'm thinking maybe I ovulate later than I thought, or maybe I should test later in the day (I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks!) I'm just using the dollar store tests, which may be another reason why they aren't working; not sure about the quality...

 

[bryceszwifey]

Well, all tests are looking for the same thing it's just the sensitivity that varies. Sometimes you need to test more than once a day or like you said wait.

 

[tribble]

If I don't test twice a day, I miss it I have a short window. I use Internet cheapies, and I start on day 9.

I learned that I actually ovulate on day 11, so the first month that I used OPK's I actually completely missed the boat because I followed the directions (I think it says start on day 12).

So maybe start a bit earlier too...

 

[chloesmommy]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind for next month!

 

[chloesmommy]

I just tested with an OPK and got a line. It's almost as dark as the control line, which I know means there's no LH surge, but it's the darkest line I've ever gotten on an OPK! I am on CD 19 today, will test again tomorrow and see what I get.

 

[DBZ34]

I thought I'd add, that you don't have to have symptoms when you ovulate. Ovulation pain is common but not universal. Do you have watery or egg white cervical mucus before ovulation? Is that the discharge you're talking about? Because some women have it, but some women are dry, even around ov, and use sperm-friendly lube to help the sperm reach the egg. Have you thought about temping to confirm when you ov?

 

[chloesmommy]

Yes, I've been tracking my temps too, and haven't seen any rise, but I noticed that they were higher the first 2 days I checked (CD 12 and 13), except I had no LH surge on those days. This is only my first cycle using OPKs, so I'm not really sure what CD I would normally ovulate...

Thanks for all the advice, though!

 

[DBZ34]

Do you have a chart that you can share with us, or do you just write your temps down? It's probably best to check your temps starting right after AF leaves, just in case you ovulate earlier than you think you do. But in this case, it sounds like you're ovulating later than you expected.

Keep us updated! That last opk sounds promising...

 

[chloesmommy]

Ok, so I got a positive result when I tested with an OPK earlier today, which means I will ovulate within the next 12-36 hours, but I'm supposed to get AF on Dec. 16th, so I thought it was too late to ovulate? This would mean I'm ovulating on CD 21 or 22. I read somewhere that this may mean I have a short luteal phase or even a luteal phase defect?

Any thoughts?

 

[DBZ34]

You luteal phase won't change, even if you're ovulating later than you expected. Your pre-ov phase can change a lot from month to month, based on what's going on with you in your life (stress, etc), but your LP rarely changes by more than a day either way (unless you're pg, because then it goes on for another 9 months ). Push back your expected AF date by a few days after you ovulate.

I think you're fine. There have been women on Fertility Friend who go 30+ days before they ovulate and still get pg. If you're temping, you can tell if your LP is long enough or not, because your temps will confirm ov (the rise by .3 or more for three days in a row...you ovulate the day before the rise) and then you can count the days post-ov to see how long your LP is. Or you can see when your OPKs go negative and count from there, but that's not really as accurate. Are you on Fertility Friend? Because having the computer analyze your temps is much easier than looking at your own...


The reason I started temping was because I was concerned that I had a super short LP, since AF was coming much earlier than I expected and I was getting another patch of EWCM right before AF showed. After temping for a couple of months, I know I normally ovulate CD11-13, my LP is 13 days, so my cycle is usually 25-26 days long, and I'm just one of those women who get multiple patches of EWCM. It's really given me some peace of mind. But that's just me and what's good for me might not work for everyone, I know, but I figured I'd share.


Thanks for the update! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! Oh and get to the BDing!!! Catch that egg!!

 

[chloesmommy]

I will, thanks! And I'll check out Fertility Friend as well...

 

[taylorxx]

Can you post a link to your chart? xxx

 

[wishandwait]

Hi, I'm new to this site, and have some questions about OPKs. I am in my 4th cycle TTC, and a friend recommended using OPKs to track my ovulation. I have very regular periods, I always get them around the same time of the month within a day or two. I am on day 18 of a 30-day cycle, and have been testing for ovulation since day 12, but I still haven't received a positive result. I also don't get any symptoms when I ovulate (no discharge, no cramps, etc.) Has anyone else experienced this and still managed to get pregnant?

Hi! I had a positive opk on my second cycle and then no positive on my 3rd, 4th and 5th. On my 5th I also had a blood test which confirmed I had not been ovulating. My cycle never differed from 27 days. There was no apparent reason for it (no pcos ect) sometimes it just happens. Now I'm on my first month of Clomid and got a positive opk again! Yay! If you continue to not get positives maybe just ask your dr? It was a simple solution for me after three months of trying and no ovulation.... GOOD LUCK MATE !!!!!!!

 

[chloesmommy]

I will! I just haven't figured out how yet, lol. I've only just started charting this month, and then found out I was checking my temps at the wrong time of day (when I was using the OPKs instead of first thing in the morning). I've got some learning to do still with this whole charting, checking temps, etc.