New To OPKs, any advice?

[Rin731]

Irregular periods, ready to finally, FINALLY start using OPKs!
Just ordered them online.

Any advice on when during the day to test, etc?

Thanks! &

 

[green turtle]

How long is your average cycle?

 

[Disturbia]

Irregular periods, ready to finally, FINALLY start using OPKs!
Just ordered them online.

Any advice on when during the day to test, etc?

Thanks! &

It is not easy to use opk if u irregular, but not impossible. Especially for the first time, u may need to pee lots of sticks to catch the surge. Just be be patient if it takes a while.

 

[Rin731]

My cycles can be anywhere from 28 to 100+ days.

I also ordered a big pack of opks because I thought I'd need quite a few, since I'm irregular.

 

[green turtle]

Have you been diagnosed with PCOS? (one of the symptoms is irregular periods)

What I would do is either start testing on about day 11 of your cycle and go until you get a positive or if you don't want to wait until you get your next period then just start right away and go until you get a positive or your period.

 

[Rin731]

I've never been to a dr about my fertility problems yet. Issues with insurance, long story...so we're trying to get a naturally.

So angry that my doctor told me when I was younger, and irregular for YEARS, "It'll get regular eventually, when you're older."

Now I'm older...still irregular.

 

[Disturbia]

I agree with green turtle. I got 2 long cycle (3months post bcp). They were 50+ and 40+.
Went to obgyn and found out bout pcos. I don't think cycle will be regular as the time goes by.
Pcos treatment doesn't consider as fertility treatment as far as I know coz my insurance also doesn't cover fertility treatment and they pay my claims. My pcos is treated bcoz I want to have regular period, having regular period doesn't mean I want to have baby (of course I want! But I didnt tell insurance company like that). My gp and obgyn also said pcos treatment is not fertility treatment.
So u can ask ur gp to do blood test to find out why ur period is very irregular. If u are struggling to lose weight (if), try low carb diet and moderate exercise. Start ur prenatal vitamins too.
There are many things u can do before going to fertility treatments.
I got this ovulation formula from my friend yesterday, she is irregular but manage to have a daughter without going to fertility clinic:
Substract ur longest cycle by 11 and ur shortest by 14.
For example my longest is 50: 50-11= 39
My shortest is 30: 30-14= 16
So, I will most likely to ovulate between cd 16 to cd 39. I can start doing opk during that time range. I know yours maybe a long range but at least u know when to start. Hope it helps.

 

[Rin731]

I agree with green turtle. I got 2 long cycle (3months post bcp). They were 50+ and 40+.
Went to obgyn and found out bout pcos. I don't think cycle will be regular as the time goes by.
Pcos treatment doesn't consider as fertility treatment as far as I know coz my insurance also doesn't cover fertility treatment and they pay my claims. My pcos is treated bcoz I want to have regular period, having regular period doesn't mean I want to have baby (of course I want! But I didnt tell insurance company like that). My gp and obgyn also said pcos treatment is not fertility treatment.
So u can ask ur gp to do blood test to find out why ur period is very irregular. If u are struggling to lose weight (if), try low carb diet and moderate exercise. Start ur prenatal vitamins too.
There are many things u can do before going to fertility treatments.
I got this ovulation formula from my friend yesterday, she is irregular but manage to have a daughter without going to fertility clinic:
Substract ur longest cycle by 11 and ur shortest by 14.
For example my longest is 50: 50-11= 39
My shortest is 30: 30-14= 16
So, I will most likely to ovulate between cd 16 to cd 39. I can start doing opk during that time range. I know yours maybe a long range but at least u know when to start. Hope it helps.

Thanks for the advice.

As of right now, I don't have insurance. My husband has it offered at work, but it's more than our rent is per month, so we can't afford it.

He's currently looking for work with insurance...so right now I'm mostly trying herbs, vitamins, and (now) OPKs to see if I can get an idea of how my cycle works (ha! ) before I get pregnant/see a dr.

 

[Rin731]

Longest: 125-11=114
Shortest: 23-14=9

So I ovulate between CD 9 and 114?

That's a while...

 

[Disturbia]

Yes, it may take a while coz ur longest cycle is very long.
It's gonna waste alot of sticks. Another way is doing charting.
It's much cheaper than opk. The first month most likely is trial coz u dont have prev chart to compare. U can use opk when ur chart show rising of temp.
Therefore u wont waste alot of opk.
I hope the insurance work for you. It helps me alot even only can claim 50%.

 

[Rin731]

Yes, it may take a while coz ur longest cycle is very long.
It's gonna waste alot of sticks. Another way is doing charting.
It's much cheaper than opk. The first month most likely is trial coz u dont have prev chart to compare. U can use opk when ur chart show rising of temp.
Therefore u wont waste alot of opk.
I hope the insurance work for you. It helps me alot even only can claim 50%.

I'm hoping to get a period ( or induce one with parsley tea, found the recipe online), and then maybe try soy isoflavones or red clover to OV, and test with opks after that,but really, who knows?

I am charting as far as periods and spotting. I have a hard time BBT charting because my husband's hours change monthly, and we get up at different times in the morning.

Thanks, I hope we get insurance too. I can't wait to go to the dr and get checked out properly.

 

[Disturbia]

Yes, there are many ways 'to go to Rome'.
I heard some people took vitex, green tea, false unicorn horn, etc.
Baby dust to you, gal!

 

[Rin731]

Thanks.

Vitex made me soooooo moody. Trying fish oil and Geritol now. We'll see.

 

[phrumkidost]

Hi Rin,

I was also irregular when younger and told not to worry. I was still irregular at 26 when I went on bcp. I went off a year ago, at 35, and started taking vitex, which has given me a period every month since then (one year on now!) (knock on wood). I know you said vitex made you moody, so what about Evening Primrose Oil? That's supposed to help, too. I've also been doing acupuncture the past two months and, for the first time in a year, I had a strong ovulation last week (at CD23!). Maybe that could work for you, too?

I use the OPKs every day from when my period ends until I've confirmed O or until AF comes again. I use them first thing in morning or after it's been awhile since I urinated. Sometimes I use them more than once a day. This is on top of temping, too. I feel it's important for me to go through all this trouble since I've been so irregular all my life.

Anyway, good luck to you!

 

[Rin731]

Phrumkidost-

I haven't tried EPO yet, but I've heard of it.

I really want to try and stay n top of temping, but it's difficult, DH's work schedule changes monthly, so the time I wake up does too.

and thanks for the input.

 

[Rin731]

Just got my OPKs in the mail!

I have to take one now, even though it's too soon, lol.

You're supposed to take them mid day, preferably after holding your bladder 2 hours I understand, so that's the one I'll take seriously.

 

[green turtle]

Yes, you are supposed to take them mid-day, not first thing in the morning and you are supposed to reduce your liquid intake for about 2 hours before so that your urine is more concentrated. Good luck!