Do OPKs really work?

Hi,

I'm just wondering about people's experience with Ovulation Prediction Kits (OPKs) and if they think they're a waste of time or if they really DO predict your ovulation.

We want to TTC #2 and I've just had my first cycle since pregnancy (bubs now 14mths). I've started using an OPK for the last few days (around the time I USED to ovulate), however, there's been no indication that I am - ON THE TEST at least. Maybe I'm not!

I have read that the first few cycles post baby can be a little unusual, so perhaps I need to expect my ovulation date to be different?

Any thoughts? Do you think they're helpful?

Hi Melody!

I'm in the same boat. I've started using Ovuplan (pee in a cup!) tests this week and I'm hoping they'll give me all the right signs this weekend :crossfingers: I started using them a couple of days earlier than what the brochure recommended on the off chance that I O early but no test line has appeared at all yet so I must still be preparing to ovulate - I hope!

Which OPK are you using? I have noticed that my contol line is quite light compared to the example in the brochure. Does anyone know if this is normal? Has anyone else used Ovuplan OPK's?

yes ones off ebay work and also lots cheaper I don't think color really matters just need control line and test line

should have 2 lines and test darker I think if no line then still getting ready

Thanks CD. Hopefully I get the test line showing up in the next few days. Hopefuly I'm ovualting!!

I had a tiny bit of EWCM last month and a decent temp rise so it looks like I did ovulate but I'm not quite sure when as I started temping mid cycle - doh!

I used them for this pregnancy...i never once got a +ve test line which i really needed for swaying....so i relied more on other signs...and swayed the right gender!

I used them for 14 days and nothing!

Hi Taurean

I find the result line gets darker closer to O date. I use Discover 7 day OPK.

I'm using a pack from Lullaby Conceptions (their own brand I think). The instructions says it doesn't matter about the colour of the lines, as long as the test is darker than the control.

I used the LC ones this time, and if I got a positive OPK at night then I would get my temp rise on the second morning after the positive, and if I got the positive early arvo then the following morning i would get the temp rise. I was trying to pinpoint EXACTLY what time of day I O'ed for gender swaying.

I had a big box of the LC ones so I tested every day for a month and found that I O'ed later than I had always thought, so I used 15 before I even got a faint line and then the next day it was very dark so that was the positive.

Alioops, could you give me a bit more info on gender swaying? I know the basic premise - closer to O = boy, but I'd love a bit more info...

I know strictly speaking that its not an OPK but we used the 'Maybe Baby' ... very successfully and it was great cos you can re-use it again and again and again.

also using maybe baby as well as opks but maybe baby does not seem to change

Melody - There are a couple of threads with info. This is the info thread, and This is the gender swaying buddies thread.

I also used a copy of How to Choose The Sex of Your Baby, by Dr Shettles which explained the best ways to use OPK's to pinpoint when O happens. To pinpoint accurately you need to be charting your BBT as well. Then when you notice a pattern you can take a month off every now and then.