https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 07 Jun 2026 01:56:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-21274 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:45:11 +0000 carrieknitscake 21274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Your explanations with OPKs are super educational. My doctor just told me to have sex from cycle day 8-20 which is longer than what we were doing previously. We had an early morning romp this morning, so we probably won't have funtimes until Friday. I think that our past cycles we were working against ourselves by not having sex before the positive OPK. I'm hoping with the new plan and working out, we get closer to our BFP! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-21264 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:35:26 +0000 tiffanyanne 21264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got some OPK strips from Target. It's just the up &amp; up brand. And, interestingly enough, the directions say to use your FMU. I always thought that was wrong (like it says above). Any idea why these strips say differently? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-20333 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:03:37 +0000 kayakgirl73 20333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Work bathrooms sure don't make using OPK's easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-20240 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:31:32 +0000 MrsLilybugg 20240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Little late posting to this, but I just started my new kit and did a search here on it.<br /> I tested first thing this A.M., but am thinking I'll just switch to 11 a.m. instead. I'll just have to figure out how to lug my entire purse to the restroom and not arouse suspicion. There's a big handicap restroom which will allow me the privacy to wait out the results. The downside is that it's unisex and used by the other two companies we share a floor with and therefore harder to get in there than a country club. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6539 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:48:21 +0000 Mrs McK 6539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use the Amazon cheapies, and I test in the morning, late afternoon/evening, and before I go to bed. I get the strongest positives with the late afternoon/evening tests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6500 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:35:20 +0000 winniebee 6500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ bru - yep, you need to hold your urine for awhile - the best outcome is if you can hold for 4 hours! i could never do that (except for morning pee) so I waited as long as I could - usually 2-3 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6438 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:03:02 +0000 PBandBaseball 6438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. I have been testing first thing in the morning. I think I'll try to switch to right after I get home from work. Hopefully I'll be able to make survive the 2-3 hours that the test recommends waiting to pee before testing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6408 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:23:15 +0000 Bru 6408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about the fact that some instructions say to test after you haven't drank liquid or peed for awhile -- I think the instructions with my OPK says two hours? I'm a freaking fish, constantly thirsty and with a Nalgene with me *all* day, so if that's the case, I can't imagine it's going to be easy to follow those instructions! The kit I have also suggested early morning, which I've been doing...argh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6390 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:36:54 +0000 twinmama 6390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it would be fine to do it when you get home from work. I also usually got my strongest positives around dinnertime. Testing earlier in the day would usually give me a fade in, with my strongest positive in the evening or the next morning....but I'd hate to miss out on a night of sexytime by not getting the + until morning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6371 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:15:25 +0000 mamabolt 6371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used the internet cheapies, and I tested first thing in the morning. Once I saw the test starting to go positive in the morning, I added in testing at the end of the day when I got home, and I did get my clearest postives then. I was able to clearly figure out when I O'ed for the three months I was tracking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6317 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:28:07 +0000 tessabella76 6317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies! I guess I'll try to keep it on the sly. I'm just worried about the beginning of the month (which is when I need to start testing) because we are usually very busy and lucky to find 1 minute to pee, least of all 3-5 minutes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6310 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:15:56 +0000 winniebee 6310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The best way to do it is to pee in a little cup and then dip the stick in it and wait 3 mins or so to read it. If the second line is as dark or darker than the control line, it's considered positive. The reason why the directions say not to use morning urine is because usually you start your LH surge (the hormone that the OPK detects for) in the afternoon after 2 p.m. If you wait until morning to test then you can miss the beginning of your surge. Generally, you ovulate between 12-36 hours after the start of your LH surge so it's a good idea to try to catch the beginning of it.</p> <p>I ended up testing several times a day from days 10-ovulation because I found that my LH surge was pretty short (less than 24 hours and for me it seemed to start at different times). Generally I tested when I woke up, around 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. When I got what I thought was a positive on the internet cheapie stick, I confirmed it with a digital Clear Blue Easy test (for me, the internet tests never were quite as dark as they should have been). I also always tested in the morning with the digital test. </p> <p>For me, the biggest advantage to using the OPKs was knowing when to expect my period. Like clockwork, my period would arrive 13 days after my positive OPK. I had some irregular cycles so otherwise would not have had a clue! The other thing to remember is to have regular sex even before you get the positive OPK. Many people (including me) swear by the every other day rule from day 10 through after ovulation.</p> <p>This is probably WAY more information than you were looking for. Hope it helps and good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6306 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:07:27 +0000 Jenna 6306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From Fertility Friend: Follow the manufacturer's instructions about the time to take your OPK. First morning urine is usually not the best for OPKs since your LH surge usually begins in early morning when you are still sleeping and may not be apparent in your first morning urine. If you test in the early morning, you may miss your surge entirely since LH levels may already be reduced by the next morning. Late morning or early afternoon is usually best unless the instructions suggest otherwise. </p> <p>Interesting! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6303 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:05:09 +0000 Jenna 6303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had never heard that and I've totally been using first morning urine. I bought cheapies from Amazon as well, used them for one full cycle and haven't had a positive yet. I was certain that I hadn't surged, but maybe I'm doing it wrong?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6299 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:02:58 +0000 Rubies 6299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used OPK and tested in the morning at work, at lunch at work, in the afternoon at work, and when I got home. At work, if I had to be super quick, I would pee on the stick, loosely wrap it in tissue, lay it in my makeup bag, and take it back to my office/desk with me to discreetly check later. And yeah, the first pee of the morning isn't supposed to be accurate. These OPK worked for me - I got pregnant in my second cycle! Good luck! It's an exciting time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/opk-strips#post-6293 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:53:31 +0000 tessabella76 6293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just bought a bunch of cheapy opk strips from Amazon but they didn't really come with any instructions. I know the basics but any tips or hints on how/when to use?</p> <p>Is it true that you shouldn't use your first urine of the morning? I think it's going to be a little tricky to do it at work. I work at a small bank and there is only one bathroom (one toilet, no stalls). I work with all women but still. I guess I could hide out in the bathroom for the entire 5 minutes but on very busy days when you work with the public, 5 minutes is a long time to be away from my teller window! Can I do it as soon as I come home from work (varies between 4:15 &amp; 6:15)?</p> <p>ETA: My co-workers all know we're ttc but they're all of the "relax and it'll happen when you least expect" way of thinking. So to tell them I need 5 minutes everyday to pee on a stick may not go over so well. </p>