Explain the ovulation predictors to me like I'm 5.

[SusanBAnthony]

DS was a surprise and DD I was charting extensively. Now I am lazy.

So what is up with the O-predictors? You take them daily, twice a day, what? How many days are they pos for, typically? Just the day you O? Or for a couple leading up until O?

Do you buy them at a regular store or order online?

Also: cheap-o pg tests online somewhere? Or should I jsut buy a few at Target? FWIW we got pg first try with DD so assuming I am equally fertile I don't anticipate needing boatloads of them. But I do like to take pg tests a lot ;D

[bunch]

Buy them on amazon. Thats all the advice I have. I can't remember how they work.

[keh2oblue]

Ditto the wondfo ones from amazon. You're gonna need to have some idea of when you ovulate or you're going to need to test everyday. The test will gradually get darker the closer to ovulation, and when it matches the darkness of the test line your good to go for sexy time. Also, it is recommended the closer you get to ovulation you test 2x/day so you don't miss your surge. It is not recommended to test OPKs with FMU. I used to test at like 10 and 5. You will need to try an hold your pee for at least a couple hours to get the most accurate test.

[froggy76]

You may need to use them a couple times a day because some people have a short window of time when they'd get a positive. I used wondfos, but you have to make a guess based on the darkness of the line, so I also liked to confirm with the clearblue easy when I thought the wondfo was positive.

Wondfo pg tests are awesome and so cheap you can pee on as many as you want.

[KaraOrNot]

I have read that it better to use them later in the day, not w/ first morning urine.

Fertility Friend has a FAQ about this that I read multiple times when I started TTC:

www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/Ovulation-Prediction-Kits--OPKs--.html

[CloudBee]

Def buy Wondfos. They predict your O surge in advance.

[lala]

Yes, later in the day is better for OPKs. I used cheapies from Amazon. I had already been charting and knew the general time I would ovulate, and there is a chart, that's based on your cycle length, that tells you when to start testing. I tested twice a day, 10 & 4 I think, or maybe 2 & 8? I can't remember now! Since some windows for a positive OPK are only 12 hours or less, taking the test twice a day is important. I don't think I could spend the money on more expensive options.

Remember, that when you get a positive OPK, you will most likely ovulate 12-24 hours later (think those hours are right). BUT! Just b/c you get a positive OPK does not mean you definitely ovulated. The only way to know you definitely ovulated, is to see the temp rise.

[hannamarin]

I tested at 2pm...no positivebut at 10 pm, positive. So be sure to test more than once per day during the more likeky time. I had sex at 4 pm that day and we conceived

[Monarch]

I tested daily and never got a positive test. I got pregnant anyway.

[SusanBAnthony]

I pay haphazard attention to my CM so I have a general idea. Thanks for all the tips, and the FF link.