Need a little OPK help to get me started

OK, so first time around, I read TCOYF and I temped and I charted on FF and I never tried OPKs. Unfortunately this time my sleep patterns just aren't consistent enough for temping.

I've been tracking my cycles for a few months now. Based on my CM (and my experience with past temping) I think that I'm Oing around CD13. My cycles are generally 26 to 27 days long. (Usually my luteal phase is 13 days, however, this past cycle it was 14 days.)

So-- what day should I start testing? What time of day would you suggest? And do you have any other pearls of wisdom to share?

Thanks

Re: Need a little OPK help to get me started

When to start testing depends on your cycle
if you have a 28 day cycle they usually suggest starting around CD10
don't forget to try and hold your urine for 4 hours and also try to test in the afternoon/evening between 2 and 8
best of luck to you

Re: Need a little OPK help to get me started

I would refer to the box to decide what day to start with the OPK's.

Test between 2-8pm (it gives the hormone time to build during the day) and make sure you "hold it" as long as you can (they say 4 hours but that's really hard!) before you test.

I've been using the ClearBlue Easy Digital OPK's and LOVE them. It's so nice to see either a smiley or a circle and not have to decipher darkness of lines. They're a little expensive but Target has them the cheapest and eBay has them and you can usually get a good deal.

Hope that helps!

Good luck!

Re: Need a little OPK help to get me started

OK, thanks. Then I think that I should start on CD9 since I'm Oing a day earlier that "average".

But , I'm not looking forward to holding it in the evening. Too bad it's not first thing in the am like temping. That was so much easier. The only time I go that long without peeing is over night.

Re: Need a little OPK help to get me started

I would start at CD 11 and test between 2-8pm after holding your urine for 3-4 hours

good luck

Re: Need a little OPK help to get me started

I use the clear blue easy digital one's and I do use them in the morning - it's probably not ideal, but it works for me and I still get the for my O day