So this month’s worth of AI hasn’t gone off to the flying start.
To start things off, I got the symptoms of ovulation earlier than expected. If you’re not familiar with the symptoms of ovulation, your cervical fluid is of raw egg white consistency. If you’re also taking your basal body temperature, ovulation signs are a spike in temperature, then a drop, then a further spike and then a drop. On some occasions, a third spike and drop can sometimes be seen.
Plus, the donor had to cancel last minute on Sunday (I was due to ovulate on Sunday/Monday). This was after asking whether we would be available on Tuesday instead. (We’re still not 100% sure whether he fully understands that we’re not just picking random dates out a hat and that we pick dates for a reason – bless him.)
Now, we fully appreciate that the donor has his own life and for all we know he could have had something major happen, however there was always going to be a feeling of disappointment if he cancelled. That would be our chances over for another month and I would be closer to having a baby at Christmas or over two different years. (Christmas babies are unfortunate, in my opinion, as nothing fun [theme parks for example] are generally open, everyone is celebrating the up-and-coming Christmas and people are usually a bit skint because of Christmas.)
I really hate relying on people to get things done – this also include taxis and takeaways as well as sperm donors. I don’t like taxis as the waiting kills me as much as the price – if I could teleport myself to my destination without the wait then I would, likewise, if I knew how to cook a decent Balti then I would. I am independent and impatient, which isn’t a great combination, so you can imagine what I am currently like waiting for this whole process.
Thankfully, and I mean a HUGE thankfully, stronger signs of ovulation appeared last night, which weren’t expected. With this, I took an ovulation test using the Clearblue ovulation tests that we had and for the first time ever it was positive (see below)!
Before this, we were using the ‘One Step Ovulation Test’ sticks, which were fine as we had managed to get a positive previously (so they/me obviously work correctly), but I wouldn’t trust them 100% just because they seem to show faint lines against the test line during ovulation to even medium lines that according to the packet are STILL classed as negatives, despite the fact that their brand of pregnancy tests class faint lines as positives – I don’t get it.
Nevertheless, from now on, I’m going to go with medium lines (as shown above – apparently this is classed as a negative) as I’m pretty sure that if the test is picking something up to the point that it’s creating a line against the test line then it must mean something – especially as during the rest of the month it’s quite happy to be completely blank against the test line.
I am happy, no, ecstatic, that tonight may still be a chance for us to get pregnant as I thought we had lost a month, but with small hiccups like the donor cancelling it just shows how difficult this can be and how stressful it is, especially when you’re relying on someone else. Thankfully, the hiccup worked in our favour but what about next time?
K
We’d love to know what your opinions are about OPK tests? Can you recommend any decent OPK tests? Have you had the same trouble? Do you have any tips?
4 comments
Ugh, it’s so hard when our bodies don’t provide clear, easy to understand information. I am so totally right there with you.
On the dipstick OPK front… the reason that a faint line does not equal a positive in the OPK world is that it is possible, and even rather common, to have LH in your system even when ovulation isn’t imminent. OPKs pick up that LH anytime it is present. However, when LH surges, ovulation is likely to occur soon after. Having the test line much darker than the control indicates this surge.
On the other hand, HCG, the pregnancy hormone, is ONLY ever present during pregnancy. So, even a faint line indicates a positive because having any HCG indicates pregnancy.
That said, I know a number of women who never get a true positive using the traditional dipstick OPKs. I do, and you can see what they look like here (if you’re curious): https://lyonsferocious.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/the-mystery-continues/
But, if the Clearblue smiley faces work for you (ie: they are indicating an LH surge) then you should use those and scrap the dipsticks. Apparently, the CB is paying more attention to your specific levels of LH and can detect a surge in a different way. Sounds like a big job for a little stick, but it seems to be working for you.
I’m hoping your shot – whenever it lands in your cycle – will be perfectly timed. Good luck!
Oh yeah! Also – when are you testing? Apparently, the CB tests work with first morning urine, but the dipsticks need to be used later on in the day. Again, not sure why CB is different, but apparently LH needs time to build up and metabolize, and it can’t do so until after around 11:00am. Dilute urine can also cause an incorrect outcome.
I’m testing at random times, although making sure I test at the same time as the last positive. I usually test between 9:00am and 10:00pm.
Closer to ovulation I test 2-3 times a day and make sure my last drink was 2 hours ago so that it’s concentrated (this is more difficult when I’m working).
I was told never to test in the morning as I need to get the chemicals flowing.
Thanks again – you’re a star.
Hi. Thanks for the reply.
I knew that there was reasoning behind the lines and their quality but not to that extent. Thanks.
I just wish that the info provided was more detailed, especially when other tests (such as Clearblue) do things differently. It sure makes things difficult especially when your body takes it sweet ass time to tell you anything.
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