[name_m]Hi[/name_m] berries. I have decided to start using OPKs this cycle. My husband is having surgery in [name_u]December[/name_u] that will put him out of commission for 4-6 months, so I have two cycles to get pregnant or else we will be waiting until summer. I realllllllly don’t want to wait until summer so I’m stepping up my TTC game. I am going with clearblue digital OPKs (they are on sale right now near me).
I’m looking for any advice to make the most out of using this method, the do’s and dont’s, etc. thanks berries! 
All brands I’ve looked into recommend
- testing around 2pm, apparently the hormones tend to surge around then
- holding urine to increase the amount of hormone present
- not to drink too much fluid before testing
- test at roughly the same time each day
- once you get a positive, ideally have sex that day and the following two (I have also read if it works out the day before is also great)
Good luck the pressure would be stressful. Waiting after trying to conceive would be really difficult!
I got pregnant the first cycle that I used the Clearblue digitals – hope you do too! =) I waited until after my period had finished and used them once a day in the morning, as per instructions. I think either the instructions or the internet recommends doing it again in the evening once you get a flashing smiley, but I can’t remember doing this and still caught the still smiley one morning.
I used them along with temping and Fertility [name_m]Friend[/name_m], which can create a graph for you to help you get a good picture of when you will or have ovulated. Really useful even if you don’t get pregnant this cycle as it can help you establish a pattern for future cycles.
We DTD once per day once we got a flashing smiley.
Good luck!
Thanks so much @northernlights! I also use fertility friend so I have somewhat of an idea, I was thinking of starting testing a few days before my window according to FF.
I used Clearblue and tested in the late afternoon. [name_m]Just[/name_m] so you know I got smiley faces on very different days each month. I had smiley faces on [name_u]Day[/name_u] 9 the first month, [name_u]Day[/name_u] 11 the second and [name_u]Day[/name_u] 18 the third month. We only seriously tried during the second month and the third because the first month hubby wasn’t around. I got pregnant the third month but the second month of trying. I personally don’t think you have to worry too much about their use just follow the directions. Some women do end up testing in the morning and evening because they don’t want to miss their smiley face so if you are really concerned you could do this since you have a very small window to conceive. It will be pricey though!
Best of luck!
Thanks @lavenderbelle. That thought crossed my mind because I’ve read a few online blogs and stuff where women say they tested twice a day. The directions for the Clearblue Digital’s that testing in the morning is ok, but most of what I have read said that you are likely to miss a surge in the early am? Then again, the test is supposed to be done after withholding liquids and not urinating for four hours, and I don’t know if I can do that consistently. Maybe I will do once in the am and once in the pm. You’re right, it will be expensive, but like you said, I’ve only got 8 weeks to get this right!!!
Thanks ladies!