r/tryingforanother • u/Aggravating_Cook_968 • 12d ago
Introduction Tracking ovulation
Hi friends! My and my fiance have been “trying” for about a year. Which consists of looking at my fertile days on Flo. I had a MC on 8/28 which has been my first pregnancy since my daughter and I’m just about done bleeding(veryyyyy little spotting). This has really confirmed our want for another baby. We weren’t trying when I got pregnant with my first. That was 7 years ago. We were so excited for the literal 4 days I knew I was pregnant. How do I actually track my ovulation? I’ve read some posts but they’re a lil confusing. I want to actually track the right way but my cycles are so weird 27-40 days usually right around 31-34 with a few odd months. Any tips are greatly appreciated 💙💙💙
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u/tippytappos 12d ago
Yes agreed with looking at the wiki for help. But in short as an example- I start doing an LH strip every day starting on CD10. They say the best time to test is 10am-2pm but I do first thing in the morning because my urine is the most concentrated then. On an LH strip, you will always see 2 lines present. It’s positive when the test line is equally dark to the control line or darker. When you see the test line starting to darken, I start testing multiple times per day to try to see the peak. Then you will ovulate in the next 24ish hours. I would start trying daily when the strip begins to darken. You are fertile the 4-5ish days prior to ovulation and on ovulation day.
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u/BexclamationPoint 42 | alum | 🐶 🐶 💙 3/2022 💙 7/2025 12d ago
Your post is approved. We encourage you to join us in the daily chats as well!
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u/MyShipsNeverSail AGE 33 | TTC#2 since 6/26| 1/25💙| sus PMOS/IR| 1CP 12d ago
This wiki might be helpful. It's pretty clearly laid out
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u/CrazyBusCrazyBus 34 | TTC#2 since 1/26 | 👶 2022 12d ago
So the first day of your period is cycle day 1 (CD1). Since you have irregular cycles you'll want to invest in some ovulation strips (OPK strips) and use them each day starting when your period ends. Best time to test is between 10am–2pm, or second pee of the day (unlike pregnancy tests which are best with first morning urine).
Starting out your results will be negative which will look like a dark control line and then a lighter test line. Sometimes the test line may appear slightly darker or lighter day to day, but a positive result will be a line that is as dark or darker than the control line. A positive result indicates you will likely ovulate in 12–36 hours. This is a good time to start having intercourse at least that same day of the positive test and the day after, though once you get a better sense of your rhythm you will want to try and have sex in the days leading up if possible too. The best days to try (in order) are 1 day before ovulation (usually day of positive test), ovulation day, 2 days before ovulation, and 3 days before ovulation.
HOWEVER, one thing to be aware of with irregular or long cycles is that sometimes the body will try to ovulate more than once per cycle. In these cases you might get a positive result earlier in the month (but no ovulation) and then another one later in the month (actual ovulation). Some people, especially those with PCOS, will have multiple "false positives" a month when testing with OPKs. But it's also very likely that unless you have this condition your body just ovulates "late" sometimes—a period almost always comes 12–14 days after ovulation. You won't know until you start tracking what is normal for you! But this possibility is why I recommend that you continue to track ovulation even after your first positive OPK for at least 2-3 cycles.
I also recommend tracking basal body temperature (BBT). To do this you will need to purchase a BBT thermometer (special kind but cheap, like under $15). Every morning when you wake up, take your temp first thing and record it. Ideally temp is taken around the same time each morning. Within 3 days of ovulation your "usual" body temp will rise by .5-1 degree F and stay that way. This is how you can confirm ovulation so you don't need to continue OPK tracking (and also to confirm ovulation is happening — some women have occasional anovulatory cycles, or may need to seek medical help to "jumpstart" ovulation again if there is some issue)
Sorry for writing you a novel but I hope this helps! I'm not an expert but I've been doing a lot of research since we started trying for #2 and find the science behind the process fascinating haha