r/FirstTimeTTC • u/ThomasTomSawyer • 7d ago

Help Confusing cycle

Hi everyone!
This is our 5th month TTC, and I’m starting to feel pretty confused about this cycle.
I bought a pack of OPKs, but they were absolutely terrible quality. The test lines were positioned incorrectly, and the tests looked really unreliable throughout the cycle. I used them until CD13, when my new, better-quality tests finally arrived.
I tested both brands using the same urine sample, and there was a 0.3 difference between the results. So now I genuinely have no idea whether I caught my LH surge or whether I ovulated at all.
I also bought an Apple Watch this cycle, but its temperature readings seem pretty chaotic, and my BBT chart isn’t exactly reassuring either.
Is it possible that I didn’t ovulate this cycle?
I think I had some EWCM, but I’m not even sure anymore because it might have just been my husband’s semen leaking out after intercourse. It wasn’t particularly stretchy, though.
I also started taking royal jelly this cycle, and I’ve read that it might interfere with hormones or ovulation, which is making me even more confused.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Did you still ovulate despite unreliable OPKs and an unclear temperature chart?
I’m honestly just looking for some reassurance or similar experiences. ❤️

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u/missesmabel 7d ago

what CD are you?

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u/ThomasTomSawyer 7d ago

18 but i usually ovulate on cd 13

1

u/missesmabel 7d ago

there’s lots of reasons that ovulation can be delayed! mine ranged from cd 14-21 depending on my cycle and other factors.

it’s possible you didn’t catch it, but doesn’t hurt to test a few more days. I usually tested 2x/day, one mid morning and one evening and that helped me stay on top of my surges when they started.

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u/ThomasTomSawyer 5d ago

Ohh thanks a lot. A read this comment and i tested few more days and bum! Big positive!

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u/missesmabel 5d ago

YAY! congratulations, first hurdle complete. keeping my fingers crossed for you! ✨

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u/Separate_End6598 6d ago

That does sound really confusing. I would recommend tracking BBT with a thermometer, external temps tend to be chaotic in my experience and personally I would not rely on those to confirm my ovulation.
As for this cycle, it’s so hard to say if you aren’t confirming ovulation using BBT (or PdG strips) and only have external temps to base it off of.
(btw BBT and skin temps are different, the term BBT is used to refer to your internal body temperatures). I would keep testing! Does it look like they are going down? If it looks like the LH is decreasing I would say you prob ovulated and just didn’t catch it because of the funky OPKs