Is it normal to get faint lines on your negative ovulation test a few days before getting a positive test?

Question

This is my first time using ovulation test strips. My cycle is anywhere from 28-32 days, so I started on day 12 (7/17 - which was last Thursday). The instructions said test 5 days in a row or until positive result is achieved. It's now Tuesday, day 17, and I still haven't gotten a positive. I have, however, gotten three days straight of having a faint line. Do you think that means a positive is soon to come? It's weird, because I'm already seeing my fertile CM. What has been your experience with ovulation tests? Thanks! :)

Answer 1

This is when the digital ovulation tests get handy. The ones with the two lines can get pretty tricky because I got positive ones for several days and when I took the digital one the same day, it came out negative. The digital ones are pricier, but it takes the guessing work out of everything.

Answer 2

I haven't had much experience yet, but last month I got a faint line 3 days in a row and then a big temp dip, then a big rise, so I'm fairly certain I ovulated. Don't know why I never got a real positive on the opk, so I was frustrated and hope this month goes better. I hope someone else can give a better answer, but just wanted to contribute my two cents. I have heard that a "fade-in" pattern over several days isn't uncommon, but doesn't have to happen that way. It can be full neg one day and fully pos the next.

Answer 3

I usually get one faint line, then one full line, and then another faint line.  I think it all depends on the time of day you are testing.  Make sure that you test about the same time everyday and you do not drink a lot of fluids before you test.  Good luck TTC!

Answer 4

I had the same frustration with my first month of using OPKs.  I never did get a full + that month, looking back it was probably because either I didn't ovulate or I was drink too much fluid and my urine was too diluted.

Now, I get a few days of faint lines, then usually 1 positive, then progressively fainter until there is no line at all.

So, give it time, and remember there's always a chance you didn't O this month! (Bummer, I know!)

Best of luck to you!