How reliable are ovulation strips?

I came off the pill in Sept 06 and have only had one period since... been to docs and everything ok, so I've been using ovulation strips to try and determine when I might be ovulating. Currently on week 13 since a bleed but there was a very subtle difference in the results of my ovulation strips over the weekend. Where usually there is abolutely no second line there was a patchy and slightly noticeable line... could this mean I'm ovulating? The leaflet says the second line should be at least as dark as the test line, but I just wondered if anyone else had found this not to be quite the case? Am trying as if I am ovulating, but just don't want to get my hopes up if there's no chance.

Never used them!

hiya, i myself have never used ovualtion tests but my sister was using them and also having blood tests done at the same time and the ovulation tests said she was ovulating but the blood tests showed that she wasn't.
kerry x x

Ovul.strips

Hi, I am a regurlar user of ovulation strips. So far I have tried two kinds of ov.strips.
The first one could have test line lighter or darker than control line. Any darknes of test line would be considered as positoive ovul.test.
The second kind says that if test line is lighter than control line take test as negative. I do prefere those tests. As soon as test line appeares very light I know that next test on next day, it will be positive. Day after that test line goes very light again and than it is over.
Just read instructions very carefully and all you have to do is to trust them. It says in instructions that they are very acurate, 99%.
I used to think that ovul.tests are very acurate too, but after I had been to my gyne. and she said I am not ovulating although I had positive ovul.tests every month - I don know any more. I am a bit confused myself.

Hi i have also used 2 types

Both the same really. first lot i used i got from ebay for 1 month didnt get positive so i stopped using them. Last week i used boots own brand just as a one off and got a positive- both lines were as dark as eachother. I also had symptoms of ovulation so am sure i have ovulated.
But i read somewhere that you can still get the hormone surge and not release an egg, this happens to even the most fertile and regular women occassionally. if i get period or by some miricale i get pregnant in next week will know for sure eh x