Feedback on the most reliable fertility monitors please? What has/hasn't worked for you?

[Higglepig]

Hi ladies,

TTC2, four months in, have been using cheap ebay sticks and/or randomly BDing around the time I think I must be ovulating. But it's not worked so far and I'm a control freak so I want to try something more targetted. Have just had a BFN but AF not here yet but judging from some of the threads here, I get the impression that the more comprehensive fertility monitors need to be used from CD1 so I want to be prepared and have what I need to get started when AF comes in next couple of days.

Could you tell me what your experiences have been?
E.g. clearblue fertility monitors are the a) easy to use? b) hugely expensive? c) where did you buy them (cheaper to order online?)

Anything you've found awkward and wouldn't touch again?

Thanks for your help

[Cosmosis]

I have just started reading this which is very interesting. Might be useful?

[Higglepig]

cosmosis thanks - sounds really interesting and the reviews are encouraging...

[JustCallMeGoat]

i used clearblue - v. easy to use but pricey. got mine on ebay but the sticks are pricey.

[timmette]

Hi I am using the Clearblue fertility monitor - it is expensive - but I plan on selling it when I am done - it is super easy to use but am only on day 15 of using it.
When I became pregnant with ds I used my Persona monitor in reverse - it is used as contraception and tells you when to avoid having sex - so on those days I had sex and was pregnant in one month - not what it's intended for but hey it worked... .
Shop around if you do buy the Clearblue I saw prices between 99 and 65. And goodluck

[Higglepig]

Thanks folks - justcallmegoat and timmette how many sticks do you use? Does it give you an idea of the time of the month to use them then you go from there? And did you end up wasting loads of them?

timmette I've heard of people doing that with persona - out of interest, why didn't you stick to doing that second time around?

[timmette]

Hi Higglepig
Well I sold the Persona and then when I decided to try for number 2 got seduced by new techcnology and ended up with the cbfm - also felt a bit stupid buying Persona to use to get pregnant ifykwim .
I think you set the monitor on day1 of cycle and then I think you pee on sticks from day 10 ish - so a few days in and it says on the box approx 10 sticks per cycle depending on length etc..

[JustCallMeGoat]

you use 10 sticks per month. tbh if you have a fairly regular cycle it will just be confirming what you already know. big con imo.

[katlokna]

I bought a clearblue fertility monitor last month in the Tesco pharmacy. It was reduced to £20 and the test sticks cost £5. I dont know if they are still on offer there. I only saw it by chance as I was filling a presciption. I began using it this month and so far so good.

[Higglepig]

cheers ladies,

katlokna thanks for the tip re tesco pharmacy, unfortunately there isn't one near me. Wonder if you can buy from tesco pharmacy online? will give them a call

[sandy80]

Hi Katlokna,

Can you tell me which tesco store you saw that offer please? Thanks
Sandy

[engelbart]

Hi, I've just bought the clearblue fertility monitor off ebaby (£40, a bargain considering Boots sell them for £100!). You can set the monitor up to 5 days from your cycle. So my monitor arrived on Saturday which was day day 4 of my cycle, so I just programmed cycle day 4 into the monitor (it lets you do this up to the 5th day of your period). I've read the instructions and it looks super easy to use. Apparently the first time you use the machine it will ask you to use one of the test sticks on day 6 of your cycle. The only way you could go wrong is not using the test stick at the right time of day - you have a 6 hour window where you have to test with the first urine of the day.

The test sticks are expensive £20 for 20 sticks but you can buy them off ebay..

[ilove2shop]

hello, i have just started off with the ovulation kit for around £20, you get 7 sticks and on a 28 day cycle you start testing on day 11... i have and got a smiley face this morning so i have been def been bding at the wrong time for the past 5 mths.. i am going to try this method first as its cheeper and i still have sticks left for next mth if it dosent work out.... xx

[kittykat765]

Hi higglepig. I used a clearblue monitor which I got from the pharmacy at my local tesco's for £25 which is about a quarter of their normal price. The test sticks were also reduced right down to £5 per box. I dont know if they still have them on offer but I would definately recommend as I am nearly 6 weeks pg after using it for one cycle.

[kittykat765]

Sorry didn't read the thread completely til after i'd posted and then I saw my previous posts. I live in Bristol so got it from one of the larger stores here.

[kittykat765]

I was katlokna by the way. This pg is scrambling my brains.

[sandy80]

hi Kitty kat765,

Do you mind to get me a monitor and 20 boxes of test stick please. i can tt the money to you first

Thanks

sandy

[kittykat765]

Hi sandy.
Sorry they have ran out in my local tesco's but if you follow the link below, you can search for local stores with a pharmacy.

www.tesco.com/storeLocator/

[andiw77]

Hi all... hope you dont mind if I join u?

We've Been TCC since Oct 08. This is my first month using the CBFM. On day 11 and just had my 2nd high day. I feel so studid but whats the EWCM your all talking about?? xxx