Clearblue Fertility Monitor Support Group Buddies Vol 4!!

Hi owlshoes I believe you are most likely to conceive if you SWI immediately before ovulation as it takes a while for the sperm to travel to the fallopian tubes, and they live longer than the egg.

Been doing some googling and NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Evidence) have a guideline on fertility for the NHS to use in England. It is currently being reviewed but it does state:

"It has been observed that most pregnancies can be attributed to sexual intercourse during a sixday
period ending on the day of ovulation,with the highest estimated conception rates
associated with intercourse two days before ovulation."

So I guess the thing with the CBFM is it is trying to capture the days up until ovulation but not beyond.

If you are wondering why it asks you to carry on testing after it's measured your peak (even though it's not measuring) I would guess it's so that you always use 10 or 20 sticks. This would stop you mixing different boxes of sticks in the same cycle, which (although I suspect unlikely) might make the results in a cycle inaccurate.

And, being more cynical, dare I say it, so we all use more very expensive sticks?

Ah, that's interesting MrsS - that would suggest you could only ever get 3 days of peak (unless anyone's had anything more than that?) - it would be so useful to know when on average you do actually ovulate given that it could be 12 hours post-surge or 48 hours or anything inbetween, shame the magical machine can't tell us that :)

Hairytriangle don't know if that helps, but I have managed to find a technical paper on the CBFM on the internet explaining how it actually works and is programmed.

It says: 'The change from high fertility to peak fertility is triggered by the detection of an LH surge. Peak fertility is displayed on the day of the LH surge and on the following day. After this, High Fertility will be displayed for 1 day prior to a return to low fertility'.

So I am guessing that means that the monitor only actually reads test results up until the day of the LH surge, and that after this, fertility levels are automatically pre-set and pre-programmed into the monitor until the following cycle, when it starts requesting tests again.

Hi *annamariaHun!" Like MrsS I have learnt that my 3 day variation in cycle length is probably due to variation in ovulating.. before CBFM I couldn't have told you that I varied in length between 26-31 days!

MrsS - glad your dh was proactive. Yes, very similar to my experience, except nurse did the physical exam a few weeks later (have a male gp, he didn't offer to examine me and I was happy with a nurse!) Yes, I had all those blood tests as they obvious check for a physical reason before assuming fertility issues. That is great news especially with your high.

Am still on a low, which is good considering dh still abroad! Looks like a later ovulation this cycle which is most helpful

Hairytriangle - looks like keep on swi'ing, at least every 2 days for you!

Hi to everyone and welcome to AnnamariaHun!

Well I am feeling a lot more positive, after posting I was going to have to go to GP on own; DH unexpectedly finished work early on Friday. I'd phoned GP at 2.30pm, but couldn't get appointment any time soon. I think DH is now beginning to realise how distressing I'm finding TTC and had called GP independently later in the afternoon. He walked through the door at 4.40pm and said 'Put your coat and shoes on, we've got a cancellation at 5.20pm' Yippee!

So we toddled off to GP's and she was really good. She started with a full health check for me. Checked periods were regular, did pelvic examination (internal and external), swabbed for STI's (pretty sure I haven't got any!)and checked I was up to date on smear tests. She's now referred me to nurse for fasting blood glucose test (looking for diabetes), thyroid function test and rubella antibody test. Once these results come back she will refer us to fertility clinic as no point if it's something like hypothyroidism, which would be treated by GP. Once my result is back, she said DH will be contacted about SA and she'll wait instruction from fertility clinic on day 7 and day 21 tests. So Keziahopes quite similar to your experience.

Hairytriangle I agree with you that to continue SWI is the best plan. Also I think ovulation can be up to 36 hours after LH surge. Perhaps the monitor has caught the beginning and end of your LH surge so you might ovulate today or tomorrow?

I'm quite excited because I'm on day 11 today and got a high for the first time. This is my first cycle using the CBFM.

AnnamariaHun I believe the luteal phase (after ovulation) is pretty standard, and it's the number of days before ovulation that can vary from cycle to cycle. So I guess that means if you have a slightly longer cycle one month it's because you've ovulated later than normal as opposed to your luteal phase increasing. Could be wrong on this though.

I have another question

I had peaks yesterday and today - this is LH surge, yes? I'm thinking that if I still have LH surge today, maybe I haven't actually ovulated yet and should keep on SWI'ing til it goes back down?

Hi All
Im new to this thread and so don't know any of the abbreviations so will just go for it
so im 29 and ttc(ok i know this one) no2
was just reading Clearblue Fertility Monitor support group buddies!! Volume 1 and you guys mention and lot about ovulation on let's say day 21 but being scared that you know that you only have about 10 days until the end of your cycle so it might not be enough time for implantation if you concive now.
What does this mean?
How do you know that you only have 10 days til ur end of your cycle? doesn't your period come later if you ovulate later???
Sorry for being clueless!

MrsS - going to gp sounds good. My dh and I couldn't go together, but it was ok I got all the basic tests ordered, including his SA form! And general blood tests for me, to check thyroid, full blood count etc and then the 3 day test and 7 days post ovulation blood tests. Also worthwhile making sure you have had a recent smear, and they can check how healthy your cervix is etc then as well (well my nurse did!) - hope it goes ok for you.

Babyhoping sorry to hear your news, but good to hear you are getting medication to deal with it. Do you know your prolactin level? I am interested as mine is above the recommended level and 2 gp's and 2 fertility dr's have refused to treat it as it is not high enough, or refer me to a dr to lower it!! Arrrghhh!! 495 is the top limit, mine has been up to 845 but apparently that is not high enough!!

Hi to Izzy and Owl

Boba - I agree, triple numbers is just showing off !!!

Lychees I am doing ok, waiting for dh to return from work trip abroad on Sunday (still low, so that is ok!) - isn't it awful when your dh flies out different to his boss just to fit in with your cycle!!

Lychees thanks for advice. Was really useful.

So I bit the bullet, phoned my GP's practice to find out that the next non-urgent appointment is 21 Sept (day 21 of my 28 day cycle) and only one day earlier than the appointment we've already got! V. Frustrating.

Receptionist told me to phone first thing Monday and book a same day appointment as only way I can see GP sooner. So I am going to do that and go on my own. Feel slightly fraudulent as it's not urgent and I am being impatient, but don't want to delay by another month now that we're on cycle 12.

Anyway, thanks again for your info as I probably wouldn't have gone on my own otherwise.

MrsS, I went on my own as DH is a contractor and only gets paid when he works and my surgery does not do evening appointments.

My GP gave me three forms; two for me to go to the local hospital for my CD5 and CD21 tests and one for DH to go for his SA whenever he was ready [he had to wait until my peak passed as he had to abstain for three days]. Also, day 21 should be done seven days before AF is due so if you have a 28 day cycle, this is fine. However, if you have a longer cycle CD21 would be too early.

You know, I'm at work and spending far too much time on here but I'm in such a Friday mood .

BabyHoping it sounds like you are having a really hard time of it at the moment. It is positive that your doctor has started you on medication to stimulate ovulation though, although it must be ever so frustrating.

What you've posted about stress is fascinating and makes a lot of sense. I accepted severance from work back at the beginning of May due to high levels of stress in my job, not to mention spending three nights away from home a week (which probably prevented enough SWI at the right time). My GP had signed me off in mid-March and I am now wondering if the stress might be linked to the fact that DH and I haven't conceived.

Hello to IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy. I'm really sorry to hear about your MMC. It must have been a really difficult time for you. I really hope you get pg soon.

HairyTriangle got my FX for you this month!

Boba really sorry to hear you are feeling down. It sounds like a holiday might just help you relax a bit. I think a change of scenery is always a good thing.

WRT my DH being a GP, he's not able to pull any strings with getting earlier appointment because he works in a different practice for a different PCT . It's really annoying as it's because of his hours that we need to wait until Sept. 22, it's the first time they can give us a late evening appointment.

Lychees Your information was really useful. Thank you. Like you and Boba described, I feel when I see ladies who are pg. All my friends seem to be falling pg on the first or second month of trying. My best friend tried to cheer me up. She told me that it took her two whole months to conceive #1, which was bad enough, but she found it an emotional roller coaster conceiving #2 (due in Feb) as it took so much longer, five whole months and that she understands my frustration. I felt really angry when she said this. I know she meant well, but it actually hurt quite a lot. Then I felt guilty for not immediately feeling really happy for her, because in fact I'm just being selfish and am jealous .

Can I ask if anyone has gone to the first GP appointment on their own? I've just realised that our current appointment is booked on CD22, which would mean I'd need to wait a month for day 21 blood test. DH can't make an earlier daytime appointment. Just feel a bit overwhelmed about going along without his support.

Sorry for really long post. Will make them briefer in future.

Today's stats:

FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD80
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD47
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 45
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 41
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD36
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD27
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD27
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD24
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30CD23
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD21
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD15
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD13
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD12
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 12
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD12
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD10
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD6
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD4
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD4
Headbanger TTC #1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle #2, Aged 30
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy, TTC#3 Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28-29, CD1

GRADUATES

Harry2007 BFP 01/08/10
Vnewmummy BFP 19/08/10
Row78 BFP 07/09/10

Welcome Izzy!

Yay for peak, Hairytriangle.

You are quite welcome to dip in and out, Owl.

Boba, try and forget all this ttc lark during your hols and go and enjoy yourself and take you mind of this whole thing for a while.

BabyHoping, welcome back. It's good, at least, that you're getting treatment now but I can imagine what a rollercoaster it's been. I think you need to find some form of stress relief that suits you. For me, when I was in a stressful job, it was exercise. Hope you get back to normal cycles/your BFP soon.

Hello everyone,

Sorry I have not been posting but I have been in and reading how is everyone going frequently. I was just a bit down and I was hoping for news before going back to posting here.

So, this are the news: I still did not get my period. This month was really weird, I was feeling inbalanced hormonally and I had the feeling I had not ovulated (monitor got it at day 18 but I looked at the test and the line was all smurdge so I think it was a faulty test or something like that and after getting the peak the monitor did not let me test anymore). So after many POS tests I went to the doctor yesterday. After passing the nurses saying "you must be pregnant!" to which I had to answer "I wish but I think I just did not ovulated" I was examined by the doctor who said my ovaries are completely stopped and that I did not ovulated this month. He also looked at my exams and he said that this was due to me having very high levels of a hormone: prolactyn. He looked at my july tests and he said that this hormone can interfere both in ovulation and in pregnancy making it hard to achieve and this is probaby the reason why last year was so easy to get pregnant and now its not. You probably remember that in July the doctor told us the exact days to do it and he was kind of disapointed that we were not pregnant... So now he started treating me with OMIFIN (for inducing ovulation) and PARLODEL to get the levels of the other hormone down. As you can imagine, I¨ve been a bit down... It´s being really hard and it seems that they are always discovering a new thing but at least now I´m being treated.

Now comes the good part... Remember in last threads we were discussing stress? So I always ovulate, never had any problems concerning this subject and doctors always told me that the ovaries communicated quite well cause usually it was one month from one and another month from other. Well, it seems that this hormone have been increasing getting to the point now of not letting me ovulate. Now, the reasons for having this hormone high, apart from being pregnant or lactating (ah, forgot this part, this is the hormone that stimulates milk production and regulates ovulation and pregnancy so that when you are breast feeding you usually do not ovulate) are (took it from wikipedia, Dr told me to take a look and confirm what he was saying):
Hyperprolactinaemia is the term given to having too-high levels of prolactin in the blood, which can result from:

Excess thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), usually in primary hypothyroidism
All SSRI and SNRI medications
Many antipsychotic medications
Emotional stress
Pregnancy and lactation

So basically, the problems I´m having now Dr thinks its completely stress related (none of the others apply)...

Well I just figured that would be good to share an extra piece of info.

Promise this month I will be back to contributing more to this post...

Thank you for the lovely welcome :)

Am probably a dipper rather than a stats person as I get depressed when I find myself at the top of the list then unceremoniously relocated to the bottom - you know the feeling.

Boba sorry you're feeling grotty. How about booking yourself a massage or some sort of other papmering treat if you can? I'm trying to find things that improve the PMA without being massively full of calories or, er, alcohol

Hello everyone, do you mind if I join you?

I'm on cycle 2 of my CBFM, TTC#3 after a mmc at 16 weeks in July (I already have DS(7) and D(4)). It took quite a while to conceive all 3 pregnancies, so am trying to help things along this time. Have to admit the first cycle bamboozled me a bit so I'm hoping some of you can give me a bit of help as we go along!

My stats are:
TTC#3 Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28-29, CD1

The first month didn't go so well - I think I have one of the evil CBFMs that owlshoes refers to: it gave me high days from cd12-cd24 but no peaks . Anyone got any ideas what that means - did I not ovulate or was it just "getting to know" me?

Got my peak today and have had weepyness/rage which I always get at this time . Swi tues Thursday and fri so have given it a good shot as it where!

Today's stats:

FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD80
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD47
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 45
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 41
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD36
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD27
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD27
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD24
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30CD23
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD21
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD15
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD13
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD12
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 12
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD12
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD10
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD6
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD4
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD4
Headbanger TTC #1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle #2, Aged 30

GRADUATES

Harry2007 BFP 01/08/10
Vnewmummy BFP 19/08/10
Row78 BFP 07/09/10

Hi Keziah, how are you doing?

Row, glad everything is okay.

Welcome Owlshoes! If you would like us to track your stats then post them here and someone will add them; if you'd rather not, you're more than wlecome to dip in and out.

Emmy, its not over until AF arrives. Good luck.

Storm, . Sorry that you're having a hard time of it lately. What happened was a very, very difficult situation and you had to make a very, very difficult decision. I think it is important for you to seek the counselling but it is also important that you feel at ease with the counsellor. Can you try to see someone else? I hope you get something sorted soon.

MrsS, your GP will probably ask about your cycle, how long you've been trying etc and initially they should send you for CD5 and CD21 blood tests and your DH for SA. However, I know there is not much consistency in the process but you should get these things done as a minimum.

Hello anyone, I haven't name-dropped.

One of the pg ladies at work came into our office yesterday to talk to the pg lady in our department and she'd just found out she's having a girl and was talking about the scan etc. I couldn't handle it and had to leave the room.

I have totally lost my PMA and thinking that I'll have to book that HSG on my next CD1. However, I'm feeling better today and really glad it's Friday .

Hi, I am happy to have found our new home.
Just read through first page,

hi to Headbanger and Mrs S

And great you got that confirmation row - well done! How many weeks? Vnewmummy - glad scan reassured you.

Choccie that is great to hear you had a good appointment and you are now starting treatment. I was interested to read your news about frequency of bd - as my dh has poor morphology etc, we had reduced our sessions, but think ought to change this. Also he cannot produce and sperm on consecutive days, which is frustrating (but not from a tiredness point of view!)... oh, decisions!

boba - so exciting to see you bottom of the chart at long last. You must hold the MN record for over 120 days of cd!!

And so nice to see new BFP's

Hello Ladies - hope you are all doing well?

Welcome to owl - I'm new on here too so I guess we're both the new girls in school.

I've been reading through past posts to try to get up to date with where everybody is on their journies TTC and I think I am getting there.

DH and I are on cycle 12 of trying, and first with the CBFM. I am quite excited as I am hoping I might get a high soon. Still showed low this morning. As DH and I are both over 30 and now have been TTC for 1 year with no luck we have just made an appointment to see our GP. Not really sure what to expect. DH is actually a GP himself so I asked him lots of questions - he was pretty useless not forthcoming with information, so any advice as to what to expect would be very welcome. Unfortunately earliest GP appointment we could get is not till 22nd Sept. Seems ages away.

Storm I am so sorry you got a BFP and then AF got you. You must feel pretty down. I did ask DH whether a BFP followed by AF is likely to be a MMC. He said that false BFPs are extremely rare on pregnancy tests (unless there is another reason or condition causing HCG levels to be elevated, such as recent MC). So as long as test was done according to instructions and read within ten minutes (or whatever packet said) it is highly likely to have been accurate. Apparently false BFN's are much much more common. I don't know if this is any help to you or not in resolving your question?

Hello girlies how's everybody doing today?.

Storm hope your ok, sorry the counselling wasn't up to much...very pants, as for the clots you mentioned, I also had huge ones last cycle after chemical preg. When I spoke to my doctor, he said it was normal?, I was suprised as it was just as much as my mc in May that was further along!...hope your feeling better soon XX.

Row glad everything has settled down, heres to a stress free pregnancy!.

Sorry just a quick post...kids going crazy!!!!...hello all, and hello Owl.

welcome and good luck to owl

lychees if you want to consider trying for a while longer I know a few people who fell pregnant straight after a HSG test, it seems to flush the tubes out a bit, so maybe you could try for at least that month and then reconsider if you don't hit jackpot.

storm - sorry I can give any advice about the counselling but sorry it's not working for you at the moment, hope it clicks together soon.

emmy - that's still quite early, fingers crossed for when you test again.

My bleeding has stopped now, took an ovulation test (I bought a load cheap and can't afford anymore expensive pregnancy ones at the rate I'm going) and there was a nice dark line so I think I'm ok. Is it ok to hang around here a bit longer? I don't feel quite ready to hang about the pregnancy threads, I feel like I'm jinxing it by talking about it too much!