Clearblue Fertility Monitor Support Group Buddies Vol 5!!

Kitty I know what you mean. I really do hate baby-making sex sometimes.

Arabella I agree with what all the other ladies on here have said. You are most likely to conceive if you have sex before ovulation. NICE combined some studies and found that the highest rates of conception are found to occur when sex is two days prior to ovulation. They did find that conception can occur if you have sex on the day of ovulation, but rarely occurs if sex is after ovulation as the egg doesn't live very long.

Before sperm are capable of fertlisation they have to undergo capacitation (the head of the sperm changes shape to make it capable of penetrating the egg), which is induced by the female reproductive tract. This takes quite a few hours, so although the sperm can get to the fallopian tubes relatively quickly they aren't very useful for a while! The guy that won the nobel prize for Medicine this year was the person who developed IVF. His bit of genius was developing a medium that would allow sperm to undergo capacitation outside of the reproductive tract so that fertilization could occur in-vitro.

Anyway, that's why I don't bother charting. The temperature increase is useful to confirm that ovulation has definitely taken place, but by this point it's generally a bit late for conception to occur.

However, as Kitty says with the monitor it does depend on what point it picks up your LH surge and how long an individual's surge lasts. But as Kat says, probably unlikely.

i think it kind of depends very much on the timing of when your peak is picked up: the peak is shown when the surge of LH is detected, which can occur 12-36 hours before ovulation. If you test first thing the surge could have been the previous afternoon (apparently it is common for LH surge to take place in afternoon), so by the time you test and pick it up the next morning it could already be 12 hours later and you could literally be ovulating then and there, and only be fertile that day, or conversely, it could pick up the beginning of the surge that morning and you could be ovulating 36 hours later (ie evening of second 'peak' day) and could still be fertile the following morning...

in short i think its very individual and very variable, and by applying the above logic cautiously, i dont think you can always assume that you are fertile on peak day 2....

i still havent had a peak. had some unfulfilling sex and a big row with my husband though. does that count?!!!

Hi Kat, thank you, yes that's what I was thinking! Can you ovulate on either of the 2 peak days? Or is it the first peak day when you ovulate?

I had assumed the day you went back to low fertility on the monitor that the egg was gone - ie that the 2 peak days were the 48 days AFTER ovulation when the egg was still "available".
Is that right?

I'd say it was relatively unlikely as the egg only has a short life span and apparently most conceptions result from before ovulation rather than after. No guaratees though!

Hello, I read this thread avidly but rarely post. I'd like to ask a question of you CBFM-users which I asked on another thread.

I had unplanned sex with DH the day after my 2 peak days. It always goes to low fertility on that day. I think it would be very unlikely to have conceived, what do you all think?

Ps for the stats wouldnt i be hilarious to have a flashing obscene graphic for 'mid-cyclers'...just to remind them?!

bored at work but at least i've finished all the crap i had to get done for tomorrow's board meeting and can leave in about an hour....finally.....

Stats take 3!

In School
AnytimeNOW TTC#3, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle 5, age 38, UCL 28, CD50
Michelle2222 TTC#2, CBFM Cycle 1, age 27, UCL?, CD47
Birdietimesthree TTC#1, Cycle #3, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 24-25, CD40
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy TTC#3 Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 4, age 34, UCL 26-30 CD40
Ses TTC#2, cycle #5, CBFM cycle #7, age 37, UCL 28-30, CD37
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #13, CBFM Cycle 8, age 33, UCL 32, CD32
Sufferingbabyfever TTC#1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 1, age 27, UCL 28 , CD31
wantbaby TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM cycle 6, age 38, UCL 30, CD27
CrazyAlien TTCno.1 cycle 5 CBFM Cycle 2 age 28 UCL 31-35??! CD25
Lychees TTC#2, Cycle #14, CBFM cycle 10, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD23
Twowoulddo TTC#2, Cycle #6, CBFM cycle 1?, Aged 31, UCL 31, CD22
Keziah TTC#1, Cycle #28, CBFM Cycle 16, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD19
ZebedeetheZebra TTC#2, age 43, UCL TMI!, CD18
PinkCustard TTC#2, Cycle #12, CBFM Cycle 7, age 34, UCL 30-32, CD17
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle #15, CBFM Cycle 4, age 31, UCL 28, CD16
IloveKittyElise TTC#1, Cycle 2, CBFM Cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28, CD14
Fr00tbat TTC#1, Cycle 6, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 30-38 (av 34), CD13
Boba82 TTC#1 Cycle 19, CBFM cycle 6, age 28, UCL 30 (FX), CD12
Roastie TTC#1, Cycle #23, CBFM Cycle 1, age 32, UCL 29, CD9

The Dog Ate My Homework
EmmaC29 TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM Cycle 1, age 29, UCL 26-29, CD67
Starlet22 TTC#1, Cycle #15, CBFM cycle 9, age 34, ucl 25, CD59
Littlefan TTC#1, Cycle 9, CBFM cycle 2 , age 31, UCL 32-38, CD52

Playing Truant
FlyingCat TTC#1, Cycle #26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD156
Rach879 TTC#1 Cycle #7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD123
Jenni4 TTC#2, Cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26, CD103

Graduates
Emmylou30 BFP 22/10/10
MissLolita BFP 30/10/20
Notnearly BFP 6/11/10
StormBird BFP 10/11/10

Kitty Ovulation pains can start before ovulation when the follicle is growing so the CBFM may be working OK for you. I am sure next month it will be spot on once things have settled down. Hope you are feeling a little better now.

knackered cow - i finally went 'hi' on day 12; yesterday was day 13 and i was starting to get O cramps, still am today but still hi on day 14...i think im just delayed due to the early MC as last month i hit peak on 13....all very annoying!

thanks for doing the stats....i echo your sentiments about the long cycle ladies - please share good news if you have any we could all do with a bit of encouragement!!!

Thanks KnackeredCow :)

So here are my stats

TTC#1, Cycle # 23, CBFM Cycle 1, age 32, UCL 29, CD9

Cycle # is the total number of cycles that you have been trying for, including any without the CBFM.

UCL = usual cycle length

There you go Roastie

In School
AnytimeNOW TTC#3, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle 5, age 38, UCL 28, CD50
Michelle2222 TTC#2, CBFM Cycle 1, age 27, UCL?, CD47
Birdietimesthree TTC#1, Cycle #3, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 24-25, CD40
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy TTC#3 Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 4, age 34, UCL 26-30 CD40
Ses TTC#2, cycle #5, CBFM cycle #7, age 37, UCL 28-30, CD37
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #13, CBFM Cycle 8, age 33, UCL 32, CD32
Sufferingbabyfever TTC#1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 1, age 27, UCL 28 , CD31
wantbaby TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM cycle 6, age 38, UCL 30, CD27
CrazyAlien TTCno.1 cycle 5 CBFM Cycle 2 age 28 UCL 31-35??! CD25
Lychees TTC#2, Cycle #14, CBFM cycle 10, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD23
Twowoulddo TTC#2, Cycle #6, CBFM cycle 1?, Aged 31, UCL 31, CD22
Keziah TTC#1, Cycle #28, CBFM Cycle 16, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD19
ZebedeetheZebra TTC#2, age 43, UCL TMI!, CD18
PinkCustard TTC#2, Cycle #12, CBFM Cycle 7, age 34, UCL 30-32, CD17
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle #15, CBFM Cycle 4, age 31, UCL 28, CD16
IloveKittyElise TTC#1, Cycle 2, CBFM Cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28, CD14
Fr00tbat TTC#1, Cycle 6, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 30-38 (av 34), CD13
Boba82 TTC#1 Cycle 19, CBFM cycle 6, age 28, UCL 30 (FX), CD12
Roastie TTC#1, Cycle #?, CBFM Cycle 1, age 32, UCL ?, CD9

The Dog Ate My Homework
EmmaC29 TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM Cycle 1, age 29, UCL 26-29, CD67
Starlet22 TTC#1, Cycle #15, CBFM cycle 9, age 34, ucl 25, CD59
Littlefan TTC#1, Cycle 9, CBFM cycle 2 , age 31, UCL 32-38, CD52

Playing Truant
FlyingCat TTC#1, Cycle #26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD156
Rach879 TTC#1 Cycle #7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD123
Jenni4 TTC#2, Cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26, CD103

Graduates
Emmylou30 BFP 22/10/10
MissLolita BFP 30/10/20
Notnearly BFP 6/11/10
StormBird BFP 10/11/10

Hi KnackeredCow

I would love to be added

TTC#1, Cycle # WHAT IS THIS???, CBFM Cycle 1, age 32, UCL 2, CD9

Wanted to also say Welcome to Roastie and Kat

Kitty Have just been reading through the posts and saw your q. I have a 28 day cycle and normally get my first peak on day 14 or 15, generally ovulating on day 16. I get my first high on day 10 or 11. HTH. Have you had a high now?

Keziah Sorry to hear your DH has been poorly. It's so frustrating. I have my FX for you.

Good Morning Ladies

Today's updated stats are posted below.....

Could everyone have a check and update if they are wrong as I think we have got a little out of sync along the way!

Emma, Starlet and Littlefan Your CD numbers were getting quite high so I have moved you down the board assuming that you either need to be re-set or that (even better) you have some good news to share..... FX

FlyingCat, Jenni and Rach Are you still lurking?

If there is anyone who is not on the board and would like to be, please let us know and we can add you in.

In School
AnytimeNOW TTC#3, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle 5, age 38, UCL 28, CD50
Michelle2222 TTC#2, CBFM Cycle 1, age 27, UCL?, CD47
Birdietimesthree TTC#1, Cycle #3, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 24-25, CD40
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy TTC#3 Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 4, age 34, UCL 26-30 CD40
Ses TTC#2, cycle #5, CBFM cycle #7, age 37, UCL 28-30, CD37
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #13, CBFM Cycle 8, age 33, UCL 32, CD32
Sufferingbabyfever TTC#1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 1, age 27, UCL 28 , CD31
wantbaby TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM cycle 6, age 38, UCL 30, CD27
CrazyAlien TTCno.1 cycle 5 CBFM Cycle 2 age 28 UCL 31-35??! CD25
Lychees TTC#2, Cycle #14, CBFM cycle 10, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD23
Twowoulddo TTC#2, Cycle #6, CBFM cycle 1?, Aged 31, UCL 31, CD22
Keziah TTC#1, Cycle #28, CBFM Cycle 16, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD19
ZebedeetheZebra TTC#2, age 43, UCL TMI!, CD18
PinkCustard TTC#2, Cycle #12, CBFM Cycle 7, age 34, UCL 30-32, CD17
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle #15, CBFM Cycle 4, age 31, UCL 28, CD16
IloveKittyElise TTC#1, Cycle 2, CBFM Cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28, CD14
Fr00tbat TTC #1, Cycle 6, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 30-38 (av 34), CD13
Boba82 TTC#1 Cycle 19, CBFM cycle 6, age 28, UCL 30 (FX), CD12

The Dog Ate My Homework
EmmaC29 TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM Cycle 1, age 29, UCL 26-29, CD67
Starlet22 TTC#1, Cycle #15, CBFM cycle 9, age 34, ucl 25, CD59
Littlefan TTC#1, Cycle 9, CBFM cycle 2 , age 31, UCL 32-38, CD52

Playing Truant
FlyingCat TTC#1, Cycle #26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD156
Rach879 TTC#1 Cycle #7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD123
Jenni4 TTC#2, Cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26, CD103

Graduates
Emmylou30 BFP 22/10/10
MissLolita BFP 30/10/20
Notnearly BFP 6/11/10
StormBird BFP 10/11/10

Hi kat-had highs days 9-18 first month, then peak days 19/20- af got me day 32( or is that day 1-i guess is both!). Now had highs since day 10- also think is v strange, will shout when/if get peak and let you know how many highs have had.
Regards to all.

Hi ladies,
I'm on my second month of cbfm (ttc again since mc in August, so had to do 2 cycles before I could start with the monitor)
Last month I had a 30 day cycle, with peak on day 17. I had highs since day 9! Although I expected it to be "getting to know me" the first month, 7 highs was quite frustrating.
This month I got a high today on CD 11. Am wondering what the "normal" or average number of high days to get is after the first cycle. If it's going to be 5 or more every month then I can plan accordingly, and not get over enthusiastic on the first few high days and run out of energy when the peak comes.
Does anyone who has been on the cbfm for 3 or more months get more than 5 high days on a regular basis?

Roastie, I would leave it a day myself to cover all bases and have a rest. Perhaps the early high means you ovulate earlier which might be helpful info! we are all different.

Lychees my levels were 21 and 23 and I have been told my 3 different consultant that is it just "ok". I thought it was the problem but no apparently not!

Thanks for the nice Clomid story, Roastie. I have my suspicions that despite a fairly regular cycle, I'm not ovulating as I have had two Day 21 progesterone tests, one done 7 days before AF arrived [so the right time] and my highest level was 23 which is a lot below the 30 mnol which indicates ovulation [esp as I've read of women getting 100+]. Good luck using the CBFM. I would also carry on bding every other day whilst on highs so you get a good concentration of spermies for your peaks.

Zebedee, I'm also liking the freedom to pee in the night .

Hi everyone else!

Hi roastie. Welcome to this thread! I hope the CBFM gives you some good luck. I think its a great gadget and had success with it the first time I used it. Maybe that was luck as this time its not so easy but it certainly takes the guess work out of getting the timing right anyway.

I quite often have 5 high days before getting the peak, so perhaps doing the deed on alternate days is a good idea!

I was thinking that the best part about the 2 week wait is not having to pee on sticks every morning! Oh, and you can go to the loo in the middle of the night if you want without it messing up your reading the next day. Oh, and then you can go a whole day without even turning it on! Sad, aren't I?!

Hi Everyone, hope no one minds me joining in here but its really nice to know that im not the only one going through all this.

lychees, i have just finished my 6 month run on Clomid and it wasn't to bad had a few very heavy periods but nothing other than that. A good friend of mine fell pregnant on the first month taking it after trying for seferal years to get pregnant, so i will keep everything crossed for you.

We have been trying for 2 years next month and have both been told there is nothing wrong with us(which i am finding harder to believe every month) and im no longer taking Clomid and i dont go back to the hospital until February i thought we would give the Clear Blue Fertility Monitor ago. Today is CD8 and i have my first high day. I wasn't expecting to even have a high day until CD11. Has anyone else had a high day this early??

Its taken the stress out of trying to get pregnant for us as i dont feel under pressure to keep doing the deed every other day as i didnt reallly know when i was ovulating, so its really nice to do it just because you want to not because this could be the one! So my next question is last night my DH and I did the deed as i wasn't expecting a high day so soon. Should we still do it tonight or should we wait at least another day or until i am peak, so we have a few more strong swimmers?

Hello Everyone Just popping by to say "hi". Will try to catch up on posts over the next day or so.

Lychees Excellent news that things are moving forward for you now. This may be untrue, but sometimes I wonder whether waiting for things to happen and for referrals and decisions is the worst part of TTC?

Keziah Thanks for your advice re DH. That was a really helpful way of thinking about it a bit more positively. I'll make sure DH tries to remain healthy!

I don't know if this is normal at first SA, but my DH did have the antibody test done, which was fine - we were told this when GP gave us the resultsv. I think we are fortunate in that our local hspital has a ery good and progressive andrology service. Apparantly the guy who heads it up is pretty well-known in his field. Fascinatingly, one of my close friends rang me last week as she's a clinical scientist at the hospital and had just seen him do a lunchtime seminar on fertility. She said she was shocked to hear that the main factors influencing male infertility are genetic and the environment a male foetus is exposed to in the womb. Everyday environmental factors to which a grown man is exposed have a much more limited effect.

Well got to dash. DH tells me I've been geeking on the internet for too long today!

didn't take it that way Zebedee at all... ttc~2 is still ttc. Yay for 3 bars!

Hi Girls

After I posted yesterday I thought that my ranting on about the end of my maternity leave was quite insensitive, totally forgetting that I was on a thread which included people who have had difficulty conceiving. I'm really sorry if I've upset anyone as obviously I am very lucky to have one child already.

Having had a mc I now know how it feels when someone you know says they're pregnant (one of my NCT friends is pregnant again) and it feels like a kick in the teeth especially when they are in very early pregnancy but obviously have the total confidence to tell people. When my friend told me I said nothing about my own precarious situation since I had had early bleeding already by then and was still hoping it was nothing.

Anyway 3 bars on the monitor today! Hooray............

I wonder who will win the x-factor?