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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

A thread for anyone TTC with a ClearBlue Fertility Monitor!

430 replies

ChandlersFarang · 14/05/2014 11:04

Morning ladies!! I was hunting around for a recent thread for anyone TTC with a CBFM but couldn't find any - please let me know if one is ongoing that I didn't find!! But otherwise I wanted a place to share experiences with other ladies using this rather interesting gadget. It makes big claims for success!!

About me - I'm TTC baby #1, cycle #3, expecting AF or BFP on 2-12 June.

I'm still having slightly long cycles after stopping the pill - this is my first cycle using the monitor properly, because my last cycle went on for 40 days, and the machine got bored and stopped asking for sticks after 25 days!!

I'm currently on CD09 and had my first day of a high reading today, although I know the machine gives out high readings like they're going out of fashion so not reading much into that! Will be kicking off the SMEP (sperm meets egg plan!) from today though anyway just to be sure.

Would love to hear from you!! Smile

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supergreenuk · 18/05/2014 16:04

I have 2 children now and both were conceived using the timings of this machine. Pricy but totally worth it. Turns out I ovulate around day 17.

hedwiggity · 18/05/2014 15:57

Urgh AF is really annoying this month !! came on the 15th instead of the 16th and she has stopped this morning not sure if it will start up again which it sometimes does for another day or so but why this month did AF choose to screw around :( so annoying. i programmed my monitor at 9am this morning for CD3 now just going to leave it and wait for the stick symbol if i don't get one i'll just leave it until CD1 next month hopefully 16th as normal and use it then i really wanted to use it this month though

ChandlersFarang · 18/05/2014 07:21

Thanks Bohemond for your tips, and massive congrats on your BFP!! Thanks would you say the monitor made a big difference for you?

I wasted so many sticks last cycle as it went on for 40 days - and never got a peak!! So have bought an absolute ton of sticks now ((hang the financial consequences..!!)).

Welcome flyingchick!! Sorry you just missed out on getting it going this cycle... Bloody inflexible thing isn't it?!

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flyingchick1 · 18/05/2014 07:12

May I join too please? Currently cycle 3 Ttc DC2 . On CD 9 today, unfortunately my CBFM arrived on cd6 so will be unable to use this monthSad but will be raring to go next month!

Good luck to all you ladies

Bohemond · 18/05/2014 06:19

I got a BFP two days ago after using the monitor since Jan (at my advanced age I needed all the help I could get!). I have learned a few things which may help you ladies:

  • peeing in a cup and then dipping the stick for 15 secs stops you 'flooding' the stick; I lost my first months work by doing this
  • buy packs of 20 sticks. If you buy 10s you may end up using two packs for early cycles. If you buy 20s you may get to use one pack for three cycles as it starts asking you to test less once it gets to know you
  • mine still gives me 5-6 days of high fertility before ovulation so make sure you don't overdo it and run out of interest/energy by the time you get to the right time!
ChandlersFarang · 18/05/2014 04:37

Hey hed - great it arrived! you just need to set the 'm' button in the middle of the 6 hour window you want to set. It doesn't ask for a time, it will automatically use the time when you press 'm'. So choose well!! Lol. My earlier post talks about it in a bit lore detail if you scroll up.

I got monumentally pissed last night which is very unusual for me these days!! Was wondering whether it would affect my reading because I'm pretty sure I peed pure alcohol this morning but it still gave me a high reading! Thank god I've not ovulated yet..!!!

((By the way I live in Thailand at the moment which is why it looks like I'm always posting in the middle of the night! Smile))

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hedwiggity · 17/05/2014 16:51

I meant to say it hasn't asked for a time lol iphone

hedwiggity · 17/05/2014 16:50

I have my monitor i am on CD3 today due off on CD5 cant wait for tomorrow for it to ask for a test it has asked for a time though ?? Should it it just asked for my CD which i put as 3 can i just test first pee of the day

ChandlersFarang · 17/05/2014 09:03

April - I've been buying mine on Amazon too! I bought loads to try to get sod's law to kick in... Wink

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ChandlersFarang · 17/05/2014 05:25

Joosie - massive congrats on your BFP! GrinThanks and great to hear you think the CBFM played a part too. Maybe I shouldn't be so flippant when I see the high readings - just had so many last cycle that they became the norm!!

This cycle am on CD12 and have had high readings since CD9. Sounds all very normal, but I am not expecting to ovulate until around CD20 (die to my shrewd calculations based on my previous cycles of 98 days and then 40 days... Having read other people's post-pill cycle lengths am estimating a cycle of about 35 this month!!). An very interested to see how this cycle works out and whether the CBFM gives me a peak!!

I think I will also use a couple of OPKs around the time I expect to ovulate if I don't get a peak reading. I've got higher hopes for this month, but just cannot wait for a regular cycle length!! Never going on the pill again, lol... recovering from it has made me so impatient!! ((Ok, I may have been prone to impatience before, but hey..!!)).

Hello to all the other ladies joining the thread!! Very excited to follow all of your experiences over the coming month(s)!! Grin

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lullaby23 · 16/05/2014 17:32

Hi ladies I have my monitor and using this month as a kind of trial run so it can get used to my cycles before trying in earnest in June! I came off the pill in March so everything slowly getting back to normal. Will watch this thread with interest!

Aprilray · 16/05/2014 16:15

We can hedwiggity :-) I have a bit of a wait though as AF isn't due until around 7 June. So annoyed to be missing out this cycle though will be good to hear about everyone elses experiences.
Is everyone getting their test sticks off Ebay? I bought mine on Amazon and they weren't cheap - worried that from the sounds of it you need more sticks that I anticipated.

hedwiggity · 16/05/2014 14:47

april we can figure out how they work at the same time :) this is going to be an interesting thread

Aprilray · 16/05/2014 13:39

Hello everyone!
I have been ttc #1 since January and caved and ordered my CBFM when AF arrived last week, didn't get the monitor and sticks in time to use it this cycle though- boo!
Would love to join you though, I found reading the thread really helpful and it is reassuring to know that I have it in case I don't get my BFP this cycle.

hedwiggity · 16/05/2014 13:25

i have my monitor now :) do i start testing from CD1 next month ?

hedwiggity · 16/05/2014 07:50

Im bidding on some fertility monitors on ebay atm one is only 2 mins away from me hope i get it this time need it so bad fingers crossed

joosiewoosie · 16/05/2014 07:40

Morning all.

We've been ttc our second for 4 months, after a mc last Sept. at 12weeks. My cycles have got much longer since the mc, and I suspected we might have been dtd at the wrong time,( or rather I hoped that was the case, rather than anything going wrong in there, iyswim!) I'm 41, and wanted to make sure I was ovulating properly too. I even had a progesterone day 21 ( which for me was actually day 27/28) test done at Drs to start to cover all necessary bases!

I bought my cbfm just over a month ago. It actually arrived on the evening of day 5, so I lied to it and told it that day 6 was day 5! (Naughty, but otherwise we wouldn't have been able to use it this month! Call me a rebel!)

It wanted a stick every day from its day 6 to day 26 (my cycle averages 34-36). I didn't get any highs til day 17, then all highs til day 25. I had two lows before it stopped asking. We timed dtd around the middle if the highs and using my cm as a sign too, except we did it for longer after the cm, than we usually would, as the cbfm kept saying high.

Anyhoo, I got my BFP two days ago! Smile

Am digesting the idea with trepidation, trying to remain hopeful but realistic and not too excited about the chances if a successful pregnancy - the consultant I saw after my mc said I have a 50% chance due to my advanced age, but I also have a v large fibroid in there, that might or might not have contributed to us losing our last bubs. So, for now, I am pregnant.

Hope I've not hijacked the thread, but I wanted to share how it worked for me. I'm holding in to my monitor until we have our bubs in our arms, but then I'll happily flog it/pass it on!
I had so few symptoms that I ordered some more sticks on eBay which arrived the day I got my BFP, so they'll be flogged/passed on soon I reckon!

Good luck to everyone. Xx

broodysnoopstie · 15/05/2014 22:59

I have been using the cbfm for last 2 cycles had sooo many highs but never a peak cheapy opks give me a positive though.. I'm ttc #1 cycle 9 on 7dpo according to cheapy opk cbfm still giving highs! I'd expect af on 25th. Good luck all!

ChandlersFarang · 15/05/2014 16:07

Hi guineapig!! You can absolutely join us, welcome! Smile

I've been trying since Christmas too (well, I took my last pill just before Xmas eve, and have been coming back to 'normal' whilst trying since).

Fx that the monitor arrives in time
For setting by CD5!! Keep us posted... I'm enjoying using mine, just as I feel like I'm 'doing something'. And at least it's it's something that has a very high success rate!! Grin

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guineapig1 · 15/05/2014 14:46

Hello! Can I join you ladies please? Had high hopes this month as dtd on days 12,13,14 and 15 of a 28 day cycle. AF one day late. Been at it since Christmas which I appreciate isn't much in the grand scheme of things but getting fed up now. Despite telling myself I wouldn't, I have caved this morning and ordered a clearblue advanced monitor and sticks. Notice above that you can start using it up to cd5. Am at cd1 now so hoping it arrives in time to start this month. Will report back...!

ChandlersFarang · 15/05/2014 10:51

Kaymondo - I love the success stories!! Glad it does eventually work out your hormones eventually. I have a feeling that it's going to give me too many high days again this cycle (my second using it, although the last cycle was so long it stopped working before a peak)... But hopefully it will settle down next cycle!! Although hopefully I won't have another cycle for a while Wink

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kaymondo · 14/05/2014 16:54

I used cbfm to conceive both my dc. With ds1 it took 2 cycles, ds2 was first cycle! I've also lent it to a friend who got her bfp on 2nd cycle so I'm a big fan!

Re the lots of high days, I think it only does that for the first cycle while it's getting to know your hormone levels, sure I had lots of high days first cycle but when did get to a second cycle only had a couple before peak days and then 1 after.

Good luck everyone!

ChandlersFarang · 14/05/2014 16:46

Does anyone else get way too many high readings? Is be interested to know how long you need to use the monitor for to stop getting loads and loads. It says it helps you to pinpoint 6 fertile days using the high reading before a two day peak, but I got about 20 high days last month, and have got another one today on CD9 but not expecting to ovulate for a while (ovulated on CD30 last cycle but am anticipating it being more like CD20-25 this time). It's a bit annoying as you wear yourself out with all the DTDing long before you hit the fertile period!

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ChandlersFarang · 14/05/2014 16:31

Hi sunshine! Cool that you used the monitor successfully to conceive your DS. How long did it take if u don't mind me asking?

How annoying re the long cycles this time round. Are you still breastfeeding? I heard that has an impact... Will be interesting to see if the CBFM gives you a peak this cycle...

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sunshine1010 · 14/05/2014 13:45

Hi everyone
We are ttc no2 and used cbfm to have our ds. After ttc naturally since nov we are back using the cbfm (my periods were going longer than 40 days). Im on cd13 and still on a low ??.
Am pretty sure I may have issues ovulating. Think I do it sporadically.
Just hoping I release an egg soon!

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