Clearblue Fertility Monitor Support Group Buddies Vol 4!!

[boba82]

Time for us to move home again ladies!

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 .

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.

Sorry you've been having a crappy time baby hopefully you can get on top of stress and your ovulation will return to normal now you have medication.

MrsS I had same experience as Lychees, you will be absolutely fine on your own. Good luck for Monday.

Doubt I will have time to pop back on before my hols as my laptop at home is buggered after I dropped it at weekend - oops
Take care everyone and I hope to see lots of BFPs when I get back. x

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!!

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.

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!

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 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.

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!

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.

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 :)

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?

Today's stats:

FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD82
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD49
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 47
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 43
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD39
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD29
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD29
chocciechip TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD26
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30CD25
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD23
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD17
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD15
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD14
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 14
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD14
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD12
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD8
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD6
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD6
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy, TTC#3 Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28-29, CD3
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

Welcome Annamaria! Yes, I believe in most women the luteal phase [from ov to AF's arrival] is usually 14 days. I think that some women can suffer from a luteal phase defect which means it is shorter and this may be a factor in not being able to conceive because implantation doesn't happen before the womb lining starts to shed.

MrsS, sounds like your GP was very thorough and you've now got the ball rolling.

Hairytriangle, we keep SWI until the low after the high after the peaks [and then every other day for good measure this cycle to try and cover off all possibilities].

Owl, I don't think you ever get more than 2 peaks per cycle. I have sometimes used my last stick on my first peak and my CBFM will assume a peak and a high after it without me ever poas.

Hello everyone else.

Thank you MrsS - that's really helpful.

"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.

"Woohoo, I think we have therefore covered all bases this month ;)

Today's stats:

FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD83
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD50
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 48
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 44
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD40
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD30
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD30
chocciechip TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD27
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30 CD26
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD24
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD18
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD16
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD15
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 15
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD15
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD13
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD9
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD7
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD7
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy, TTC#3 Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28-29, 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

Hello, hope everyone is okay today.

Now am confused - this month went from low, one high and then a peak (today) - never had just one high before and as yesterday was when dh back from longhaul flight didn't SWI, so is it too late?

Keziah, I don't think it's too late as the LH surge can happen between 24 to 48 hours prior to actual ov. Get bd'ing.

Will do Lychees! - our last attempt before fertility clinic apt, so nothing to lose!!

Hello everyone........

and welcome to all the newbies.

Sorry you've been having a tough time of late baby I hope things pick up for you soon.

Good luck SWI Keziah

There's been so much going on hasn't there.

CD9 for me - remember I told you DP said we must try much harder this month, WELL....he's ill so I'm hoping that he hurry's up and get better cos he needs all his strength for our Marathon month LOL.

Also, my migrains, although they are migrains have been bought on by concussion!! I only just remembered I hit my head on Friday, that happened nearly 2 weeks ago and I've been on the NHS website and printed out the details about concusion and so far I tick every symptom box and also every box about what you shouldn;t do if you have concussion. Explains alot let me tell you. So back at the docs this afternoon for them to check my head haahahahaha - not sure what they will find, if anything.

Fingers crossed for a BFP this month.

XXX

Today's stats:

FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD84
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD51
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 49
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 45
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD41
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD31
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD31
chocciechip TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD28
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30 CD27
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD25
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD19
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD17
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD16
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 16
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD16
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD14
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD9
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD8
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD8
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy, TTC#3 Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28-29, CD5
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

Hello All!

Gotta dash to a meeting but will be back on a bit later.

Morning lovelies :)

Kezia I know a few people who have hit the jackpot the month before they were due to visit the FC too, so all fingers are crossed for you.

MrsS yes they are def. trying to make us use more of the expensive sticks, grrr. At this rate I will be on the second lot of 10 as I have now had 6 days of high and no peak. It is evil!! And poor DH is knackered.

emmy good luck with the testing :)

Hairy Nice work, missus

Good Morning Ladies!

I was MrsS but have name changed to reflect how I currently feel about my reproductive organs and the fact that like owlshoe's DH, my DH is absolutely shattered and feels like he's a prize bull! It does make me giggle to think that MrKnackeredCow used to complain about lack of bedroom capers when we were SWOI. That will teach him to be careful what he wishes for! Was on a high yesterday. Attempts to seduce DH were met with some very loud snoring in ear.

I've re-posted stats with my name change.

FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD84
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD51
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 49
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 45
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD41
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD31
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD31
chocciechip TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD28
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30 CD27
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD25
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD19
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD17
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD16
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 16
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD16
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD14
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD9
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD8
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD8
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy, TTC#3 Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28-29, CD5
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

Keziah FX for you too this month. Guess you are on the 2ww now!

Storm What did the Dr say about your head?

Emmylou Good luck!

Owlshoes Wrt sticks, I'm on stick 9 and still on a high. If I don't get a peak tomorrow I'll be on a second lot of 10 too. Maybe we should all buy shares in the company? They are certainly not going to go broke any time soon

I used to work in Mecial Device marketing (for completely different types of products) and I think this is what makes me such a cynic. Given how much you pay for basic OPKs off Amazon, which are exactly the same technology, I reckon ClearBlue are probably running on about 80% to 90% profit margins.

Ah, there's so much money to be made from us poor ladies who are so desperately TTC.

Ooo, I like that plan

Love the new name, Knackered :) Day 9, bloody hell, though, DH will die of exhaustion if we have to keep this up for another 4 days, bless him.

Are other people finding that their LH surge varies by a few days every month? Mine seems to be skipping about all over the place since I started using opk sticks to work out what the hell it was doing.

Hello to our new home and all the new members

Congrats Row and I'm pleased that Harry and Vnewmummy trucking along nicley with their pregnancies.

I have just got back from ten days on the road. Got my first high today of this cycle. Would you believe, hubby goes away today until Sun. Grrrrrr. BUT I start my new job in Oct so will be home every night. So I don't feel this month we'll get a shot (so to speak!!!) at it.

I'm also thinking about buying preseed. Anyone got any thoughts either way about using it?