Fertility sticks???

[LPO]

I have just woken up this morning to AF :( Having been TTC for 7 cycles now I have decided to look into fertility sticks. I have been putting it off because I think it takes the romance out of it all, but now I think, what the hell.

Anyway, I don't know anything about them. How often do you use them? Everyday? How many should I buy? What brand? Where from? Any recommendations? Tips? Advice? Thoughts? Help?

Thanks!!

I can suggest two options, depending on your budget.

1. you have loadsa money - buy a fertility monitor aka Evil Blue Shag Dictator. Identifies six days, you can get a monitor online and buy the sticks in boots. It gets to know your cycle so tells you which days to do pee sticks. Digital aspect means no interpreting lines, it tells you if you are low, medium or high (ovulating). You need to have sex on the medium and high days for your best chance (or at least some of those six days!)

2. You have less cash. Buy a LARGE stash of cheapo ovulation tests of the internet. I use the home health website, there's also amazon and ebay. Get a hundred at a time, it will only set you back about 15 quid. Pee on them starting on day 8 of your cycle, or day 10 if you are usually more than 30 days between periods. If you think you are getting close do two a day!
   Whilst doing this, start having sex on day 8, do it every other day. When you get a positive ovulation test, have sex that day and the next day. possibly also the day after if you can be bothered for "insurance"!

I have used both options but the clearblue got expensive and you have to use first morning urine and perfom the test within a certain time window and that was getting irritating too. So I have switched to cheapo. To be honest if you have sex every other day it is not possible to miss the right time, but it is nice to know when you have ovulated so you know when your period is due.

As for the romance, I started off by just not saying anything about the results of the tests and simply jumping on him at the appropriate moments. Simples. After a while that is too much stress to take all for myself so a change of method is required!

Thanks Kat dare I ask if you have had the BFP yet?

All your advice is great. I will have a look on the home health website, definately need to do it as cheap as possible, hence putting off buying them for so long now!

I actually use the middle ground between the two suggested - the expensive but easy to use clearblue digital ov sticks. there is no interpretation required - you get a smiley face or you don't and you can use them at any time of day (I favour around 2pm to allow the LH to work through my body). I have used these for 4 months and picked up a surge every month.

The 20 stick kit costs just under 40 pounds and that lasts me for about 3 months (bear in mind you might use more the first month before you get to know your cycle or if you are irregular). So far I have ov'd between CD 12 and CD 17 and start testing around Day 10 or 11, so some months I use more sticks than others!

You can keep the romance by doing the deed at other times, but at least you know when you don't need to lie still/go deep/put your legs in the air afterwards this way!

I have had 2 bfps. Unfortunately I miscarried both times, but it does go to show that they do help with conception. I will be doing the cheapie option hoping for a third time lucky when I get my cycle back. Look up Sperm meets Egg Plan, its on some website and a few people on here mention using it. I think really it just involves a hell of a lot of shagging!!

Thanks for that again Kat and very sorry to hear about your MC's. I am going to see if I can do the 'plan' DH depending!

Also am going to buy some of the cheap sticks.