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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.

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Clearblue Fertility Monitor - User Club

120 replies

SnowBells · 07/11/2013 20:32

So… anyone else here using the clear blue fertility monitor? Not the normal ovulation test sticks, but the actual monitor.

Thought we'd form our little club, exchange stories of how it's going so far, and just support each other in this seemingly hi-tech business of TTC. Gosh - what did they do in medieval times? Did Da Vinci or Galileo invent a fertility monitor that was widely used, but yet to be uncovered? Wink

Anyway, here are my stats:

  • First cycle of using monitor;
  • Started testing CD6 as expected from the manual;
  • High on CD7, and am a little surprised.

Seriously wondering whether peeing after midnight on CD5 caused hormones to be low on CD6, hence machine 'thought' (detected, more like) there was a surge on CD7???

OR maybe this is ONE of the reasons why TTC was difficult - never did the deed before CD12 before.

OR the machine is still adjusting to my system.

What about you?

OP posts:
Adp007 · 19/01/2014 12:46

Is this post still active folks? If so if like to join? Or can someone point me in the right direction for a newbie CBFM user xx

seasavage · 19/01/2014 21:36

I have been using the CBFm for a few months to monitor ovulation. I must admit it lulled me into a false sense of being 'in control' of things - officially TTC started last month and the monitor went mad, (the more i think about it the more i think it sulked over missing sticks - frustrating as if it was paying close attention to previous sticks then it would notice every month has been the predictably similar). I get a high fertility on day 1 of testing, i ignore this generally as this is the maximum time sperm can live until it detects the LH surge (though as i test in the morning it is detecting the surge from the day before ...... i think?). Now that I know my ovulation day i suspect there is nothing more to use it for. It is a bit addictive but the sticks are not cheap.

onelifeonechance · 20/01/2014 10:04

I'm a user too, missed this thread first time round so thanks ADP for re activating! I'm ttc #1 cycle #8 and have been using the monitor for the past 4 cycles. I'm lucky in that over the course of trying and getting to know my cycles I have learnt that I tend to ov usually cd 12 or 13. As such to save money as the sticks are silly cost on top of the cost of the monitor, I just ignore it when it starts asking me for sticks and then start testing from cd 9 onwards for usually 5 days so I catch my high and peak. That way one box of 20 sticks will last 4 cycles. It doesn't seem to mess the machine up at all and it still gives me my readings. I've never heard of using old sticks afterwards, I just don't test and it just gives you a low reading after the testing window has passed. Know this won't work for everyone as depends on how regular your cycles are but for me I like the reassurance of knowing the fertile window. Still waiting mind so it's not the wonder machine that the reviews on amazon would lead you to believe but I suppose we're all different, I'm sticking with it though. Good luck ladies!!

Ps hi Sazzle Grin

Parsley2506 · 21/01/2014 14:07

Hello! I am a CBFM user and I have a question!
History: got a BFP after approx 6 cycles using it (18 cycles in total tho) but sadly lost to MMC at 1 weeks. Now in cycle 2 post MC and going to dust it off to see what's going on as my cycles are a few days longer than pre MC.

Question: AF started properly today but about 45 mins - 1hr outside my preferring testing window. When programming it tomorrow AM should I start from Day 1 or Day 2? I was thinking Day 2 as the gap between preferred testing window and proper bleed was so small, or should I stick to 'the rules' and make tomorrow Day 1?

atyourage · 21/01/2014 21:33

Hi onelife and parsley.

Sorry to hear about your MMC parsley, hopefully everything will work out for you this time round. In answer to your question, this seems to happen to me every month. I usually start AF mid morning. So I have been following the instructions and setting the monitor the next day in the preferred window as Day 1. I am a sucker for sticking to the rules, never even crossed my mind about not using all the sticks! Could have saved me a small fortune over the last few months. Mind you I would be too worried not to do as the machine tells me, would be another reason for no BFP.

onelifeonechance · 22/01/2014 08:03

Hi both. Sorry to read of your mmc parsley, fingers crossed you get lucky soon.

I read somewhere on here that fertility clinics count day 1 if your af starts before 15:30 and if it's after this time to count day one as the following day. Don't know if that helps or hinders! Know it gets bit confusing, I tend to be a rule follower but I've gone off piste this cycle!!

Parsley2506 · 22/01/2014 11:24

Thanks for your advice ladies. After a a sneaky lie in this AM I was actually later programming it than I'd anticipated anyway, so start of AF yesterday is now within my testing window so no cheating required!
Interesting to hear what fertility bods say tho, I shall remember that for my FF tracker!

I hope everyone has a lucky cycle this month! Smile

Sparkle9 · 22/01/2014 19:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onelifeonechance · 23/01/2014 06:41

Fingers crossed Sparkle! And everyone!!!! Please, please, please let it work for us all Grin

atyourage · 23/01/2014 10:00

Morning all,

I have been using this monitor now for 6 cycles now. I have a question. Usually I have a long cycle that vaires between 31-37 days. Usually get peak on days 16/17. However this month it caught me out and went stright from Low to peak on day 10 Confused.

Has anyone else gone from Low to Peak? The instructions say that the test could have been done wrong. Trust me, it was not. I set my alarm everyday to test at the same time, new sticks from the same pack etc.

So now I am on day 29, the little m has been flashing since day 25. Obviously I have been testing since then. All BFN Sad.

Anyway I am rambling now....

blamber · 23/01/2014 10:40

atyourage, Did you not set the m when you got your period? The m flashes when the monitor predicts your period is about to happen and it flashes until you tell it your period has arrived. Then the cycle starts on day 1 again.

Parsley, you would set m the next morning. A day earlier or later usually does not matter anyways. The monitor usually asks for the first stick between day 6 and 8 (depending on the length of your cycles) and you shouldn't miss your highs or peaks if it's a day later.

onelife, missing out sticks could make it less accurate as it needs to read the 'baseline', so the days where oestrogen and LH are low. It can then detect a rise in oestrogen better. What I do is I use an old stick that I know is low. Then when I know I'm nearing a rise in oestrogen, I start using new sticks.

After you get the peak it will not ask you for anymore sticks.

atyourage · 23/01/2014 13:19

blamer I did set the m when I got my period last month. It has started flashing early this cycle (day 25) and I have not got my period yet. So it is on day 29 with a flashing m still.

I did a pg test this morning and it was negative, so will just have to wait to start again.

blamber · 24/01/2014 12:05

oh I get it, so you got a peak at day 10 and now it's day 29. If your peak was early, then it will start flashing when it expects your period, which depending on your cycles is around day 24. So it makes sense that it started flashing.

It can happen that it goes from low to peak, if the LH surge happens early in the cycle, because it has not had time to measure the oestrogen surge. It might be that your body had some kind of LH surge which the monitor picked up, but you did not ovulate. Perhaps it did later, but you wouldn't have known because the monitor did not ask for sticks. In that case, your period will be later.

Do you keep track of any other signs of ovulation?

On the other hand, if you're pregnant, maybe it just takes a bit longer for a test to pick it up. HCG levels double around every 3 days, so if you think you might be pregnant, test every 3 days.

Hopefully you'll find out soon what is happening!

atyourage · 24/01/2014 17:14

Thanks for your response blamber

I have just been monitoring my cm and it did match up with what the monitor told me this month and previous months. I wonder about the not ovulating, I know this can happen sometimes that woman don't always ovulate everymonth. The same thing happend lasst month that it went stright from Low to Peak with no high.

Think I am overthinking all this. Trying to be relaxed about the whole thing. Have not been taking my temperature, I suppose it couldn't hurt to have another back up to see if monitor is correct?

Didn't test this morning, only have 1 cheapie left, so will wait another day to see if any change, or arrival if AF.

Sparkle9 · 25/01/2014 08:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Charlie343 · 25/01/2014 10:00

Hi ladies. I've invested in a CBFM this month. I haven't started using it yet so might have a few questions along the way :)

Parsley2506 · 25/01/2014 19:55

Sparkle, have you been doing that long? Ever had any differences between what your temps say and what the CBFM says? I've been wondering about temping too, in case the monitor is a bit off, as it took us so blooooooming long to conceive first time (18 months, and then the miscarriage. Thanks for that universe!) but I don't want to get too obsessive!

Charlie, welcome to the world of super luxe AKA stupidly expensive POAS!

atyourage · 26/01/2014 15:02

Well got my AF Friday so felt very sorry for myself yesterday. Had several cups of tea-with caffine in (oh what a treat) and a large glass of wine.

Have given myself mental slap about the chops and am ready to start another new cycle TTC.

Have decided to invest in digital thermometer to double check what the CBFM says.

Good luck to all

Sparkle9 · 26/01/2014 15:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blamber · 26/01/2014 17:13

atyou, sorry that AF arrived.

parsley, I temp as well. After just stopping the pill, I got a LH rise without ovulating, so I started temping. Since then, the peak and the temp rise always match. In my case, I get a temp rise the second morning after the peak.

Parsley2506 · 26/01/2014 20:16

Thanks blamber. I'm just grasping at straws a bit cos it's taking so long but the fact we did get that one BFP makes me hope that this time around we can get there a bit quicker (and keep it this time, please).

Such a stressful business sometimes!

Sparkle9 · 31/01/2014 18:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

duvetheaven · 31/01/2014 21:48

Thanks for the tip onelifeonechance. Been using the CBFM since September and rate it! Have had two conceptions (Sept and Dec/Jan) but sadly lost both as early MC.Hope 2014 is my year. I get my test sticks from accessdiagnostics.co.uk - I think they're a bit cheaper.

Parsley2506 · 31/01/2014 21:54

sparkle that is weird. I've been wondering myself what the 'high' days are actually indicated by? Is it triggered by hormones/the stick or is it just the machine 'predicting' when it thinks the ovulatory period might be coming? If it's the latter, the machine might just have got it horribly wrong and you could stick with normal OPKs for a few days to see if you get a late OV this cycle?

Parsley2506 · 31/01/2014 21:58

duvet so sorry about your MCs. I've been there, it's shit!