Clear blue Digital Ovulation Test: the curse of the smiley faces.

[sassyscholar72]

I've always had fairly regular periods,uses to be every 28 days and lately every 31 days. This month I purchased a clear blue digital ovulation test as my partner and I are trying to conceive (apologies I don't know all the abbreviations yet). The instructions advised me to start testing on day 11 of my cycle- but it slipped my mind so I started testing on day 14. The first day I got an empty circle symbol,indicating 'low fertility'. The second day, (day 15 of my cycle) I got a flashing smiley face,indicating 'high fertility'. However it is now 6 days that I'm getting these smiley flashing faces with no sign (as yet) of a static smiley face which would indicate 'peak fertility' and possibly ovulation.

Does this suggest that I haven't- and will not ovulate?
Should I continue testing in the hope I get a static smiley face? (I have one test left in the pack)so this would mean getting a brand new test.
Is a static smiley face a definite predictor of ovulation?
Should I just wait to have my fertility testing later this month at my local hospital?
Any advice,feedback or suggestions would be great and thanks in advance

Help!

I'm going through a similar thing would be interested if anyone has any advice! Didn't mean to write the help comment

I've also just started using these.

I think (I may be wrong) that the reason you test before your fertile period is to give the indicator a 'base line' of your normal hormones. If you've tested first in your fertile window maybe that's messed it up? I may be totally out on that though.

I have a question too; the static smiley, does that mean you have ovulated that day of is that the peak surge and means you will ovulate within the next 12-36 hours?

My understanding is that it means you are about to ovulate within the next 24-48 hours,especially as the static smiley face appears for 2 days.

Hope that helps?
And thanks for your feedback.

I am also struggling with ovulation test kits although I'm using internet cheapies. I've been tracking for three months now (although this is the first month of ttc since coil removal) and in those 3 months I've not detected the LH surge. The only positive result I've had was the day before my period as apparently the LH surges again then....annoying!! My cycle is between 30 and 35 days so it's hard to know when to test but I'm going for day 14 onwards.

Sorry I think you're more accurate with 12-36 hours

I think you shouldn't worry about the lack of LH surge. I've heard about women who had no smiley face whatsoever and still ovulated. I think my worry is that this test will make me become paranoid about my fertility and encourage me to see myself as having a 'problem'.

I started using the Boots one on Sunday CD11 (I have on average a 27 day cycle) got a negative. Moved to clear blue digital yesterday got a blank circle. This morning got a flashing smile so after reading this wonder if I'll suffer the same prob?

This is my first cycle TTC and I'm not sure of the science stuff behind clear blue but I figure DTD every other day should cover it?

Argh such a minefield

It's hard knowing what to do. A friend of mine who's a GP has this advice: have sex every other day after the end of your period and continue until your next period! He doesn't like ovulation kits!

Keep us posted London Lady!

Sassy that's pretty much our tactic atm. I guess I just want to know when I'm ovulating (and that I am, my body's crapped out on me too much recently)

We also plan on every day for the next 36 hours (got a solid smiley today)

don't blame him for not liking the sticks - sounds ridiculous but can't tell you how disheartening it was to get two negatives in a row. Haha even typing that out I realize what a drama queen I sound like.

I shall indeed keep you guys posted! This whole dtd malarkey while working isn't half knackering lol

That's great Kitty!

London Lady I hear ya! I wake up at 6.30 every morning and the thought of peeing on a stick when I can't remember what my name is is torture!

The ones I used either had a sad face or a smiley face, there wasn't anything else. This is a few years back, though. They did work for me.

That's good to know RiverTam

Got another flashing smiley face this morning,that's 7 in a row

Hi Sassy. I too have been using these and I love them. Please dont be put off by lots of flashy smilies. I know the instructions say you should have around 2 days of flashy smilies before a static. Some months I have had 8 before getting a static smile. The first month I wanted to smack that silly flashy smile off its face!!!! Best to dtd every second day of you having lots of flashy faces, you can still concieve its just more likely to happen on a static day. Good luck.

Thank you Dollydewdrop I feel much better now. Have a great day

Morning all, second day of flashing smile and I'm CD14. I guess, sassy, that flashing smiles is good than none at all?! Who knows.

Have a good day all

Good morning!stupid question ladies but do you use the same clear blue stick all cycle or are there multiple sticks in the box? The internet cheapies are peeing me off (literally) as you have to pee in a pot and dip rather than poas so I'm kind of limited to home.

banana I use clear blue digital ov stick (first timer) I bought a pack of 10. You insert a stick before use and eject once used so quite portable (I prefer taking a sample in a pot but each to their own). Good luck x

Hey Banana! I bought the pack with 10 test sticks. I have now run out. The recommendation is that I buy a completely new pack now as you can't buy the test sticks on their own (well at least the clearblue ones). I imagine that I would have to buy the 20 pack one now.
Hope that makes sense for your scenario. I've heard women say that they use the cheaper brands for the days leading up to ovulation and then the digital ones for high fertility/peak fertility days.

Yes that makes sense, thanks. I'll give them a go. Not selling the individual strips sounds like a wonderful way to make lots of money for Clearblue

I only use the ICs but I usually have a week or more of a long that gets stronger and then all of a sudden I'll get a positive for two days in a row (I O the day after my first +). Your body could still be working up to O and it just takes a little while. I don't O until around CD 18 but have also Oed as late as CD28!

Of a line, not of a long!