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

Right I'm going to sound like a nutter but tested this morning clear blue got a flashing smiley for second day. Thought I'd test on a Boots one just now and got negative?!

Hi all, thought I'd pitch in here...

I am using the clearblue ovulation sticks (the purple ones). Last month I had a textbook ovulation: two days of an empty circle, three days of flashing smileys followed by a solid smiley face. I started testing on CD8 (of a 27/28 day cycle). This month, I tried the same, started testing on CD8, got 4 days of empty circles, followed by 5 days of flashing smileys and finally a solid smiley this morning. The past three days I've also used the pink clearblue tests when I've come in from work (after holding in wee for four hours) and they've all come up negative, even though I got a solid smiley on the purple tests this morning. This has completely confused me. I am glad I'm not alone here with this ovulation confusion! x

It's like ovulation lottery! I wonder whether trying different tests simultaneously messes up the readings? (I'm clutches at straws here). Either way that's really frustrating and I'm starting to feel a bit annoyed at Clear blue! After my 7th flashing smiley today I decided not to buy another pack and am going to wait until my fertility testing at the end of the month. I think I was scared that I wouldn't get a solid smiley face

Haha hope we all have better luck than playing the normal lottery!
sassy maybe that's best - certain to have more of an idea of what's going on, not to mention someone to ask all the questions to!
About to throw phone out of window because Ovia, which just started using this week, recalculated my fertile window from tomorrow being peak to yesterday being the peak!
Driving self mad

Yes I've been driving myself mad too I originally got the ovulation kit so we could start getting excited with baby planning but the truth is that at my age (43) I'm probably going to have a very bumpy ride ahead

Hang in there Londonlady! You will get the outcome that you want

I guess it's that sense of the unknown - when it's something like your health you're only in control to a certain extent I suppose. Just wish I was one of those types who was able to relax more and enjoy it!
Clear blue update - got a static smiley today so seems to be ticking along ok. Just need to ensure OH is up for it (ahem)

That's brilliant London Lady! Hope all goes according to plan!

Am also driving myself mad and no sign of anything on the ICs I am also tempted to just throw them in the bin but I can't bring myself to. CM seems to be non-existant this month too.

How's everyone doing? banana any more luck? sassy how about you?

Still nothing!!Testing twice a day now with ICs but nothing. I've had ewcm (tmi) the last couple of days so we are going for it anyway. OH is happy. How about you Londonlady did you make the most of your static smiley?

btw how do you 'tag' people on here?

Hey Londonlady thanks for checking in. I've been wondering whether I should have continued testing with a new pack as am curious as to whether I ovulated this month. But have my hospital tests on 31st so am trying to be patient until then.
How are you? Feeling positive about your static smiley?

Keep the faith Banana! Don't let those tests hold you back!

I found a small leaflet in the box with my CB ovulation test that tells you how common it is to get flashing smileys for 2 days, 3 days, 4 days and so on. It also tells you when to give up testing if you don't get a solid smiley. Sorry I don't have it to hand but check inside the box, separate from the instructions

banana sorry the tests aren't showing much but yes might as well just go for it and see what happens? I reread the leaflet and it said for a 26 day cycle (my average) I should have been testing from CD6 not CD11 which is what I did, so not sure if I've followed it wrong after all...

sassy that's great you've got a date in the diary to keep you focused, though I bet it's annoying having to do the waiting game!

My update - I'm officially in luteal phase. Solid smiley Thursday cd15 which lasts 2 days according to pack. Tested on Friday with boots and was +ve. Dtd Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Right this is my turn to tmi but as I've always used condoms I'm not used to the, er, practicalities of dtd without. Is it normal for stuff to come out shortly afterwards?! (Argh I'm cringing writing sorry)

Besides all this I've been shattered today. Shortly after posting earlier I fell asleep and can't muster any energy!

London that sounds like me. Positive tues so dtd the, weds and thurs.

In regards to the 'loosing it all' after I use a mooncup or a soft cup with a bit of pre-seed lubricant right after.

I know they're menstrual cup it they keep everything in and close to the cervix. The mooncup worked last time we were ttc dd1. This in my first month using softcups and pre-seed so I'll find out in 22nd if it's worked or not.

Sounds positive London and Kitty! It's amazing you can be so precise with the EOD moving into every day for 3 days. Do your OHs realise the military precision taking place or are they just grateful...?!

Haha banana a bit of both! ;-)

Hope everyone is well today

Hi ladies,

I'm new to the clearblue digital ovulation tests after 11 months TTC. I started testing the day after I was supposed to, got 3 low fertility faces, and now i'm on my 6th flashing face, I want to smash it against the wall! My app says I should have ovulated on Thursday (although I know an app isn't 100% accurate) But in your experience is it likely I won't ovulate this cycle? I only have one test left for tomorrow and will go made if I have to buy a new packet!

Hey Villagefete! Sorry for the late reply. Firstly,don't despair. I know of women who got 7+ flashing smiles and then a static smile indicating ovulation. I personally got 7,run out of test sticks and didn't bother getting a new kit,so Lord knows whether I ovulated at all. And here's the other thing. Not every woman ovulated every month (even perfectly healthy young women with no fertility issues). So keep trying because apparently you could still get pregnant. Hope that makes sense.

How is every one getting on?
My fertility hospital appointment is next Friday. Bit nervous!

Sorry Rubberduck we've all drifted away from this thread. I'm sorry for your loss . Lots of OPK chat happening on the summer busses, come on over

Hi Rubberduck. I'm really sorry for the delayed response I've been away. I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope that you are doing okay and feeling more like yourself. I know what you mean about the OPK. I've had the same experience of you: one day of circle and then loads of flashing smiley faces. I don't have the answers but I've heard a lot of women say that they got a static smile (peak) after many days of flashing ones (like after 9+ days) but I've also heard the opposite which is not getting any flashing smiles but still falling pregnant. I think the general consensus is that you should still DTD on the flashing smiley faces days as you're still able to get pregnant. Also,not every woman ovulates every month even when she has a period (and this includes fertile women with no health issues). Not sure if you knew that,I certainly didn't but it may help to explain things. I'm trying clearblue OPK for the second time this cycle. I did exactly what the instructions told me to do and I've got (so far) the exact same outcome as last time: first day circle,second day flashing smiley face......last time I didn't get a static smile and it looks the same this month. Very Frustrating. Let us know how you get on. Have your GP recommended anything? Hope you have a good day Rubberduck.

Ladies today is my 4th day of using the OPK and I wasn't going to bother because I knew it would be another flashing smiley face- but instead I got a static smiley face! Which would suggest that I ovulate earlier than I thought and perhaps last month I just missed my peak fertility period because I started testing later than advised on instructions. I just wanted to put this out here on this thread in case anyone else experienced the same. I'm none the wiser!