re: TTC - should we buy a fertility monitor and if so,which one

[AnguaVonUberwald]

me and DP are TTC, havn't been trying for very long, only about three months, but I am 31 and DP is 41 so we want to get on with it.

I find the idea of taking temperatures really stressful - I wake up at different times each morning, remembering not to move before taking the temp etc, so don't really want to do that. plus I have a strange pattern of AF (3 weeks/5weeks/3weeks) so not sure about predicting ovulation dates.

The question is, is it worth buying a fertility monitor, and if so which one? Would it cope with the fact that my AF is in a two month pattern rather than a one month pattern?

I find the idea of spending months and months taking temps, having to have sex to a strict regime that might not even be accurate etc, quite stressful and the fertility monitor seems to be the more accurate way of doing this.

What do you think? Good idea or rushing into it all?

bump! Anyone?

Is it the way I asked the question?

I have bought (but not used) the clearblue fertility monitor. It would not make any difference how long your cycles are as it measures hormones from day 6 and will then tell you when you are approaching your peak fertility time and when you are at your peak. There is thread on this ttc board where quite a few people have bought one recently and are keeping eachother up to date.
One other thing, if you do go for the clearblue one then look on ebay, I bought a brand new one, sealed, for about £60 and they are nearly £100 in boots. You can buy the testing sticks on ebay too, the kit doesn't come with any so I would buy at least 20 sticks to start with.
I am like you, could never do temping as up quite often with sick children, etc, and do like the odd glass of wine which also affects this!
Good luck!

Thanks Janus. have looked on E-bay - but how do you find the sticks there? what do they call them? Could only find the fertility monitor itself.

Have seen the thread about the clear blue monitor. I guess I was wondering if anyone else would suggest a different one, and also if it was silly for us to start using it this early.

I have to say I find the thought of taking temps etc really stressful!

p.s. good luck with ttc.