Fertility tracker (Ava/OvuSense) any recommendations?

[SnarkyGorgon]

Hi, I’ve been lurking around these boards for the past 3.5 years that I’ve been TTC. Was due to start IVF on the nhs last June, but found out I was pregnant while I was waiting to phone the clinic to get them to send the meds. Sadly that one and only pregnancy ended in a very traumatic mmc in July. We’re now waiting to hear if I’ll ever be eligible for nhs IVF now, or if there are any more tests that they can do. All tests so far have been absolutely normal, so no clue as to why I’m not getting pregnant.

In the meantime, in a bid to try and take back control, I’ve been looking into a more accessible fertility tracker. In the early days I was temping, but I sleep badly and it was making me crazy. I’ve peed on so many sticks and now find OPKs depressing. So I wondered if any of you have tried out one of the more snazzy gizmos and if they are any good? I just want to feel like I’m doing something, especially as both my dsis and best friend are about to pop with their second since we’ve been trying.

Any advice much appreciated, or just ranting about how shit all of this is.

I'm so sorry to hear about your journey :(
Some people really don't like it, but I use (and love!) Flo. Just embarking on our second TTC and I don't know what I'd do without it. You can add all sorts of symptoms and it adapts to everything for you. It may be worth a download. Wishing you all the luck 🍀

Thanks wingingit I’ve been using a range of apps for years, they’re useful for providing info when I have doctor’s appointments, but other than that, and without plugging in other information, they’re a bit meh! I think I need a more accurate way of taking my temperature/other signifiers so that I can add that info into the apps. My cycles aren’t the most regular and I’m worried that we’re missing the most fertile days.

Glad you’re finding flo useful though, good luck ttc

Bump!

I would thoroughly recommend Ovusense. You might not be ovulating when you think. I have mild pcos and pretty much didn't think I was ovulating but I was just very sporadically. Thanks to Ovusense I fell pregnant the first time we tried but sadly a mmc like yourself. It's absolutely devastating isn't it!? Mine was in February at 12 weeks with surgery. I'm still not ok physically or mentally. I also had a chemical pregnancy straight after.

Anyway Ovusense is easy to use and very very accurate. As it measures core temperature you don't have to worry about moving in bed or temping at a particular time. You just wake up and upload it within an hour. Here is a chart from it. Good luck! Xx

Hello! I use Ava, and have been very very impressed with it. You just wear it at night and as long as you get 4 hours sleep it records your temp, uploads right to your phone when you wake up. Also records your heart rate and other bits too (but HR and temps are the only ones I’ve ever been interested in). For me, it has been bang-on accurate.
They are expensive though, definitely an investment. For me I went for it as had been trying for a long time. Got mum BFP this past Monday.
There’s lots of discount codes for Ava around and I think I have one so if you decide to go for one let me know and I’ll share it :)

Thanks cat, that’s really interesting. I think the thing that’s putting me off OvuSense is the umm, internal nature of it. I’m also not sure about then subscription thing.

I’m so sorry about your mmc, I had the surgery too, though only after going into an incomplete labour. It was horrendous and I’m terrified of it happening again.

Try and look after yourself, mine was almost a year ago and I’m still not ok, I think it’ll take getting pregnant again and actually having a baby before I am properly ok again.

Yes it's not for everyone @SnarkyGorgon but I find it comfortable and forget it's there. It's the best thing for my irregular cycles because I don't think Ava can be used if over 35 days. Mine are even worse after my losses at 50 odd days. Did your cycles regulate?

I'm sorry to hear you're still finding it tough. I'm not sure it ever goes away. It's such a traumatic thing to happen. Totally takes the innocence out of pregnancy. Also sounds physically gruelling for you. I hope we both get our Rainbow babies soon! Any questions about Ovusense let me know! Xx

Massive congratulations MrsEG on you bfp, clearly the Ava has worked for you! I think it’s the one I’m leaning towards, it’s just so expensive! I like the fact that you can just pop it on your wrist and forget about it... hmmm, more thinking to do! I may well hit you up for a referral code though!

Wow Cat 50 day cycles sound awful. That must be really hard to keep track of. Mine got back to normal pretty quickly, but I think everyone’s body reacts differently.

You’re right about the mc making me view pregnancy differently. I think I thought that because we’d been trying for so long and the timing of my bfp just seemed like it was meant to be, made it all the more shocking when we went for our scan. I think about all those people who manage to sail through getting pregnant and having a baby and just can’t fathom it. My friends were all discussing how they were planning on timing their dc’s age gap to work out perfectly with nursery etc and I just wanted to scream at them. It’s turning me into a monster

Yeah it's a challenge for sure. I knew it would be hard when I tried for a family, that's why it was amazing to fall pregnant straight away on our honeymoon. Like you say perfect timing makes it feel even more right. I thought I'd avoided the stress of trying with long cycles. Yes it's annoying when blissfully ignorant ladies sail through and have control over it. Simply not fair when it's so hard for others. It's not their fault but I do wish they'd have a bit more awareness that its difficult for us. Anyway I'm on another thread called: 'First Pregnancy Missed Miscarriage' It's a lovely group and it's got me through some very dark times. You're more than welcome to join us. You'll have to let us know how Ava is if you go for it. I heard they're trialing it for longer cycles so it may be I make the switch from Ovusense but hopefully won't be trying for that long. Maybe trying for baby number 2 when it comes out with any luck. xx

Thanks Cat, I’ve seen that board on the active screen but never been brave enough to click on it, not sure why, just feels a bit raw I guess. I’ll try and take the plunge though, it can be very isolating this infertility business. Good luck, I really hope you get your rainbow baby soon

I have both and would say OvuSense is more accurate.

@SnarkyGorgon I've tried a few of the threads an can honestly say I've felt the most comfortable on that one. Everyone's different though and I can understand finding talking about it tough. If you fancy having a chat just tag me on here or come say hello on the other thread. Good luck to you too! Xx

Oooh, that’s really interesting line, is that the app or the appliance itself?

Thanks Cat, that’s really good to know, I may well do that

I get the impression you're right @lineobsession Someone just did this comparison on the Ovusense Facebook group.

Core temp is much more accurate than skin.

Hello lovely, thank you :) I have also suffered MC before now and the Ava really kept me sane when we tried again.

I found my code for £20 off should you decide it’s right for you - here you go avawomen.ref-r.com/c/i/12607/30450633

Good luck with it all xx

It's the predictions with ovusense that I find better (I have never agreed with Ava on my ovulation date) and also one month I clearly had a very long cycle ovusense didn't confirm ovulation until much later and low and behold AF arrived exactly 14 days later. Ava said i ovulated earlier which didn't make sense as my temps weren't up.
If you're worried about the internal thing with ovusense you really don't notice it.
The only issue I have with it is sometimes it doesn't sync and you only have 2 hours or the data is lost so it can take some time in the morning when you're rushing for work .

@lineobsession I have very long irregular cycles and it's been spookily right with mine.

I've had the same problem with syncing too. The new app seems to have made that better. Xx

So I went ahead and bought an Ava, it cane pretty promptly and so I’ve been using it for a couple of days. It seems to be pretty good so far, I like all the stats, though obviously I need to use it for a few months before I get the hang of it.

I ended up plumping for it over the OvuSense because I’d read some studies about temp rises not being an exact indication, some women having their rise more than 2 days after ovulation.

I’ll pop back and report once I’ve got more of a hang of it if anyone finds it useful. Thanks so much to everyone so far for sharing their experiences

@SnarkyGorgon hi, I've just bought and Ava watch and desperate to get going with it. How long did yours take to arrive?

Hi tinyole I ordered it on a Friday night (dutch courage!) and I think it arrived on the following Thursday, so much quicker than I’d thought. It’s been really good so far, I don’t notice I’m wearing it at night and it has clearly shown that I’ve ovulated this month, so I’m pretty pleased so far. Let me know how it goes

I'm currently very tempted by these - glad to hear it has detected ovulation for you this cycle! We've been TTC a year now, and I'm mainly temping. I want something that can predict my ovulation day with a bit more warning than OPKs - I've had an ectopic and 2 early miscarriages in the past year, so my cycles have been all over the place and most predictions the apps give me are wrong. The price tag puts me off, I've already spent loads on Glow and Natural Cycles and OPKs 😬 let us know how you get on!! If it works for you I may very well have to buy one!

mussie I’m so sorry to hear about you mcs and ectopic, that’s must be heartbreaking. It’s very like temping, but with more info and I think less hassle. I’m finding it quite reassuring that it’s giving me so many details, I think after so long it feels like I’m taking back control a bit. I’ve also been adding the temps with previous apps, to get their predictions and cross reference data- I may be going a bit overboard!

I think it’s going to take a few months for it to really get to grips with the data, still early days but I’m pleased with it so far. If you decide to bite the bullet and order it I have a discount code you can use if you like