Tracking your ovulation with an app

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Hi all

Can anyone help a newbie with Ovulation apps?

I use the Period Checker app just to log my period but it also had a fertile window and ovulation prediction day feature. We have just started TTC. It said I would ovulate on 9th April. We DTD on 7th and 9th April (I know probably not enough!)

Unfortunately, my period came two days early making my usually always 28 cycle 26 days. Now the app shows my ovulation as 6th April. Does this mean I missed it? Is the app just recalculating because he period has arrived?

I'm resisting using ovulation sticks mainly because I don't understand how to use em and because we haven't been trying that long so if it doesn't happen for a while (especially with Covid-19) that's okay but I would like to at least understand tracking on an app of anyone has had a similar experience?

This month's plan is every other day from 7 days after period to 2 ovulation. Hopefully that's a better idea.

Can anyone help?

Honestly, apps are based on algorithms. I started out using flo and wasn’t getting pregnant, the first month of using clear blue ovulation sticks I got pregnant. And when comparing with my app I was ovulating several days later.

Hmm I see @peachypetite . Do you literally have to test everyday and then when you get the smiley face DTD?

To be honest as long as you DTD every couple of days you have a good chance. Sperm can live in you for up to 24 hours. Tracking things can sometimes put to much pressure on, believe me I know.

Sperm can survive for 5 days. The egg is good for 12-24 hrs.

If you ovulated on 6th and had sex on 7th then you could definitely be pregnant.

I do agree with PP though, just have sex every other day from about day five until day 18 and then you should have all bases covered!

DTD every 2-3 days from CD7/8 to CD20 and you won't have to use tests really. If you do though there are both the smiley face ones from clear blue or the cheap dip sticks you can buy online. They all come with plenty of instructions and aren't as difficult as they originally look!

To answer your question though, yes it's recalculated based on when your period arrived. If it assumes you ovulate on eg CD14 and your first day of your period is CD1 then if your period is early it assumes your ovulation will follow suit. Does that make sense?

When I first started tracking I used flo, Fitbit, and Ovia all have my ovulation around day 14/15 of a 30 day cycle. Pretty standard, but after a few months nothing happened so I started ovulation testing. Which is really easy by the way, and turns out I get my peak on CD20 so I had been missing my window by almost a week.
After 2 months I was pregnant, unfortunately it ended in a miscarriage. I’m back to monitoring ovulation now.

I find I get better results in the evening not with first morning urine.
I use the premom app to take photos of the strips.

Hi the app's aren't great as pp said they assume when you ovulate based on your period. OPKs can be a pain but I'd say start with the cheap ones "one step" are good test from cd10 once a day when you think the second line is appearing test twice a day ideally as you can track the line getting darker. I find sticking the tests to a page in a notebook good so I can track the dates etc. Look at your vitamins etc to make sure you are giving yourself every chance. Have a look at the sperm meets egg plan essentially you have sex every other day from CD10 to ovulation then every day from ovulation (so for two days) and then one day after. Good luck!

So with clear blue before you get static smiley you get flashing smiley. You want to have sex in the run up to ovulation (static smiley) too and of course on the day! they are more expensive than the cheap paper ones but a lot of people seem to really struggle interpreting them so I think the clear blue are worth the money.

Hi
Fairly new to tracking too but I used ovulation sticks this month (exactly the same as you I was very confused and I’m still getting my head around it!) but I found that I ovulated around 5 days later than what my apps have been telling me - even though it usually gets my period day right.

If you wanted to look into it in the future I would recommend the Femometer app because all you do is take a picture of the ovulation kit lines and it interprets the results for you. Clue is another good one as well I think, but like others are saying they are only as accurate as the information you give, they definitely get more accurate the longer you use them. It’s been around 6 months for me and my period day now is pretty much spot on every month.
Good luck ☺️

Thanks everyone for your replies and the info re Clearblue. Interesting how many days the app can be out by.

I think I will continue stumbling in the darkness for a bit (just because I don't mind if it takes a while) but when I get impatient I will stop being a baby and get some ovulation kits.

This has been really helpful. Good luck with all your BFPs xxx

So after a discussion with DH I've takenyour advice and bought ovulation sticks. Clear Blue ones (2 days and sort of wish I bought 4 days) we decided might as well put our best foot forward.

I learn so much from the forum!

Good luck everyone xxx