Ovulation sticks - when to start testing?

[Laura66615]

Does anyone know best day to start testing after AF?

I have bought the sticks that give you "high" and "peak" from clearblue

Usually have a 26-30 day cycle so does go up and down each month.

Wondering whether to start testing from CD8? is that too early? should I be testing multiple times a day too?

Sorry for all the questions! new to this!

Hey, I can’t really help as I don’t use the same tests but I k ow mine are on or after the 13th day so I test 2x a day from day 10/11 then 3/4 times a day from day 12/13 depending on if there is a faint like there. I do more than advised as the first few months I missed mine as I usually get my peak last thing at night about 10pm. Hope something in here helps you x

I never got on with the urine ones at all so can't help. Blood tests showed that I do ovulate, but I never got a positive on the sticks. I used a re-usable saliva one. Used it for years and easier than the sticks.

I did once a day from CD 10 then twice a day once it got dark becuase it peaks in just a few hours. Then once a day until its faint again just to make sure.

Thank you all!
I am with you on the testing a couple of times a day but just seems expensive when it's the Clearblue ones! they aren't cheap are they.

I think I will start from CD8 as I do think I ovulate a bit earlier.

Anyone TTC this month and want to join me?

I will join. Im currently on cd8. Where are you in your cycle?

I tried clear blue but I found the easy at home ones worked better for me.

My cycle is usually 32 days, ovulate around cd 18/19. However this was before ds. We have just started ttc again and I’m assuming it will be similar but who knows. I will start on cd10 and check daily, then likely test twice a day from cd16 (aiming for 10am and 5pm but on days I go into work it will vary a bit).

Last time I also did bbt at 6am and that worked really well, however now I get up in the early morning for the toilet or if ds cries so I might just skip it and see how the lh tests go.

@Blue2020 fab! I am on CD6 so a couple of days behind you!

I had a MC in November at 5 weeks and my periods came back pretty much right away. I didn’t go back on the pill or anything but I do think my body has taken a while to adjust again so I think the Flo app has been way out on predicting ovulation.

ive never tracked properly before but i did have an ultrasound last month and it showed if just ovulated on CD14 so I’m hopeful they are getting back to normal now.
I’ve used the easy at home ones but never got a positive so I thought a flashing smiley might be better who knows! 😂

it’s all so stressful isn’t it!

i never got a positive with easy @home, as long as it gets darker that’s your peak. They’re so much cheaper! Worked for me twice

@Peonies12 to have a peak reading on any cheap dip stick test the line has to be as dark or darker than the rest line. Just having a line is not enough.

Has anyone been successful with the clear blue flashing smileys?

@Laura66615 what time did you use the easy at home tests? It says it shouldn’t be fmu, ideally after 10am, I tend to do it at 10am and then again at 5pm. I tend to get the peak by the late afternoon.

Also we might ovulate at a similar time if you typically ovulate around cd14, I don’t usually ovulate until cd18/19 so I still have another week to go. Currently cd10.

@Blue2020 I can’t remember but I do think I was probably testing too early into my cycle.
im still trying to learn about it all. It’s just so overwhelming.

I’m CD7 now so I’ll probably leave it until CD10? since the MC it’s been a bit up in the air with cycle dates sometimes 26 and sometimes 30 which wasn’t the case before.

Have you been TTC for long?
I do think since the MC it’s kind of taken the innocence and excitement that comes with TTC, now I’m just scared and worried it won’t happen again

@Laura66615 I suppose if you sometimes have a 26 day cycle, and assuming your luteal phase (ovulation until next period) is 13/14 days then you could potentially ovulate on day 12. I suppose cd9 or 10 could be fine.

This is my first proper cycle ttc#2. I came off the mini pill at the start of May and then I had delayed ovulation due to illness. I’m now on cd11, so I think I still have another week until ovulation.

I know what you mean. In 2022 I started ttc, conceived but then had a mmc. It took three months of trying after that to conceive again and I was convinced I would have another mc, it took until I was 20 weeks to relax and hope that I might get a baby at the endz. Even though I’m trying for a second I still have that thought, what if it ends in a mc. I miss that innocence too of thinking it will end with a baby in 9ish months time.

Bless you @Blue2020 - it is really hard.
Did you track ovulation to get pregnant again?
im just worried it’s going to take forever although this is going to be my first month tracking ovulation.
i did a test today but it’s only CD8 so got an O for not fertile on clear blue.
will keep testing but I’m all new to it so I’m sure I haven’t got it 100% right

@Laura66615 the very first time I didn’t track it I used my cm. After the mmc I did track because my periods became light so I wanted to check I was ovulating and also make sure we didn’t miss the window. I used lh for the peak and bbt to confirm ovulation, it took three cycles. I’m glad I tracked because the cycle I conceived I was 6 days late ovulating and we would have given up DTD and missed it if I relied on cm or ‘predicted ovulation day’ alone.

I have started ttc#2 now and I am tracking again. Although it’s a bit more relaxed at the minute. It’s my first proper cycle after the mini pill.

@Blue2020 that’s crazy isn’t it how it can sometimes differ so much per month. I hope I actually get a peak this month after all the testing🤦🏽‍♀️
what cycle day are you on now? X

@Laura66615 sorry I missed your message. I am still waiting for the peak too this cycle. I’m now on cd15. I usually have it around cd18 so we will see.

What day are you on now?

@Blue2020 have you got the flashing smileys?
im on CD12 and second day of the flashing - I’m getting annoyed by them already.

i reckon I’ll get peak on cd14 or 15 but I’m reading so much about these sticks not giving a peak on the first month etc.

also have you looked at the refill situ? I can’t see anywhere where you can just buy the sticks and not the whole test kit again.

@Laura66615 ah no I’m using the easy at home cheap tests (and Premom app). I did initially use clear blue in 2022 but I got confused with it when it kept giving me a flashing smily face and then a solid smiley face but my bbt didn’t agree with it so I think it might have been user error on my part. I decided to just use the cheap tests and bbt. Im using them again now. I use the Premom app to read the test as a photo and it tells me the dates/times/cd day and if it’s low/high/peak. Then for bbt and other data such as cm/sex I use the fertility friend app. I have two apps, Premom can also plot the bbt as well but I like the UI and charts of fertility friend a bit more.

I have just seen a bit of a lh rise so I might have a peak tomorrow, and possibly ovulate on cd17. I hope so anyway.

Good luck and hopefully you will ovulate in the next few days as well. Hopefully we both will.

I just got a static smiley and it's day 13... a bit early no?

If static is the equivalent to peak lh then it means you will ovulate in about ~24hr to 36hrs depending where you read online. However clear blue might give you more information. I guess if they pick up the initial increase in lh to tell you your fertile window then maybe you have a few days until ovulation? Eg ovulate day 15? I guess cd14-15 then?

I just saw your initial post say 26-30 day cycles. I don’t know how long your luteal phase is but if it’s ~14 days then that would put it at a 28-29 day cycle and in your usual range.

Ovulation sticks - when to start testing? | Mumsnet

Thank you @Blue2020
dtd this morning to be sure and will do tomorrow and Thursday! I’m just getting so confused by it all.
such to think about 😂 x

@Laura66615 oh I know, it can be confusing even after reading up about it all. That’s probably the best approach really, the moment you think you’re close just dtd a few times. It is a fertile window, so as long as it’s around ovulation time, even a few days before is still good. Good luck with the upcoming tww.