ovulation sticks- why do accessdiagnostics say "professional" ovulation sticks are not for home use and for professional use only ie by hosptials, gps etc? Tempted to ignore.

[theautomatic]

After 4 months of unsuccessfully trying to conceive have decided I'm going to have to go down the ovulation testing route. Didn't want to do this before as I know I will be frantically obsessing every day, madly peeing on sticks and getting stressed when I'm not ovulating when I think I should be etc etc. However, am now desperate.

Have been on accessdiagnostics website to buy some ovulation testers and was drawn to the "professional" ovulation sticks which are used in hospitals but they come with a warning "these are not for home use". But why not? They say they are easy to use so I could understand if you needed medical training to decipher the results but there's nothing in the product description to indicate the results have to be interpreted in a lab or by someone in the know. I'm tempted to ignore and buy anyway, but don't want to waster my money if it turns out I need a degree in micrbiology or something to interpret my wee!!! Anyone got any idea/have any experience.

This ttc lark is so NOT fun.

bumping for you

some women struggle with OPKs because the results can be ambiguous and add to the stress- is the line positive etc etc. I like persona because the machine works it out for me and I only have to pee on a stick on the 8 days it tells me and I get an egg symbol. I got my kit on ebay for £30 and the test sticks I get for about £8 for a months supply.

I guess the worry would be with pro sticks is that experienced people would be able to tell at a glance- shes ovulating- other people may struggle a bit? I know I was unlucky enough to get a false positive this week from a pro pregnancy stick (who knew there was a "wrong" way to wee on a stick!)

Cor I sound like a market person for persona (I'm not I assure you- clearblue do one too!) but I like it because its not stressful- have been using it for the 3 years (initially as contraception- now for TTC) good thing about it too is if you were to get one- you can use it for rest of your life (or as long as persona kit lasts!) to avoid or try to concieve!

I'm using accessdiagnostics ovulation sticks at the moment. Finding it pretty straightforward to read results.

Have tried Persona too but as my cycle lengths are 35+ days Persona not really suitable for me.

Hmm maybe I need to consider persona rather than sticks. The price has always put me off to be honest, but Thandeka it sounds from your experience ebay is a good place to try and buy one, off to ebay for me...

theautomatic - have you read this book?

I would really recommend it, and it might perhaps shed some light on why you have not conceived yet. 4 months really isn't a long time, but I know it probably feels like it!

Good luck.

Mawbroon, thanks. Haven't read this book, but looks useful. I note its currently out of stock so must be popular. You're right 4 months isn't long but I was lucky enough to get pregnant first time of trying with dd so naively assumed would conceive easily again. Bit worried as had lots of infections after giving birth, hope this hasn't affected my fertility

Actually they legally have to say that if they do not supply full instructions and the packs may be split and used when instructions are not around. I used them, they were fine.