can I have your experiences of using the clear blue monitor

[crazedupmom]

Hi
This is my first cycle of using it after 14 months of ttc without success.
I got a high reading yesterday on day 15 and its still reading high today cd 16.
Does anybody know how long I can expect it to stay on high before it goes to peak.
Also does anybody know how long the egg can be fertilised for once you have ovulated and how long sperm can live inside a womans body for.
Has this monitor helped anyone to concieve on here and what were your experiences of using it.

Bumping for you.

Hi crazedupmum - I used the CB monitor to help conceive my 11mo ds. It took 9 cycles. For the first 5 cycles I used to have maybe 4-5 lows, 2-3 highs, 2 peaks, 1 high, 1 low with the peaks being on day 12/13 or 13/14. Then I had a couple of months with 8 lows in a row then a peak out of the blue which caught me off guard but my ds was conceived on one of these 'funny' months with ovulation on day 21. That month I had 13 lows in a row and the monitor wanted me to do 20 sticks rather than the ten. These days I stop testing after the peak as it will always give you a second peak after the first then you can guarantee it will drop away so no point testing. I have a pretty regular 28 day cycle so the monitor was invaluable in proving that I do not always ov on day 14 so keep testing as long as it asks you.
Hope this helps

What are your menstrual cycles like?.

If they are irregular it is no point whatsoever in using one of these monitors. Waste of both your time and money.

I would also add that if you have been ttc for over a year without success it is better to seek medical advice sooner rather than later and ask for a referral to a subfertility unit. You are beyond the stage of using such things anyway.

These kits measure LH but are beset with problems. These kits also assume that there is only one rise in LH every month and that such a rise is immediately followed by ovulation. Both are simply NOT TRUE.

Following on from ATM's comment above I want to add I also charted my temperature for 6 months which mirrored the readings from the monitor which I found especially reassuring on the months when I had lots of low readings in a row. I guess if you have used the monitor once you have already bought it so want to carry on having made the investment. A really good book on conception is 'Taking charge of your fertility' by Toni Weschler - it has the answers to all of your questions and more. I found it really enlightening if a little overly detailed.

Hi crazedupmom, I too have a clearblue fertility monitor and while i appreciate Attila's comments, i find it exptremely invaluable! My cycles are irregular and it gives me piece of mind and helps me to BD at the right time of the month.
For example, this month my cycle went a bit haywire so i ended up ovulating on CD24!! If i hadn't been using my fertility monitor then i would have stopped trying way too early and would have missed my chance this month. While it is a bit scary when it STILL says high after about 10 sticks, it is very reassuring when it eventually goes to peak.
I'm not 7DPO into my 2WW so watch this space!
Good luck with ttc!

oop that was meant to be "i am now 7DPO" doh!

Hi
Thanks for all of your comments I am now on cd 18 and I still have a high reading, however my cycles are very irregular in length anything from 26 days up to 44.
I think maybe some cycles it may be no good for me if I have any more 44 day cycles but I figure its worth a go.
After all if it doesn,t detect my lh surge by the end of 20 sticks I will just carry on with bd until af arrives in case ovulation occurs after I have carried out every test.

Great attitude! plus it learns your cycle so may not ask for such an early start next time to save some sticks. Good luck