Which kit is most recommended?

[Zara1234uk]

Hi everyone! Myself and my partner are going ahead with our known donor in February and it will be the first time we have done this. I just wondered if anyone could help with any advice or tips! Which syringe or method ect? I’ve been looking online at the pride angel kits and I’m leaning more to a syringe with an extender?
We will be using ovulation strips from boots and a clear blue smiley, still figuring out when’s best to start this as I have a 28 day cycle! Ovulation is est 17th feb and we’re having to book a hotel close to our donor which is about an hour away.
I did put a post on another thread but unfortunately I got no response (kinda seemed like a private thread ) so any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks and good luck to everyone on this journey.

I get a kit from ebay @Zara1234uk it comes with a speculum 4 pots 4 syringes and 4 extenders I think it's about £15.

I have used most methods soft cups, stork OTC, syringe, syringe with extender and I think the one I feel most confident with is the syringe and extender - I feel like the sample is going where it's supposed to go!

Have you been monitoring ovulation before now? My ovulation is all over the place so don't make the mistake of assuming you will ovulate on day 14 just because you have a 28 day cycle. Are your clearblue ovulation tests the single or dual hormone (pink or purple)?

@Waiting2BAMummy thank you very much for replying!
My clear blue thing arrived today it’s purple so says dual hormone?
Yes I’ve been tracking only via a calendar app for years but not properly, this will be the first month using anything else
I’ve ordered a kit off amazon but I’m panicking now as it doesn’t have any extenders on the syringe!

Also.. is the speculum necessary for success? The prospect of trying to attempt that solo is slightly alarming!

@Zara1234uk no you don’t need the speculum if you’re not using the extender and I have chatted to women who have got pregnant with just the syringe so don’t panic that you don’t have that either!

Have you used the clearblue ovulation tests before? With the dual hormone you will always get a blank circle on your first day of testing each cycle as the reader establishes your baseline levels. From their as your estrogen rises before the LH surge you will get a flashing smiley face. This indicates that the LH surge is on its way and the leaflet that comes with the test suggests that you will get 2-3 days of flashing before your peak. This is not necessarily true so don’t panic if you get more than that. Unlike most OPK’s you should test each morning with your first morning urine until you get your flashing smiley and then you should start testing more than once a day to make sure you don’t miss your peak. Since you are using the strip tests too you could just use the cheap tests in the afternoon and then just take a second clearblue when you feel the strip test is positive. For example this month I tested in the morning with my clearblue and got a flashing smiley (these had started about 4 days before) I tested again with a strip test and the clearblue at 2pm the strip test was positive but the clearblue was still a flashing smiley. At 8pm I tested again with both and got a positive strip test and my static smiley face.

@Waiting2BAMummy ah thanks so much! It’s all so much clearer to me now with your help I feel a lot more confident! I’m dreading interpreting the cheap strips but will do my best!
I will just do the usual syringe method this first time and maybe change it up next month!
It’s so nerve wrecking isn’t it. How long have you been ttc?
I’ve been reading lots of posts on here and I have to say all the information and chats you ladies have is soo helpful.
Thank you so much for your help I really appreciate it.

So if I was to get a static and then have a donation within 12 hours would this be ok?

if it's possible it's a good idea to have a donation before your static @Zara1234uk as it is possible to ovulate on the same day as your positive opk, especially as you get older.

12 hours after wouldn't be the end of the world but if you end up having to try for a few months and you start to see a pattern it would be worth having your donation just before your expected positive. One lady I chatted to had two children and always had her donations on days 10 and 13 and that worked for her both times.

I have been TTC for 15 months (actually had donations 12 out of those 15) but made so many mistakes in the first months of trying as I had no idea what I was doing. I'm current;y 9dpo of cycle 15 and AF is due this weekend fully expecting her to arrive.

Right ok thanks so much I’ll try and time it correctly! @Waiting2BAMummy I really hope this is your month then! Good luck I hope AF stays away.

Thanks @Zara1234uk good luck for next month feel free to PM me If you feel like ranting during your TWW x