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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Ovulation Kits - has anybody used them?

32 replies

Toasty · 15/10/2001 08:22

Trying for number two is not proving as easy as number one so have being using an Ovulation Kit to try and narrow it down a bit but am not getting any sign of the hormone surge that happens at ovulation - has anybody tried these and any tips as to what I might be doing wrong as I now am getting a bit worried that I no longer ovulate, bit of a bizarre question for a Monday morning!

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Bells2 · 15/10/2001 08:38

I am a veteran of the dreaded sticks. The only thing I would suggest is that you widen your testing period. I was ovulating around 4 - 6 days later than technically should have been the case and it took me a number of months to discover this. If you are really concerned, a Dr should be able to do a series of tests which will confirm whether you are ovulating regularly. My delay in conceiveing was entirely due to timing so keep on open mind on this.

Batters · 15/10/2001 09:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bells2 · 15/10/2001 09:21

True but persona gives you a much broader window in which you could potentially conceive so if you and your partner are ahem, happy to be "active" for longer than is strictly necessary (month after month this might get tricky!) then its fine. Ovulation sticks are more specific in their timing but just v expensive.

Other problem with persona is that it takes a few months before it can accurately predict your cycle. I actually gave up on it in the end but would certainly use it for contraception.

Original poster

Toasty · 15/10/2001 10:31

I have heard about the Persona and was thinking of buying one to use rather than the Ovulation Kits as they are so expensive. Not sure how they work Bells2 you say that they take a few months to actually work out your cycle that sounds a bit complicated how does it work?

OP posts:

Slug · 15/10/2001 10:45

I used them because I have a very unpredictable cycle - anything from 5 weeks to 6 months. It was worth the expense, because we got it right first time. The trick is to start testing at the earliest possible date and then keep it up every day or two. The only downside, apart from the expense, is that it takes the romance out of the whole process. Dh says the memory of me chasing him around the house with the blue line showing on the stick saying "shag me now, you have 48 hours to do the business" still makes him shudder.

Bells2 · 15/10/2001 10:52

This is all a bit hazy Toasty but from memory you basically have to pee on the test sticks first thing every morning and the machine makes a record of your hormone levels. Gradually you have to do fewer and fewer tests until it builds up a history of your cycle which again, this is a guess, takes something like three months before the history is such that it can be relied upon. As you go on, you need to test less and less frequently (a light on the machine tells you when) until I think you only need to do few a month. On reflection, at this point I think it does tell you when ovulation is imminent so I guess it does do a similar job to the test sticks.

The reason I chucked it in was becuase it HAS to be the first pee (so if you get up in the middle of the night, that is a real bore) and also, you have to test at the same time every day. At the time I was doing quite a few long haul trips for work and it was all too difficult to ensure I could always do the tests at the right time. I am pretty sure there is a persona website which can no doubt explain it better.

Alih · 15/10/2001 15:03

I used Persona for two years not to get pregnant, and fell in the first month of using it in order to get pregnant! A friend used it for the same reason! Worked for us, good luck.

Oh, and you have quite a wide testing window within which to do the test, so not too rigid. It also told me when I was ovulating, so I knew within three days of when I conceived.

Croppy · 15/10/2001 15:15

I gave up on Persona too for similar reasons. If I remember correctly, the testing window is within three hours. This sounds quite wide but isn't really when you take into account British Summer time changes and also, if you are like me and get up at 5.30am on weekday, sleeping in beyond 8.30 at weekens is not out of the question. Travelling to different time zones is also a problem. Also, if you are in the habit of going to the loo in the middle of the night, it is a real bore.

Motherofone · 15/10/2001 20:40

I'm a Persona fan - and like AliH used it for years not to get pregnant and then conceived first time once we were trying! (Must to dh's consternation "but I wanted more practice...")
But agree with everything said so far - it may not be for you if you travel long haul a lot or find the 3 hour testing window too restrictive.
Now trying for No. 2, and have to say find that little 'egg' symbol in the window rather useful...

Anoushka · 15/10/2001 21:55

well hi i am a persona BIG fan i have used it for not getting up the duff and find it great i loved the idea that it was totaly natral i hated being on the pill mega mode swings oh boy the mood swings well it's realy easy as they said you have to use the first wee and they give you three hours the only tip i will give is if you do get one is to remember the weekends if you get up realy early all week and very late at weekends it a pain to get up at eight just to do a test you have to do fourteen tests the first mounth and then you always have to do seven tests each mounth mine started on day six and we would count untill it's a green days the green days are great hope it has convinced you i am such a fan

Chiba · 16/10/2001 08:11

I have started using an Ovulation Kit for the first time last month. I got pregnant with number one in a month, but I have been having difficulties with number two. I have been trying for a year and I have experienced two early miscarriages.

When I used the kit last month, I found that the instructions tell you to start very early and that I had to use two kits to get to the time of ovulation. I will try again this month, since I have not managed to get pregnant. It is an expensive gadget at £20 each!

Alison222 · 16/10/2001 08:40

Hi Toasty,
On another thread recently there was a mention of a book about how to spot the signs of fertility yourself. I can't for the like of me remember the name of the book, but I have it in my attic - I'll have a look for you. Basically it involves 3 things:
taking your temperature before you get out of bed in the mornings, feeling your cervix which changes in shape during the course of the month and for want of a better description (sorry if I offend anyones sensibilities - but after at least one baby for most of you I guess you become rather less squemish) cervical mucus which also changes during the course of your cycle.

Even if you decide its too complicated to follow for long it will give you an idea of whether or not your cycle has changed after having the baby and a better idea of when to use your ovulation kits if you want to continue with them. It too will take a couple of months to figure it out.

PS it can also be used as a contracetption method although I found it a bit of a pain and moved on to using persona too.

Florenceuk · 16/10/2001 08:44

Have you also been checking physical signs, eg mucus? I found this was a very accurate indicator of ovulation.

Actually, one of the pieces of advice Robert Winston gives in his book is to do it often eg every two days, or even every day if hubbie is keen - and to forget about testing for ovulation. As sperm survive for a few days, you could have sex prior to the event and it would work, whereas trying to hit the exact moment of ovulation is more tricky (not sure, but I think the egg only lasts for 24hrs?) My sister got pregnant quite a few days outside of her supposedly fertile time.

Alison222 · 16/10/2001 08:47

Toasty found the message - under a discussion about the age gap between babies.

try looking at 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility' by Toni Weschler (try amazon)and at the Fertility Website at fertilityuk.org

Kayster · 16/10/2001 13:28

I used Persona too, first as a contraceptive gadget and then to get pregnant. I am also working on number two and have realised that you can get away with just using the persona sticks without the machine as when you are due to ovulate you get two dark blue lines instead of just one! Am I being daft or doesn't that suggest you don't really need the machine thingy?

Original poster

Toasty · 17/10/2001 09:54

Thanks everyone - Persona sounds like just the job!! Sex every day or other day - I think not - very pre-ds. I casually mentioned to dp the other night "we are supposed to be trying for another" and he mumbled something and changed channels!!

OP posts:

ouch · 16/01/2002 10:33

I need your help, it's a very silly query! Is it obvious when you are ovulating if you use the ovulation test kits? I have just spent half an hour trying to decide if the test is positive or not - it's the "similar to the blue line" bit that's got me flumuxed. The second line is similar to but slightly paler than the control line and I'm confused. I'm new to these as you can see - I missed my fertile phase last month as my cycle is all over the place so I have never hads a positive result with the kit. Any help gratefully received (soon if it's positive!).

Paula1 · 16/01/2002 11:03

Ouch, I used one for the first time today too. Mine had purple lines though, and the test line was dark purple and 'my' line was light purple which according to the instructions means NO you're not.

ouch · 16/01/2002 13:24

I'm glad I'm not alone!

My confusion is that the lines are very similar on the test I did - "mine" being only very slightly paler than the control. The one I did yesterday was even paler still and clearly negative. I didn't know whether a positive would be obviously different, darker than the control maybe?

MalmoMum · 16/01/2002 13:56

I presume you have 5 sticks ( I used the Boots own brand ones).

I found it very confusing the first day and not convincingly clearer the next, on the third day it was quite noticeably darker than the control line. Keep your sticks and then compare them. I don't know if they keep their colour for a month but it's worth trying if you don't manage to hit this month.

I think I would have liked a few more pictures of lines that are interesting. Just as back up you could try taking your temperature through a cycle just to give you some reassuring back up info.

All the best

Paula1 · 16/01/2002 14:01

Ouch, my kit said had 2 pictures of the 'No' result, one was completely blank and the other was pale. my kit said that your line could be darker or the same as the test line but not lighter. Did you call yourself Ouch because of the price of them?!

ouch · 16/01/2002 16:26

Thanks, I think it must be negative - I will keep going and see what happens.

I agree about the price but, no, my name relates to a previous thread about episiotomy. This may explain why I am keen to know when I am ovulating rather than adopting dh's suggestion that we just have sex all the time!

Paula1 · 17/01/2002 09:36

Ouch, mine was a little darker than yesterday, but still not as dark as the control line. Do you think it is a progressive thing?

MalmoMum · 17/01/2002 10:45

Yes! It is progressive. Hold on now.

ouch · 17/01/2002 11:28

Yes, there was a definate progression today with "my" line the same, or even a bit darker than the test line. I guess I have answered my own question, I always was impatient!

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