ANSWERS BACK: TTCing? Have a question about Clearblue fertility, conception, and pregnancy products?

[AngelieMumsnet]

This week we're running a Q&A with Sally Haworth, a product specialist from Clearblue.

Sally will be able to offer support and advice about using the full range of Clearblue products (which include fertility monitors, ovulation tests, pregnancy tests and contraception monitors) when you are TTCing, experiencing infertility or about to POAS.

Sally has worked in the Customer Support Team at the Clearblue Innovation Centre for 12 years as a product specialist for ovulation tests, advising women on how to use Clearblue products to conceive or check for pregnancy confirmation.

Post your questions to Sally here before 8th September and we will send 20 questions over to Sally for her to respond to. We will then post her responses back on the thread on 17th September.

Everyone who adds a question (regardless of whether it's answered or not) will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 John Lewis voucher.

This Q&A is sponsored by Clearblue.

Thanks
MNHQ

What are the most accurate clear blue tests for pregnancy? I was told the digital tests are not as sensitive

Is it possible for the CBFM to miss ovulation? I seem to get all my ovulation signs (EWCM and ovulation pain) 2/3 days before my first peak. It doesn't seem to tally and beginning to question the monitor as after 6 months of DTD on both peak days I'm not pregnant!

Am I right in thinking that you shouldn't use FMU for ovulation tests as it can distort the results? I heard it was best to test around lunchtime - is that true?

My AF hasn't returned yet, nine weeks after having my implant removed but I want to use the CB ovulation sticks to see if/when I'm ovulating. Do I just start testing any day?

this is just a quick fun question so please don't use it to replace something important but might be worth having as number 21.

Can I use an ovulation predictor test as a pregnancy test or is that just an urban myth?

Hi - thanks for all the Qs. We have passed them to Sally and will post her replies when we have them!

@ShyPhilosopher

I notice that the Conception Indicator is 92% accurate, is there anything that a woman can do to help ensure the accuracy is as high as possible? Are we still best of using first urine of the morning?

Using the first urine of the day is vital for an accurate ‘weeks’ result. If you test with any urine other than the first sample of the day then you should disregard the ‘weeks’ part of the result. Using the first urine of the day is all you need to do – it’s that simple

@KatoPotato

Why don't Clear blue sell just the sticks for the OV kit with dual hormone indicator? They suggest themselves that you should re-use the same holder, so why not sell just the sticks?

Great question and it’s true – you should use the same Holder throughout a cycle of use even if you need to buy another pack for more test sticks. The Holder uses an algorithm across a cycle of use to adapt to your personal hormone levels.
Test stick refills are not available as the vast majority of the expense of the pack is the test sticks – they contain a strip that detects 2 key fertility hormones using a sophisticated chemical reaction, in an easy to use format. Offering just the test sticks without the Holder would allow only a very small reduction in price and as the Holder is an essential part of the kit, it makes sense to include one in every pack.
Wishing each of you all the very best with your TTC journey!

@otter32

Why does the Advanced Fertility Monitor insist you keep testing after your peak and 1 following high have ended? This seems like a waste of money for those using. These things aren't cheap!

The Clearblue Advanced Fertility Monitor is programmed to ask for tests in sets of ten, so it will always request either ten or twenty tests per cycle but if you prefer to stop testing once you have found Peak Fertility that is fine. You will need to make sure you have sufficient tests of the same lot number left for the next cycle of testing - if you need them.

@Tiredbadger

Can I use the ovulation kit if AF hasn't returned and I'm still breastfeeding?

and also for AngusAndElspethsThistleWhistle

The breastfeeding hormone, prolactin, can suppress ovulation and this is why your first period after giving birth can take some time to arrive if you are feeding your baby. When you begin ovulating again, your periods will return and we recommend waiting until you have had a couple of cycles before using any of our ovulation kits. You’ll then know when to start testing in your cycle and how long your cycles are likely to be – allowing you to make best use of the tests in your kit.

@NewEraNewMindset

Would you agree that your products are suitable for women TTC under a certain age? For example I am 39 years of age. I have noticed this year that my fertility monitor can no longer predict my cycles accurately. I am either going from low to peak or sticking on high. Previously I had no problems at all and my cycle length has not changed.

There are no age limitations on any of our products although they are not suitable for women that have had any symptoms of the menopause. It would be worth having a chat with your doctor (if you haven’t already) about the results you have been getting and also giving our Careline a call to see if there is anything you could do differently – calls are free from landlines and we’re open 7am-3pm Monday-Friday 0800 917 2710.

@Drania

I have really irregular cycles - is there a particular time/day of the cycle you recommend using them to get the most accurate results?

It depends on the test you are using – some of our products need to be done with the first urine of the day, others can be done at any time of day as long as you use urine that has been in your bladder for at least four hours – check the instructions for the product you choose. The LH surge typically lasts for 1-2 days and therefore the time of day that you test won’t affect you finding it as long as you are testing at 24 hour intervals.

@Tranquilitybaby

Why are Clearblue digital tests less sensitive than the regular ones?

Can the digital ones be adapted so the result stays imprinted on the screen so it can be kept?

All our Clearblue Home Pregnancy Tests have a sensitivity of 25mIU/ml hCG – there is no difference in sensitivity between the line tests and the digital tests. Lots of women have asked for a digital result that lasts longer so check out the shelves in your local pharmacy from October for our newest digital test which features ‘pregnant’ results that last for 6 months

@StillNoFuckingEyeDeer

Do any other factors (eg eating certain foods) alter the accuracy of the tests? Is there anything strange we could be doing or avoiding to make sure we get the most accurate results?

There are no foods that we are aware of that will affect the results that you get. The critical things to bear in mind when testing are the quality of the urine sample that you use (it needs to have been in the bladder for minimum 4 hours) and the instructions for use regarding when and how to test. It’s especially important to hold the test in the urine for the exact time specified in the leaflet and then to lie the test flat while you wait for your result.

@patientlywaitingformymiracle

Can dual hormone opk tests still be used by people with pcos?

We don’t recommend any of our OPKs, including the dual hormone, as suitable for women with PCOS. One of the things that can happen with PCOS is the basal level of LH can be higher than usual and this can cause false surge results – multiple surge results are seen throughout the cycle and not all of them will result in ovulation. This will affect any test brand that is detecting LH. If you have been diagnosed with PCOS it’s best to speak to your Doctor about the best next steps for you.

@callipygian00

I've heard a lot about the negative side of using ovulation predictor kits, in regards to increasing stress. Does Clear Blue offer any support/advice about this?

It’s important for us to be sure that the use of our products is a positive experience for women that are TTC. We conducted and published a study last year that showed no difference in stress levels between women using our digital ovulation tests to time intercourse and women who were trying to conceive without any additional aid. You can read the full study here www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23081872. In the same study, it was also seen that 77% more women got pregnant using the Digital Ovulation Tests compared to the women not using the tests.

@shouldnthavegoogledit

I'd be interested in knowing more about planned future developments too. Given that your company presumably works with scientists in specialist fields (I'm guessing?), what do you think (or hope) fertility testing will look like in the next 5/10 years?

Clearblue has a dedicated Research and Development team based in Bedford in the UK. They are constantly exploring new innovations as well as incorporating feedback from women about our current products into our new ones. You’re right that we also work with experts in many countries, especially in the UK and the US where we have medical Advisory Boards. There are some very exciting projects in the pipeline at the moment – because our R+D projects are proprietary information I’m sure you’ll understand that I can’t share them with you but watch this space!

@Emus

When using the Ovulation Digital kit, does it matter if there's a smiley face one day and an empty circle the next (despite tests being done at the same time every day)? Also, why are these kits so expensive?!

We get asked this question frequently on our Careline . The LH surge typically lasts for 1-2 days so it’s completely normal to see a smiley face for only one day if you are testing every 24 hours. You don’t actually need to carry on testing once you have found the surge. Ovulation usually happens 24-36 hours after the LH surge is first detected and the duration of the surge is unimportant. You can then save any remaining test sticks for the next cycle if you need them – saving you some money

The vast majority of the expense of the pack is the test sticks – they contain a strip that detects the fertility hormones using a sophisticated chemical reaction, in an easy to use format but costly and time consuming to produce.

@snappycow

I'm using a fertility app on my phone to track my periods and it tells me when I am fertile according to that. Do I need to use these ovulation sticks too? I've never used one.

It’s really up to you – if you have a method already that you are happy with then stick with it. If you’d like to try something in addition then ovulation tests are a great tool for accurately predicting ovulation based on your personal hormone levels and getting to know your cycles better. I like to use both – I have a fertility app on my phone that allows me to enter the results of ovulation tests and I find that does give me different information than the app would calculate based on my cycle length alone – my luteal phase is shorter than average and the calendar method alone therefore is not that accurate for me personally

@Caillou

I have never used any ovulation tests (before the mn trial), and I was wondering after using it one month,

Wouldn't be useful to create a new product that can store your ovulation peak times for a few months (like a digital calendar)?

So that woman can have a better idea of whether they are regular or not.

I know I could write it down in a calendar, (but then if you are like me, you would misplace the calendar every month)

Yes – I would misplace the calendar too . Our Clearblue Advanced Fertility Monitor with touch screen tracks 2 of your fertility hormones and it’s designed to show you all your fertile days – Low, High and Peak. It has a calendar so you can record your period and when you have sex then it displays the headline information from your last 6 cycles all on one screen so you can compare cycle to cycle – check it out here uk.clearblue.com/clearblue-ovulation-test-range/clearblue-advanced-fertility-monitor. You can also use this Monitor to test for pregnancy when you think you’ve conceived, there are specific pregnancy tests to use with it.

@sharond101

If your periods are regular is there any real benefit to using the kits for more than a month as surely if your cycle is the same length each month you will ovulate on the same day??

It’s entirely a personal choice but some women using ovulation tests find that the day of their LH surge varies even if their cycle length doesn’t - if they are keen to pinpoint their most fertile days then an ovulation test is a good tool for them.

@SaltySeaBird

Two questions!

I have PCOS which is quite common. I find that ovulation tests rarely work for me (I can predict ovulation quite well through cervical mucus and keeping track of my temperature). I don't understand why ovulation tests are so unreliable for women with PCOS and it would be useful to understand the science behind it and to find out what ovulation predictors might be more effective.

Second one - I understand it's powered by single use, very short lived battery but would it be possible to make a digital test that keeps the display longer so it can be kept (appreciate somebody else asked this too).

Check out the earlier Q+As for the answers to both of these questions

@milliemoon

I have used ovulation tests before but wondered whether I should test more than once a day, could I miss a positive result from say testing in the morn but not the evening. What products would be best to prevent frequent testing as we are short of cash to buy the sticks x

The LH surge typically lasts for 1-2 days so as long as you test on the right days for your cycle length and at 24 hour intervals you should be able to catch it. Check the instructions for the product you are using as some require FMU and others can be used at any time of day as long as you have not drunk excessive fluids beforehand. Your FMU is usually the most concentrated sample of the day and as most women are at home then it’s a convenient time to do a test. The number of tests you’ll need to do will depend on the variability of your cycle lengths – a factor beyond your control.

@beccaroo

I have recently had an early MC at 5w4 and just before I found out I was pregnant I bought the advanced CBFM. I was so excited to be pregnant, I didn't care that I'd lost the money for it!

Now I will be back to TTC. Doctors recommend waiting for one period so it's easier to date the pregnancy, would the CBFM also work after this time, given that it was such an early MC? My cycles are usually textbook.

Thanks for your help.

I’m really sorry to hear about your recent loss. Unfortunately miscarriage is very common and we frequently get asked this question on our Careline. After an early loss, the pregnancy hormone can take up to 9 weeks to clear from your system and your cycles may take some time to settle down. For these reasons we generally recommend that you wait for two cycles before starting to use the Fertility Monitor (or indeed, any of our ovulation tests). If you’re confident that there is no hCG left in your system and your doctor has given you the go ahead to TTC then of course you can start earlier if you choose to. Wishing you lots of luck!

@Sparkles07

I have endometriosis and it causes irregular periods as well as other fertility issues. When should I use my fertility monitor when my cycles differ so much? Can the facility monitor work with the complications I have?

Even if your cycles vary, as long as they are always somewhere between 21 and 42 days long then the Monitor should be able to detect your fertile days. Endometriosis won’t otherwise affect your use of the Monitor and the Monitor will ask you for tests at the right time automatically. Wishing you all the best!