Anyone tried Advanced ClearBlue OPK?

jacquelin73

I used the Clear Blue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test for the first time. I’m 39 and will become 40 on 12/9/13. My last 3 cycle lengths were 31, 32, and 34 being my last cycle. I began this cycle on 10/26/13. Based on the instructions I began testing on CD 11 for my lowest cycle in the last 3 months, so I wouldn’t miss the LH surge. The first test displayed the open circle for low fertility. After some research online, I found that the first test will always be the low fertility symbol because it is establishing a base line for the other tests I guess, but I could not find it in the instructions. From CD 12-CD20, I got the flashing smiley faces for high fertility. I’m done with all 10 tests, but I didn’t get a peak fertility symbol. I’m debating if I want to buy another kit to get new test sticks to continue using the monitor I have been using. I have used the First Response test and wasn’t able to get LH surge from that kit about 2 months ago after going through all the test sticks. Has anyone had similar experiences?

czarmom

I'm on day 5 of the blinking smiley face, so wondering what's going on as well.   I would be interested to hear other's opinions. 

gscoville

I've never used the Advanced system but from hearing about many others using it, I've heard it can be frustrating and confusing. Because it doesn't give you any indication of increasing or decreasing LH levels, just whether it's 'yes' or 'no' for possible ovulation, it can be hard to read. Many of us on these boards prefer regular OPKs because you can often see the progression of the second line, with a fade in and fade out pattern that leads up to and out of ovulation - whereas with the Advanced, all you get is the same smiley face no matter if your levels might actually be going up or down. For myself, I sometimes have a hard time ever getting a true positive, but because I temp as well I know that when I get my darkest OPK, even if it's still barely or not quite positive that's also when my temp spike is and so I count that as my positive. I also use Wondfo cheapies from Amazon, so I can test multiple times a day for way less than those expensive tests, and I feel like I get more accurate and less confusing info from them anyways. Because the time of day, amount you've drunk, etc. can make the difference with catching your surge or not, being able to test two or three times a day means I'm more likely to catch it accurately.

turgi

41 yrs old here when I was trying to conceive I used these advanced OPK tests once and hated them. The first day I used them on CD10 I got a high fertility reading which may have been correct but then the next day it was a big empty 0 ... Then CD12,13,&14 got smiley faces again. While using these advanced tests I also used the cheapo strips so I could compare ovulation levels at same time. I actually ended up getting pregnant that month but also made sure to "make his night" CD10 thru CD15.......so not sure what night was highest fertility. I like the regular digitals better with a combo of plain tests strips.... Can't go wrong. And u should be testing a couple times a day to get peak time of ovulation... I know its $$$ but worth it. Ovulation Could be any time of day or night! good luck!

jacquelin73

Yes my experience with the OPK's is not a smooth one from what I have seen. I got another flashing smiley face this morning. I'm going to check this afternoon as well. I want to test more than once a day so I don't miss the LH surge. If I never get a peak fertility symbol this cycle, I will definitely try at least a couple of methods like the Wondfos and temping so I can test more in a day. Thanks so much ladies for your input.  

PrivateOne

I have used them and they worked according to the directions.  First came the blinking smiley, then the next day the solid smiley. However, I don't have much wrong in terms of normal rising and LH surges.  I do tend to agree with pps that using the lined ones were better because you got to see the progression in darkness of the indicator line. 

I've spent a lot of $$$ on opks over the years and never got a BFP from using them   Now that we are in the IVF cycling I feel much more confident because the drs are controling what my body should be doing and when, lol

czarmom

Just adding an update - after five days of the flashing smiley, I got a solid today.   The last cycle I used these, I had two days of flashing and then a solid.   So, I don't know....hahah.     Just wanted to share my experience.   I guess it depends on the month?   I will probably keep using them if I don't succeed this month.

MrsDL

I don't know about the advance, but I purchased the clear blue easy fertility monitor when I was trying to conceive my first child 3 years ago (35, had him at 36).  The month I conceived, I never did get a peak - it went from low to high one day. I was monitoring my CM - had EWCM but still no peak (so we BD at that point - but just once). It was high the rest of the month. Around the time I should have been expecting AF, I got the peak.I thought my cycle was majorly messed up and I was ovualting really late. I'll probably sound like an idiot for saying this, but I was SO dependent on that monitor to tell me what was going on, I was holding out until I got the LH surge (remember telling DH I was saving the "good stuff" for my surge). I even went to the store and bought a back-up OPK (not a pregnancy test) to confirm I was ovulating late.

In anycase, I was waiting for DH to come home so we could BD and looking on this board and other sites, when I came across info about LH and HCG being similar (clueless), and that an OPK will turn positive if you're pregnant. Didn't even cross my mind. Took a pregnancy test and voila. So I guess the moral of the story is that those things don't always pick-up the LH surge. Clearly I ovulated.  The other thing I learned is that they are good tools, but paying attention to other possible signs is important as well. I will say for our second, it worked the first time. Unfortunately the pregnancy didn't work-out, but at least I don't feel like I spend a ton of money on that little device for nothing. Good luck!

jacquelin73

Glad to hear you received the solid smiley czarmom. Much luck to you.

MrsDL you shouldn't feel that way because I have been depending solely on the results of these kind of tests each morning like a fanatic hoping to see that solid smiley face. I think I have depended on the results of these tests so much where its becoming a little weary for me, but I know I have to be patient. But I have heard something about using the OPK's as pregnancy tests as they can be positive since both are similar to a test.

I am going to finish this cycle by continuing to test because my cycle is long.

 

czarmom

@jacquelin73 Thanks!!  keeping my FX for this cycle!

I do have to say this...while I do rely on the OPK as a tool, I do expect error from it and don't solely depend on it.  I am pretty in tune with my body and can feel when I'm nearing O by the signals - CM, libido, etc.  I figure that in order to "time" BD'ing accurately, I make sure I cover every day (or every other day) within a 10 day period according to the calendar, my body signals and the OPK.  I figure as long as I'm doing all that, I'm doing all I can to help things along.  Best of luck to everyone!!!

Ihope

The monitor never worked for me. I sent away for the chip that reads the monitor and it said user error numerous times, really.......how hard is it to dip a stick in urine? What the heck could I have been doing wrong? Anyway, I sent the machine back and got a refund.

jacquelin73

I have realized today that I need to stop testing for this cycle. I never received a peak fertility symbol. I tested up until CD24 to be on safe side and got only the flashing smiley face the whole time except the first day. I'm definitely going to try other methods the next cycle along with OPK's, but I would not buy this brand again.

KristenG2011

I've been using the advanced Clearblue OPK's and got 9 days of flashing smileys.  It was really frustrating.  I had to buy more sticks too.  Then on the 10th day got my solid smiley.  I've been using the product for 3 months and this is the first month this happened to me.  I just believe this cycle I ovulated later then usual.

Bigboneded

I had one two years ago, I O'd in 5 days and had a bunch of sticks left, but couldnt use them... pretty pricey. And there was a bunch of frustration with the Dr office not doing their part- different story- now I have Walgreens brand, two lines one gets darker. Easier I think and they are individually packed so I can use them next month if need be. Its better for me, you sound frustrated, I think I wont be trying CB advanced ;-)

on42

I just used this one the other evening. I got a clear window in the evening, and a Peak the following morning. I'd been having nothing but High readings on the Clearblue Fertility Monitor, so I decided to try the advanced digi. Both came up Peak at the same time. I've finally learned to use the internet cheapie sticks, the monitor, and the advanced digital (though it's VERY similar to the monitor).

Happy1973

Yes, I just recently used it started on CD 9 and got an immediate solid happy face ( skipped flashing smiley) on CD 12 ( that was 11/2/2013) BD'd for straight four days after.

I am now 21 dpo ( according to the OPK) but have been getting negative tests...so I don't know now if these are accurate or not.

This is really discouraging...