CBEFM - when do you start testing?

penelopemaria

I am CD 6 today and got a flash for a test. I thought, bitch please... these sticks are more than $2 a pop and my period just ended. No way am I fertile.

I'm thinking of starting testing at CD 12. What about you? When do you start to test? 

KatzKiss

I start around CD 9.

KatzKiss

The rule of thumb I've heard is, if you have a 28 day cycle, start on CD 11. Add or subtract a day for every day you are over or under that. So if you typically have a 27 day cycle, then CD 10. If you have a 29 day cycle then CD 12 and so on. I looked at your charts and since your ovulation is scattered, I don't know how much this will help. If it were me, I would just get Wondfos and save yourself some money. Two dollars a test! Yikes! Especially if you start at twelve and don't o until you're in the CD 30-40 range like you were before DS.

Gizmo36

If you're using the Clear Blue Easy Fertility Monitor, it will start asking for sticks around CD6.  The one month I had to wait a few days after it started asking for them (sticks were delayed in the mail), it totally confused the monitor.  If you tend to O later than average, it will start asking for sticks later once it learns your cycle.  It really isn't like regular tests that you can just decide when you want to start POAS.  Some people have longer Estrogen surges, which the monitor also detects, so it's going to start asking earlier than you'd expect.  I've received "high" readings as early as CD9, so starting on CD6 really isn't a stretch.

I'm usually able to get the box to last 4-5 months.  Stop testing once you get a peak, even though it will still ask for sticks.  It automatically gives you a peak the next day too, even if you dip the stick in pepsi! 

Wine&Cupcakes

KatzKiss said:

The rule of thumb I've heard is, if you have a 28 day cycle, start on CD 11. Add or subtract a day for every day you are over or under that. So if you typically have a 27 day cycle, then CD 10. If you have a 29 day cycle then CD 12 and so on. I looked at your charts and since your ovulation is scattered, I don't know how much this will help. If it were me, I would just get Wondfos and save yourself some money. Two dollars a test! Yikes! Especially if you start at twelve and don't o until you're in the CD 30-40 range like you were before DS.

My bag of wondfo's came with info similar to this. It just outlined the day to start using them based on your cycle length.

If I were you, I may go find the earliest cycle day you have ovulated and maybe start a couple of days before that to be sure...get the cheapie wondo's for sure. I just got 100 of them for maybe $30 or less?

Gizmo36

@Greeneyes842 I have never finished a box of sticks mid-cycle, so I'm not sure.  I always have enough for 4 cycles since I stop when I get a peak.  Just like with other tests, sometimes the amount of dye varies from batch to batch, so I'm sure there could be a little issue, but I wouldn't quit on a cycle, or waste sticks because of it.  If I ever end up running out of sticks, I'd just buy a new box and keep going, but maybe use cheap OPKs as a backup.