Trouble TTC

Clear Blue Fertility Monitor GRRRRR

Hi all, i'm new to this community. Please let me know if this is better posted to another board. We've been TTC for 13 mo, I'm 31. I'm working with an Endo on my hypothyroidism so keep hoping my troubles will be gone once we tighten up my TSH. All other blood work is normal. 
My question today is about the Clear Blue Fertility Monitor. IT DOES NOT WORK FOR ME! I had always used the disposable options until purchasing this monitor and always ovulated according to them. Started CBFM in February and got "highs" but no peaks for 3 months. Took a month off while in Jamaica on vaycay. Decided to reset the monitor since, I'd been having some short cycles (14-18 days) and had missed a month while away. Used it until September 2014. This month I couldn't find the refill sticks for the fertility monitor in town and didn't have time to order online (side note their customer service line was atrociously unhelpful). I ended up buying the Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Tests- worked perfectly and got to highs and then peaked today. WTF? The sticks look the same and I tested in the same manner, same time of day. Thoughts??
TTC Since August 2013, 31 y.o.
Hypothyroid but dealing with med changes causing major TSH shifts
Menstrual cycles lasting 14-27 days
All other hormones normal
Started 12 month wait for Ob/GYN (yay Canada) in June/14

Re: Clear Blue Fertility Monitor GRRRRR

  • Hi, there, welcome! Sorry you have to be here, but hopefully the thyroid treatment will make a big difference.

    Have you had a full testing work-up with your Reproductive Endocrinologist now that you're past the 12 month mark? Sometimes PCOS or other hormone imbalances can show up in multiple (or no) positive results. Since you're working with an RE, they should be able to monitor a cycle with ultrasound and bloodwork to make sure you are ovulating properly and your body is responding to its LH surge like it should.

    Any month can randomly be different, sometimes for no reason, so it's hard to compare your results this month to last month - if you'd been using the tests on the same days this month, that could give you a better idea of whether one was working for you while the other didn't.

    Also, it's very possible to miss the peak. It can be short enough of a time span to miss it when testing, plus the concentration being measured can wax and wane depending on how hydrated you are. If you're someone who tends to have a shorter peak, or peaks at a time of day different from what's recommended for testing, then you might miss it more than you catch it.

    Having such extremely short cycles at times is a red flag that something is off with your body and the RE should be able to test for that. Hopefully it is just the thyroid and can be easily fixed but the doctor should not just find one possible cause and assume that is the whole story (of course, disregard if you've already done all the testing!)

    But sounds promising that you should ovulate this month (although the peak result isn't a guarantee, only temping and showing a thermal shift, or monitoring at the doctor's office, can prove that). Good luck, I hope this is your month!


    January 3T Siggy Challenge - New Year's Resolutions
    image
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    Me (29), DH (30) TTC actively 54 55+ cycles | All BFNs
    MFI (low everything) | Endo Stage 1 & Stenotic Cervix (treated) | PCO
    Married - July 2008 | Started TTC - Jan 2009RE Visit #1 - Mar 2014 
    IUI #1 ICI #1 - June | IUI #1.1 Laparoscopy - Aug
    IUIs #1.2, 2, 3 - Sept, Oct, Nov (Letrozole) - BFNs 
    IUI #4 - Dec (Bravelle) | IUI #5 - Dec/Jan (Bravelle) - 5 follies + TI - BFNs
    IUI #5.1 - Jan (Bravelle) Cancelled 
    Planning to start IVF in March!
    ***All Welcome***
  • Thanks so much for your quick and thoughtful response :)
    Unfortunately there is no such thing as a RE in my province however my Endo is really excellent and patient centered. He's run all the blood work he feels is needed although the consult was for my thyroid and fatigue and not fertility.However he did check all the fertility stuff he could since i mentioned it was an issue and said it is all normal and ruled out PCOS. He said my thyroid is absolutely part of my weird cycles. I have copies of everything he has done and I work in healthcare so I feel confident in what he's done. I have a referral out to gyno but that takes 12 months in my city. I very likely have endometriosis but never confirmed by scope.
    I started temping this month, I delayed that because my thyroid can throw off the basal temps.
    I agree, hopefully my odd cycles are due to thyroid. When I met endo my TSH was barely within normal limits but I was actually being overtreated- so hyperthyroid. I pushed to try an alternative thyroid med and swung majorly hypo. I have repeat blood work next week and suspect I'll still need another med increase. I've also started some supplements- Vitex included and have had 3 normal cycles in a row!! So frustrating that I've always been normal in cycles until I started TTC. So glad I found this community and I friggin love Throat Punch Thursday!!!
    TTC Since August 2013, 31 y.o.
    Hypothyroid but dealing with med changes causing major TSH shifts
    Menstrual cycles lasting 14-27 days
    All other hormones normal
    Started 12 month wait for Ob/GYN (yay Canada) in June/14

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  • Agree with @murrt, the blood panels your endocrinologist is doing is only a piece of the picture. MH and I both have multiple IF issues that have come out in testing and each needed their own treatment. It's so important to have HSG and SA. So sorry you have that long wait for a gyno appt! Perhaps get YH on the list to see a uro as well? Good luck!
    January 3T Siggy Challenge - New Year's Resolutions
    image
    imageimage

    Me (29), DH (30) TTC actively 54 55+ cycles | All BFNs
    MFI (low everything) | Endo Stage 1 & Stenotic Cervix (treated) | PCO
    Married - July 2008 | Started TTC - Jan 2009RE Visit #1 - Mar 2014 
    IUI #1 ICI #1 - June | IUI #1.1 Laparoscopy - Aug
    IUIs #1.2, 2, 3 - Sept, Oct, Nov (Letrozole) - BFNs 
    IUI #4 - Dec (Bravelle) | IUI #5 - Dec/Jan (Bravelle) - 5 follies + TI - BFNs
    IUI #5.1 - Jan (Bravelle) Cancelled 
    Planning to start IVF in March!
    ***All Welcome***
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