So, tell me about fertility monitors...

HawaiiBrideGrm

...please! I am clueless when it comes to OPKs vs monitors (or if they are the same thing, please forgive me).

Anyhow, Costco sells this one, but it seems pricy. Anyone feel like shedding a little light for me? I would really appreciate it!

Also, don't OPKs tell you once you've already O'd? If so, how do they help you (maybe for predicting when you'll O the next month?) TIA!!!

JosiPeaches

OPK's and the CBEFM work the same way.  In theory, they pick up the LH surge right before you O.  Once you get that smiley face ( or test line darker than the control - not just 2 lines ) you have around 24-36 hours and you should O.

I say in theory because for many women myself included OPK's and CBEFM don't work.  I don't O on my own but it didn't work for me on clomid either.  I didn't get anything on it.   Off clomid the line would start getting darker and then vanish.  I would always start to surge and have multiple starts but I never could get it to the next level and actually O.

For women who O regularly and have a decent cycle length they work great.  

FYI - it's charting that confirms O after the fact

firsttogo

I used one, but it was no help to me. In the 7 months of using it, I NEVER got a peak day. I also would confirm ovulation with charting, but the monitor never picked up on it. I would save your money, but that is just my opinion.

auburnbride07

I used the CBEFM with my 1st pregnancy, after we had some difficulties getting pregnant. It worked the second month I used it. I would highly recommend it, but that is just me...

HawaiiBrideGrm

You guys are awesome! You just saved me almost $200. I'll keep charting and praying (and strategically attacking my husband).

katezta

FWIW, I went to the Dr. a few months ago.  She said since I am charting (off and on right now) which is showing ovulation and have a regular cycle    (25 days) that I should try OPKs for a few months.  She recommended just buying the stick kind/ no monitor and try it to make sure our timing is right.  For the $30 that it cost at a drug store, I figured why not check it out.  This is only my first month, so I don't have any results to share.     

Mrs.Reem

The CBEFM is different from OPK's in that it keeps track of your hormone patterns AND it measures both estrogen and lh. OPK's only measure lh which can lead to false positives or no positives because you can surge but not ovulate or you can surge for only a short period of time and not catch it with an opk. The CBEFM eliminates those problems by cross checking the patterns and the estrogen and the lh. The CBEFM after one control cycle can tell you about 5 days before you ovulate so that you can take advantage of those crucial days wheras the opk's tell you 24-48 hours ahead of time. You also don't have to decipher lines with the monitor. It just tells you whether you're having low, high, or peak fertility. Temping will confirm that you've already O'd when you get the temp shift. The CBEFM is not for people with long cycles or weak ovulation, but otherwise works great. I used it when we started out using clomid before I did injectable meds and it was always spot on with its ovulation date which was confirmed by ultrasounds.

HawaiiBrideGrm

Mrs.Reem:

The CBEFM is different from OPK's in that it keeps track of your hormone patterns AND it measures both estrogen and lh. OPK's only measure lh which can lead to false positives or no positives because you can surge but not ovulate or you can surge for only a short period of time and not catch it with an opk. The CBEFM eliminates those problems by cross checking the patterns and the estrogen and the lh. The CBEFM after one control cycle can tell you about 5 days before you ovulate so that you can take advantage of those crucial days wheras the opk's tell you 24-48 hours ahead of time. You also don't have to decipher lines with the monitor. It just tells you whether you're having low, high, or peak fertility. Temping will confirm that you've already O'd when you get the temp shift. The CBEFM is not for people with long cycles or weak ovulation, but otherwise works great. I used it when we started out using clomid before I did injectable meds and it was always spot on with its ovulation date which was confirmed by ultrasounds.

That's great info. Thanks! So, what do you consider a long cycle? 34 days too long?

Mrs.Reem

You should ovulate by cd 25 so 34 days should be okay.