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CBEFM vs. OPKs and IUI

susan1017susan1017 member
in Infertility

I am starting my first IUI cycle and I am not going to be medicated.  My RE told me to chart and use CBE digital OPK sticks.

The 'problem' is that I have been using the CBEFM and I find it very accurate for me. I told my RE that my chart and the monitor agree every month and that I prefer to continue to use it. He says that he thinks the digital sticks are more accurate and he wants me to use the digital sticks. I just feel that making the switch now is silly since it will just be one more thing to worry about.

My question is, does it really matter what method I use CBEFM or CBE OPK? Will he want to see the sticks?  I want to follow my DRs orders but I am just so comfortable using the monitor. Is this really something to get bent over or should I just make the switch and suck it up?
TIA

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Re: CBEFM vs. OPKs and IUI

  • Ali212Ali212 member
    I will say the OPKs have been more accurate than the CBEFM has for me.  The CBEFM worked for awhile but over the past 5-6 months, it stopped showing when I ovulated...sometimes it did, sometimes it didn't (and I was ovulating b/c I was on clomid so monitored).  I started using OPKs in conjunction with it and I found they still always identified when I was about to ovulate.  I would use the OPKs - if you're serious about getting pregnant, I would take a professional's advice.  If you really feel more comfortable with the CBEFM, use that in conjunction with the OPKs as double insurance.  That's what I did for awhile...now I'm completely off using the CBEFM (my RE also recommended the OPK).  My RE has never wanted to see the sticks.  Considering I'm an adult, she trusts i can read them and report accurately back to her clinic. 
    5 IUIs | 4 IVFs | 2 sweet little girls Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • stepgirl21stepgirl21 member
    I'm on my first IUI. I have used the CBEFM with charting for over a year now and it has always been very accurate for me as well. I asked my doc and she said that I could use either the opk sticks or the CBEFM, that it does not matter. She said either are just fine.She doesn't want to see the sticks, I'm just supposed to call her when I get my surge. If I was you, i would probably stick with your CBEFM but thats just me. You may want to follow your RE's advice.

    Baby Beau
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    TTC #1 for 5 years - Many years, many tears 3 Clomid IUIs all BFN IVF#1 w/ ICSI = BFP!!!! Beta #1 - 157 11dp3dt, Beta #2 - 340 13dp3dt


    FET for #2 9/1/11 Beta #1 9dp5dt - 153!!! Beta #2 11dp5dt - 426!!! Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
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    Psalm 113:9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.
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  • schoolsoutbrideschoolsoutbride
    Can you just use both?
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  • Goldengirl16Goldengirl16 member
    I used the CBEFM religiously for awhile too, but found the OPK's worked better and my doctor used them over the CBEFM.  Good luck!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker IUI #1~BFP!!! Beta #1~13dpo 100 Beta #2~15dpo 216 BabyFruit Ticker
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  • susan1017susan1017 member

    Thanks ladies!

    I guess I can do both but it is pretty cost prohbitive to do it every month.  Doing both this month as a transition is a good idea, so thanks!

    I am surprised to hear that CBEFM is not as accurate as the sticks considering the cost of the darn thing! 

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  • farmerswife06farmerswife06 member
    My doctor told me she perferred the CBEFM over the OPKs cause she seemed to think it was more accurate becuase it stores all your info. But that was my doc. Just thought I would throw that out there. Drs can be soo confusing some times. Mine has been accurate ever since I started charting along with it. If you were comfortable with it I don't see why he would think that the moniter was inferior.

    <08/03 diagnosed with PCOS started BCPs.
    11/18/06 married
    3/08 stoped BCP
    10/08 gyno said to get a CBEFM and come back in 6 months
    3/09 started acupuncture and herbs to help fertility started charting. No ovulation for over 6 months!
    09/09 first appt with RE
    10/09 HSG tubes clear everything looks good!
    10/09 hubby has super sperm! He is perfect!
    11/09 T.I. with Gonal-F, no Ovulation. cycle cancelled
    MIL got diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and we put our TTC plans on hold until chemo appt weren't taking over our daily lives.
    11/12 started on 1000mgs Metformin
    2/13 1st round of Clomid 50mgs no Ovulation
    3/13 2nd round of Clomid 100mgs no Ovulation
    4/13 3rd round of Clomid 150 mgs no Ovulation
    4/13 OB/GYN gave up and referred me to another RE
    5/13 RE prescribed 2.5mg Femara with Follitism along w/ 1500mgs Met
    5/13 Large Cyst ended up benching me for this cycle
    6/13 Cyst ruptured on its own.
    7/13 Benched for one cycle
    8/13 Femara 2.5mg (5 days) 2x a day w/ 75 iuis of Gonal F. (8days) W/ 10000 mcg HCG only produced 2 good follies BFN
    9/13 benched again (they called it a rest LOL!!)
    10/13 femara 2.5mgs (5 days) 2x a day w/ 112.5 of Gonal F (8days)
    w/ 1000 mcg of HCG produced 4 good follies
    BFP!!! HOLY FREAKING CRAP!!! Didn't see that coming!! Not in a million years!! LOL!

    11/26/13 no heartbeat at 7 wks waiting to miscarry

    started to bleed on 12/1/13 bled off and on for 2wks ended up having to schdule a D&C

    12/16/13 D&C

    1/14 hubby and I talk ourselves into ourselves into one  last cycle, after this we are going to stop to give ourselves a break!

    2/14 femara 2.5mgs (5 days) 2x a day w/ 150. iuis of Gonal F (11days)
    w/ 1000 mcg of HCG produced 4 good follies (both of us got sick during prime baby making time so only a couple times of baby making happened.)

    3/20/14 CD34 2 positive tests! Started progesterone as soon as I saw that positive! Stick Jelly bean stick!!

    After 6 1/2 years of trying for a baby we are finally pregnant and this little one wants to stay put!

    6/14 was told baby had 1 in 30 chance of having Down Syndrome from blood work... how should we proceed... Nothing! I worked my butt off for this lil one I'm not going to end its life before it begins!

    7/14 20 wk ultrasound. 3 hours worth of scanning trying to measure all the soft markers! Not one soft marker for Down Syndrome. So I just quite worrying about it. Its a Healthy Little Boy!

    11/14 measuring really large. 95th percentile! Head measuring very large!

    11/24/14 went in for induction. Lil guy got stuck trying to push my bladder out so after 17 hours of labor had to have a c section... 

    11/25/14 Lil Man Was born by C-section And I Wouldn't have changed anything! I tried really hard to get him here. I did everything I could do! >

     

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