Fertility Monitor

Myers729 · January 2011

Hi all!

Just curious. Has anyone purchased a fertility monitor. If so, How do you like it compared to the OPKs? I find that the OPKs are hard to read. I am never sure about them.

Glowconsin · January 2011

I have one, don't use it anymore. It's good if you don't chart or anything, and it's easier than OPK's. It's also good if your cycle is irregular. However, if you chart and your cycle is pretty consistent, there's not much benefit.

Mrs. Mo · January 2011

Glowconsin:
I have one, don't use it anymore. It's good if you don't chart or anything, and it's easier than OPK's. It's also good if your cycle is irregular. However, if you chart and your cycle is pretty consistent, there's not much benefit.

Ditto.

Also, once you start treatments, you are monitored closely ( or should be) so even charting & OPKs can be stopped.

99luftballoons · January 2011

I have one and have used it for over a year, but I think this is the last cycle I will use it. The last few cycles it has been useless for some reason. One month it was nothing but high readings. The next month it never showed ovulation and then this month it went from low to peak. If I wasn't being monitored, I would just chalk it up to my body, but it's not me- my blood work is showing a surge (and my temps are confirming it, along with my follicle sizes) but the monitor just keeps missing it.

If I wasn't being monitored, I probably would have missed my fertile period all 3 months. I like the cheapie OPKs because I can see them getting darker leading up to O and because you can do them in the afternoon and evening, you have less of a chance of missing your surge. Just my 2 cents.

keeptryin · January 2011

I use the Ovacue 2 monitor and also the Clear Blue Easy fertility monitor sticks. I actually read them. I know which line is the estrogen and which is the LH. When I got pg with my son I used the CBEFM to time hcg and IUI. I am currently using it to time ultrasounds/IUI. My cycles are very irregular and last month on clomid I o'd on cd 13 and this month on cd 21. Same dose. So without the monitors I would have wasted money on ultrasounds. I go to the local university hospital and they are flexable and encourage self monitoring to time IUI's.

The monitors have saved my cycles! For instance, I went in to the doc yesterday to check on my cysts because last month I had a 5 cm on each side. I was having increased pain and figured this cycle was a bust because the Ovacue said I peaked but my cm wasn't lining up and it was so late in my cycle. At the RE office the doc said my left cyst was the same but the right had shrunk to 25 mm. He said it "could" be a follicle but not likely and sice it was cd 20 go ahead and take the provera because I was anovulatory. I just couldn't give up yet. I wanted to wait another few days. Low an behold I POAS last night and got a peak! It was a follicle!It lined up perfectly with my Ovacue peak. This am tons of CM and another peak so we went ahead and did IUI. I am positive fertility friend will give me lines in a few days.

It is a science but it has saved us a bundle.

keeptryin · January 2011

Oh and I do use the CBEFM sticks at least twice a day. If I hadn't yesterday I would have missed my surge. And like the pp said the actual CBEFM was useless. I have to read the sticks myself. I sold my monitor on ebay. I think it works lets say 75% of the time. The Ovacu I love so far now. It has been spot on.