Which FF detection method are you using and why?

GhanimaAtreides · February 2016

I searched and found an old thread like this but it's from 2013 and Fertility Friend has changed algorithms considerably since then. I think it's time for an updated survey.

TheBorg7of9 · February 2016

I use advanced unless I don't like the answer. Then I experiment until I'm happy with the result.

beforeyou · February 2016

This is my first cycle using FAM. It had me oing later than advanced so I think I'll stick with FAM for now just to make sure my bases are covered because DH and I are inclined to break from HIO for a bit after I pass my O date. But I'll probably go back and forth to see what each setting says just in case.

sarah0985 · February 2016

TheBorg7of9 said:

I use advanced unless I don't like the answer. Then I experiment until I'm happy with the result.

I tend to do this as well. Out of 4 ovulation detection cycles, FAM has made the most sense for 3. Advanced has only made sense on 1.
So ive played around a bit till I'm satisfied

Lulucooks · February 2016

Changing the setting never moves my Ovulation date, so I leave it on Advanced.

sldp123 · February 2016

Lulucooks said:

Changing the setting never moves my Ovulation date, so I leave it on Advanced.

Same here. I honestly don't understand the difference between the two, but admittedly I've never researched it much since I always have the same O date either way.

MonaLisaRalphio · February 2016

I just switched to FAM because Advanced insists that I 100% for suresies O'ed on my last two cycles and, no, sorry, I definitely didn't. So I think Advanced is a little too rainbows and unicorns for me, at least now, while my body is still doing the wacky. But if you are someone who ovulates consistently, I don't think it really matters.

furbabymom2007 · February 2016

sldp123 said:

Lulucooks said:

Changing the setting never moves my Ovulation date, so I leave it on Advanced.

Same here. I honestly don't understand the difference between the two, but admittedly I've never researched it much since I always have the same O date either way.

I usually just play with it until I like the answer as well.

I think that the difference is that the advanced method takes into account more data (cm, cp, OPKs, temp, maybe some symptoms, maybe your own charting history as well as uses the database of charts to fine tune the algorithms) while the FAM is mostly temperature based.

if you have conflicting signs, then you may see a difference when you switch detection methods.

michmich11 · February 2016

Just switched to FAM as per @GhanimaAtreides advice. I found myself taking out CM and OPK data on advanced that caused FF to give O date that didn't align with temps. I trust the temps more and FAM lets me keep my CM and OPK data without trying to switch O date around. Not sure if that was clear but basically FAM seems to make more sense for me right now.

MamaMunn · February 2016

I typically check my chart with both FAM and advanced, just to make sure I have my bases covered. I have long irregular cycles so once O passes DH and I are pretty sexed out and stop HIO. I like to check both just in case there is more than one option for O day. I would hate to stop HIO too early and then miss an entire cycle just because one method said one thing over the other. That being said, both methods usually give me the same O date. I'm just a worry wort

Neikoda · February 2016

TheBorg7of9 said:

I use advanced unless I don't like the answer. Then I experiment until I'm happy with the result.

Same. Although since I recently restarted, there isn't much difference between them.

MrsDho11 · February 2016

I typically leave it on advanced and it doesn't really seem to make a difference. I did have to manually put in my CH for a cycle (the first temping) because I turned the heater on in our apartment while WTO and it gave me an intermediary increase in temps.

GhanimaAtreides · February 2016

I can't stand the new Advanced. It must have changed since last July when I last charted because it wasn't an issue then. This time around last cycle, despite the temp shift, it assigned O two days early because... Idk, I'm not a robot and my signs don't align perfectly. Two days off on a FW is HUGE. Especially as it's been said here, you assume you're covered so you ease up on HIO. Assigning O in total disregard for a clear temp shift makes all my TCOYF-spidey-senses go beserk. So I switched to FAM and I'm pretty passionate about it. To me Advanced is like Oprah... "Everybody gets crosshairs!" and sure enough, there are tons of temp-wise anovulatory charts listed as ovulatory in the chart-gallery now which make me a bit bonkers.

I was really curious if Advanced was working well for some and it looks like it does.

PennStateCait · February 2016

So glad you started this thread! My O date actually is changing based on the detector setting this month (only by a day but when we're talking -4 timing or -5 timing, that's important to me).

I definitely do what @TheBorg7of9 does though! I played around with it until the result made me happy enough.

Advanced currently has my O date on CD18 which is what I prefer this month (-4 timing) but Research (what I usually have it set on because it's strictly VIP and for some reason makes it feel more accurate to me, but it's probably not) is what I usually have it set on and that's giving me CD19 with -5 timing. FAM agrees with Research but since that's not making me happy I'll disregard the fact that two detection settings agree.

atcwag · February 2016

Advanced made more sense for me last month (first month charting). It lines up with O cramping and CM. FAM had me Oing a few days later when EWCM was long gone.
Looking back, FAM also would have made me have a short LP, so I'm hoping my advanced date was more accurate.

ETA words

felix08 · February 2016

@GhanimaAtreides Thank you for starting this thread!! I just posted a question about which method to use in my TWW post. Still not totally clear on which will be best for me, but I'm going to follow suit and use whichever one seems to be best on a certain cycle. I think I'll stick with whichever one gives me the later O date because, as you said, it's better to be safe than sorry. Also, if I falsely believe that I Oed earlier than I did then I am sure to become BSC thinking I'm pregnant when I'm not.

Marley629 · February 2016

Mine is on advanced currently but like others above, I have played around with the settings when I believe it's wrong and change to FAM which usually matches better with how I'm feeling/temps.

hupp0013 · February 2016

Mine is on advanced too. I haven't played with the settings in a long time. I have typically agreed with my O dates though.

babymish · February 2016

I didnt even know there was another setting until recently. I used advanced. I did try out FAM this month and it put O on CD16 which I did not like and quickly changed it back.

Plus I dont agree with that as my CM and OPKs didnt line up .

MonaLisaRalphio · February 2016

@GhanimaAtreides I remember reading when I started charting in November that they had recently updated the Advanced algorithm. I've heard a number of people say that the new formula sucks.

TheBorg7of9 · February 2016

I have a good example if anyone wants to give input. This is my chart for December. Since my last m/c I have had 9 day lps, except my most recent one. This one, I am not sure it if was 9 or 11 days. FAM gives me an 11 day LP. And advanced have me a 9 day LP. I can't get the advanced one to show up I my phone.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/ya/ayf6pl26fhlr.jpg

GhanimaAtreides · February 2016

@TheBorg7of9 I'd put O at practically overnight CD15-16. The attached one is FAM? It looks like advanced with the low cover line. That's usually been the giveaway that it's the advanced setting. A FAM cover line would've been closer to 97.5-6 I think? (edit temps)

wintersong · February 2016

I think in my case I like Advanced BUT I deleted all of my cp info because it was so changeable it actually was messing up my crosshairs in Advanced. (FAM it kept the crosshairs on the date I thought made sense.) It's like it doesn't want to give me an O date on a day that I dont have a high, soft and open, even if all signs point to it??

Here's a question: is the FAM detection good at spotting slow rise temps? My temperatures tend to rise slowly over a series of days. Sometimes it takes a day or two to clear my coverline. Would FAM put an O date later than Advanced in this case? (Haven't been doing it long enough to be sure I see a difference.)

babymish · February 2016

@TheBorg7of9 I would have put O at CD15, but I guess the CM throws advanced off. I think CD15 lines up better with the OPK and Temps.

JayJay1212 · February 2016

@PennStateCait I don't understand "Research" or the criteria it uses...do you have any idea? Both FAM and Advanced give me cross hairs for the same day this month (incidentally, I kinda think it happened the day after they both think, but it's not the algorithms' fault that I drank and screwed up my temps), but Research doesn't give me any cross hairs (I had a fairly slow rise, but am firmly in post-o temps). No thank you, Research!

I have always used advanced, but when I checked all my cycles with FAM it took away CH for my last cycle which was one of my most super obvious ovulation cycles. I am pretty sure it was because my temp dropped with my normal LP, but AF didn't come for a random additional 2 days. Anyway, it makes me weary of FAM because of that... like "how dare you take away my beautiful CH!" Felt like a personal slight

. Looking back at that cycle, advanced moved my CH super low after my pre-AF temp dip happened. But I suppose what happens to a chart after the fact doesn't really matter at all.

khbear · February 2016

I used advanced for my 3 previous cycles, but I switched to FAM this month because I had to assign O the last 2 cycles. I don't know if FAM will work out better for me yet, though. I only use CM and temping (I add some secondary signs but I don't think FF uses those).

LadyMillil · February 2016

Advanced. My O dates make sense based on all my signs. I tried FAM one cycle after reading something here and it couldn't handle me marking "Spotting " for every day in my LP despite a clear temp shift, +opk and ewcm lining up.

cjt121413 · February 2016

@TheBorg7of9 I would've thought CD 15 also.

I use Advanced because FF says to and I'm a rule follower.

TheBorg7of9 · February 2016

GhanimaAtreides said:

@TheBorg7of9 I'd put O at practically overnight CD15-16. The attached one is FAM? It looks like advanced with the low cover line. That's usually been the giveaway that it's the advanced setting. A FAM cover line would've been closer to 97.5-6 I think? (edit temps)

You're right. The attached one is the Advanced. Advanced put it at 14, FAM put it at 16. Research put it at 14.

PennStateCait · February 2016

JayJay1212 said:

@PennStateCait I don't understand "Research" or the criteria it uses...do you have any idea? Both FAM and Advanced give me cross hairs for the same day this month (incidentally, I kinda think it happened the day after they both think, but it's not the algorithms' fault that I drank and screwed up my temps), but Research doesn't give me any cross hairs (I had a fairly slow rise, but am firmly in post-o temps). No thank you, Research!

I seriously have no clue but in its little blurb FF flaunts it as "Advanced" but with new-fangled technology/beta testing if I'm remembering correctly. So you know.. that sounds fancy to me most months. But then this month when I disagree with it I'm all convincing myself that that means it's unreliable.

GhanimaAtreides · February 2016

I'd almost guess Research is their algorithm sandbox for the next rollout of Advanced.

JayJay1212 · February 2016

I certainly hope "Research" isn't going to become the new "advanced". I just went through my cycles with "research", one cycle it gave me a 5 day LP and then next 13, one was 10. Like....really? I seriously doubt my LP fluctuates that much.
I can see the rhyme and reason when I look at what FAM and advanced give me (usually the same), but "research" looks like it just chooses at random!

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