Curious — how early do you test after ovulation

2dogsmom · May 2019

Hi all,
I am curious how others handle the TWW. How early do people test?

When we first started trying I was testing as early as the test would allow. I kept thinking I was pregnant. Then about 8 months into trying I switched to waiting for my period and wouldn’t let myself test until at least 2 days after I expected AF (of course I have really random cycles so it’s always a guess) so I didn’t have to test most cycles. I’ve stuck with that for quite a while now because I felt like seeing that no was just too depressing.

Recently I have been thinking about trying to test earlier again.

I would love to hear your thoughts on early testing vs. waiting the full two weeks plus.

hithertorue · May 2019

Ugh! The worst part of the TWW! I have fallen into the don't test at all group. But have had a few cycles where I didn't chart and didn't know when I ovulated because I thought that would help my sanity (elective ignorance, pretend like we don't care), which was fine during the cycle but when I'd start getting closer to my usual cycle length then I couldn't help thinking about it and wondering and I went crazy symptom spotting and testing. So I quickly went back to charting and OPKs (I tried easy@home and the clear blue digital, i preferred the easy@home... though I did once get a defective box but Amazon took it back half empty for a full refund!)

With my charting I can usually see my bbt is on the down trend by 12 DPO and usually if I test I try to not test until after that point.

All that being said I think you need to just do what will help relieve the stress of the TWW the most for you when you're in the moment. Sometimes symptom spotting can be more painful and more stressful than just seeing the negative test.... I don't think there's one best way to go about it and it will vary cycle to cycle!

chiblackhawkie · May 2019

With IUI, my doctor has told me not to test until 16 days after the procedure. Last cycle I listened to him.. this cycle I may take a cheap test 14 days after the trigger shot (that's when I've read any hormones from the shot will have worn out).

Only a few days off... Buuut this way I can get rid of any false hope haha. I agree with @hithertorue, it's whatever keeps you the most sane during this frustratingly long time of waiting.

sincethelastday · May 2019

@2dogsmom - I’m also a member of the “do not test” club and just wait for my period to appear. Like you and others, I was just finding it way too hard to see that BFN. I’ve only really tested when I was really feeling like it could be the one, but of course that just made seeing the BFN harder. My clinic gives you a day when they want you to do a HPT when doing an IUI cycle so I guess I’ll just have to suck it up and get used to doing them again for this little while. But I totally get you - the TWW is torture and I hope you find some way to bear it!

sara_tory · May 2019

My clinic wants you to do the blood test on cd29 after the IUI on day 14 which is when I get my period. I also don't test before then because I know a negative would just get me thinking "maybe it's just too early, maybe it will be positive tomorrow". And then I would test again, and it would turn into a whole vicious cycle. So I just wait for AF. It's so hard though!

inthewoods23 · May 2019

Yeah I stopped testing around maybe month.... 8 or 10? I remember around month 6 is when the BFNs started really taking a toll on me - like cry in the bathroom and require consoling from DH before leaving for work kind of toll.

With my IUIs, since I always went in for a blood test I didn't bother testing at home after my first 2. My 3rd IUI I was supposed to go back on a Saturday when I was out of town so they told me to just schedule the test for the following Monday (16dpiui). I didn't want to get bad news on a Monday so I tested the Thursday before (12dpiui) prior to going out of town. I think I tested again that Saturday because I was clinging on to this hope that 12dpiui could still be too early to turn a test

silly me.

2dogsmom · May 2019

@sara_tory and @inthewoods23 I’ve totally done the “maybe it’s too early” thought process too, leading to testing again and again.

nancinator · May 2019

The first couple of months, I would test and then I thought... what’s the point really? If AF is coming, learning about it a few days earlier won’t help. Also it was getting expensive 😂

projectalice · May 2019

I wish I had that self control, but I can't seem to help myself. I start around 9dpo pretty often. 🙈 I'm always disappointed though, so I don't know why I bother.

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