Ovulation tests

[Lavendartea]

I was using clear blue digital ovulation tests and would get a positive solid smiley each month. I recently switched to the basic opk strips but didn't get a positive this month. Has anyone experienced similar?

[Miracle43]

Hi Lavendartea, I've just ordered the strips, never used them before, they are due for delivery tomorrow,

I'm interested in any replies. I currently use the Ovusense sensor but decided to try the strips awell. Giving everything and anything a go at the moment. Sorry Im not of any help xx

[Solly-44]

Me!

I only ever got positives on the clear blue digital (and even then only on the purple one not the cheaper pink one) but never on the strips. I’m sure I’ve seen a few ladies on here say the same

[Hidden]

Hi I never got any Lh surges from any opk except clearblue digital ones. Cheap ones unfortunately never worked for me!!! As long as you try every other you’ll still have just as good chance of conceiving. All the best xxx

[Hidden]

How often are you using the cheap strips? You need to do them at least a couple of times a day from about day 8 of your cycle.

They are also quite time sensitive so if you 'nearly' got a positive and then it started fading again you may have missed the actual positive if you were doing them eg once a day x

[Lavendartea in reply to Hidden]

Yes, was just doing once a day, I. Had a feint line for a couple of days but that was all.

[Picalilli99 in reply to Hidden]

I would second this Lavendartea - I thought for ages that I wasn’t ovulating because I couldn’t seem to get a full positive on the cheap tests. But then I started testing in the afternoons too and realised I seemed to have a short-lived peak in the afternoon which I sometimes missed if only testing AM xx

[Hidden]

Like Picalilli says if you test twice a day or more you will get a clearer picture. It could be you got your peak in between those two faint lines. I actually read somewhere you are supposed to do them every four hours once you get a line but not sure if that’s just to get you to use more and so buy more! Also you can have false peaks - so I often get a nearly positive and then it disappears and then about 24/48 hours later I will go from no line to positive and back again in the space of a day. With these if you get a positive you will ovulate between 12 and 36 hours later (normally 24g good luck x

[Fingerscrossed38]

I used to use the Clear Blue Advanced monitor which only allowed me to test in the morning once a day.

I've since discovered the Clear Blue DUAL HORMONE ovulation sticks and they're a million times better as you can test as often as you like throughout the day! I almost missed the my LH surge but luckily decide to test at midnight one night and got my peak! I was able to go straight into see my Dr early the next morning and get my trigger shot.

It's so much better than those sticks where you have to read the line and figure out if it darker etc. These dual hormone sticks come with a box of sticks and a mini reader which will read each stick and let you know with the smiley face etc.

[Hidden]

Same here. Got lines 4days in a row. Now because the test line isnt as dark as the control line means not ovulating. But for someone who is irregular, it does approximately show when my fertile week ‘might’ be as the rest of the month the line is faint. Every consultant i met so far said dont chart just do bd 2 or 3 times a week. Not helpful maybe x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My consultant said the same - basically testing adds to the stress, just DTD every other day... easier said than done though eh!? x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Especially if ur cycles are 60+ days. 😳

[Tigr in reply to Hidden]

If you are irregular, they might not work at all. At least I was told that they are absolutely useless with my pcos (and the irregular long cycles).

[Lavendartea in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I did realise it was making me more agitated, I'm wondering whether to stop testing as I'm so so preoccupied with it all.

[Hidden in reply to Lavendartea]

I have kept testing just because its making me feel like I am doing something positive towards ttc whilst I wait for ivf to restart. AF got me yesterday 6/7 days early and I had CONVINCED myself I was pregnant so I was absolutely gutted - only thing that kept me going was planning next month and all the proactive things I could do (then had a glass of wine!) xx

[Lavendartea in reply to Hidden]

Absalotely, doing all the reading and trying to do all I can feels like at least I am doing something... But at other times I wonder if I'm adding to my stress by constantly thinking about it.

I wish you all the best!

[Hidden in reply to Lavendartea]

You are all right it might not even help detecting ovulation but i just want to believe im normal and have an ovulation so i keep testing too. When doctors or people say just let it go it will happen they have never wanted something as bad as us where letting go isnt an option. If it was an option im sure No person in his right mind would want this situation 🤭