clearblue fertility monitors....

[*babydust*]

are they good for women with irregular periods (like me)?
im thinking of getting one,but since their so expensive,i dont want to risk getting one and it not working for me..any one have any thoughts on it?

 

[dakini]

Sorry, don't know anything about it, but didn't want to read and run. I'm sure someone else will be able to help.

 

[poppy]

Have you tried using normal OPKs or the Clearblue Digital OPKs - they are really good (albeit expensive - around £20.00 for seven sticks)? I suppose they are not so good if you are very irregular - but if you try using them during the middle of your cycle - around day 12 - 14, this gives you up until day 19 - 21 to catch ovulation.

I don't know about the Clearblue Monitor - they are quite expensive aren't they, around £100? You could possibly get cheaper on Ebay. There is a thread about it somewhere on the TTC Products sub-forum where some members have reviewed it. I think you test every day, so this would probably be better than normal opks for an irregular cycle. How irregular are you?

 

[*babydust*]

Have you tried using normal OPKs or the Clearblue Digital OPKs - they are really good (albeit expensive - around £20.00 for seven sticks)? I suppose they are not so good if you are very irregular - but if you try using them during the middle of your cycle - around day 12 - 14, this gives you up until day 19 - 21 to catch ovulation.

I don't know about the Clearblue Monitor - they are quite expensive aren't they, around £100? You could possibly get cheaper on Ebay. There is a thread about it somewhere on the TTC Products sub-forum where some members have reviewed it. I think you test every day, so this would probably be better than normal opks for an irregular cycle. How irregular are you?

i can go from between 4-6 weeks from one period to the next,so its really hard for me to determine when the best time is going to be

 

[poppy]

You should check out the post on the Fertility Monitors on the TTC Product sub forum as this sounds better for you than regular opks - unless you buy cheapies.

 

[NeyNey]

the Monitor does advice that it's not good for irregular cycles. Although I'm still waiting on mine to arrive, so I'm only going on what I've read online.

Have you ever thought of trying Vitex? It's a natural supplement that is known for helping women regulate their cycles and increase chance of ovulation?

 

[*babydust*]

the Monitor does advice that it's not good for irregular cycles. Although I'm still waiting on mine to arrive, so I'm only going on what I've read online.

Have you ever thought of trying Vitex? It's a natural supplement that is known for helping women regulate their cycles and increase chance of ovulation?

hi,no ive never heard of it tbh,can i pick it up from a chemists?

 

[Arcanegirl]

I think the monitor can work for irregular cycles but it wont be a cheap option as you would probably need the full box of 20 sticks per cycle.

 

[NeyNey]

hi,no ive never heard of it tbh,can i pick it up from a chemists?

I'm not sure, it's a natural supplement, I bought some bottles off Ebay (lol I buy everything on ebay ) It's also known as agnus castus. I think a pharmacy should have it, if not a health store might.

 

[*babydust*]

I'm not sure, it's a natural supplement, I bought some bottles off Ebay (lol I buy everything on ebay ) It's also known as agnus castus. I think a pharmacy should have it, if not a health store might.

im a self-confessed ebay addict!!!!!!!!thanks for the info..off shopping for me tommrow

 

[avistar]

I think CB fertility monitor would be a good choice in helping figure out when you O. I ordered one. I think AF is coming so it should get here right on time. I also have irregular periods...right now I am like 12 days late. It will be expensive however, since you don't ever know when you O! I tired the cheaper opks and didn't really like them at all. Best of luck~

 

[*babydust*]

I think CB fertility monitor would be a good choice in helping figure out when you O. I ordered one. I think AF is coming so it should get here right on time. I also have irregular periods...right now I am like 12 days late. It will be expensive however, since you don't ever know when you O! I tired the cheaper opks and didn't really like them at all. Best of luck~

im definatly going to get one,anything to help me with my BFP! good luck to you with your CB monitor,let me no how it goes for you

 

[avistar]

I definitely will! I am so anxious for my period to start so that I can move onto a new cycle! If I didn't O this last cycle, then I am sure to O this coming one, you would think anyway~!

 

[Tishimouse]

Hi there,

There is a big long paragraph in the booklet that comes with the monitor in relation to the Limitations on Use for it. If you bear with me, I will write here what it says word for word:

Apologies for the length of post by the way. But there is information here that does not feature on the Clearblue website and the only way of reading it would be to buy a monitor and open the packaging. I hope it helps some of you.

"The Clearblue Fertility Monitor is suitable for women whose natural cycle normally lasts between 21 and 42 days. The majority of women will need 10 Test Sticks in each cycle. However, women with irregular or long cycles may have to use 20 Test Sticks each cycle in order to detect their most fertile time.

Certain medical conditions and medications can adversely affect the performance of the Monitor. Women who have menopausal symptoms, polycycstic ovarian syndrome, impaired liver or kidney function, are pregnant or have recently been pregnant (even if not carried to full term), may get misleading results. Similarly misleading results may be obtained by women using antibiotics containing tetracyclines, hormonal treatments (eg hormonal contraception, hormone replacement therapy), fertility treatments containing human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) or Luteinising Hormone (LH), or any treatment that might affect their cycle. Clomiphene citrate may elevate estrogen levels and this may result in High Fertility being declared early in the cycle and more High Days being displayed, and in some cases the Monitor may not show Peak Fertility even when ovulation occurs. We therefore recommend that women taking clomiphene citrate consult their doctor for advice before using the Clearblue Fertility Monitor. Always read the manufacturers instructions for any medication that you are taking before conducting a test.

Women who have recently been breastfeeding, using hormonal treatments (eg hormonal contraception, including emergency contraception, fertility treatments, hormone replacement therapy), or any other treatment that might affect their cycle, may wish to wait until they have at least two natural menstrual cycles in a row (each lasting 21-42 days), before using the Clearblue Fertility Monitor.

Women who have recently been pregnant (even if not carried to full term) may still have hCG in their bodies. HCG can adversely affect the performance of the Monitor. Therefore they are advised to wait until they have had at least two natural menstrual cycles in a row (each lasting 21-42 days), before using the Clearblue Fertility Monitor.

Please speak to your doctor if you need further advice."

 

[*babydust*]

thankyou,thats really helpful,im just in the safe zone,my cycle can last between 28-42 days,so i should be ok with using the monitor.might cost me a fortune in sticks though,but anything goes on my quest for a BFP!

 

[akcher]

The CBEFM hasn't worked for me because of my irregular cycles. If you have long cycles I do not recommend buying this.

When you start test with cycle day 1, the monitor has you start testing on CD6. Every cycle the maxium tests they have you use is 20 sticks. CD6-25. So if you ovulate past day CD25 the monitor will not pick it up. Now after using my monitor for a few cycles, the start test date is for me is CD9. (Testing CD9-28). I don't know why it doesn't have me test later but it's been like that for a few cycles now. I have 30-60 days cycles and when my cycles are long, I will use the 20 sticks and still find that I have no peak reading. So I have to supplement with OPKs at the end.

 

[*babydust*]

my last few cycles havent been too bad,just waiting to see what this month brings,im having some simptoms,and hoping that their pregnancy,not AF related.thats the trouble with irregular cycles,you never can be sure what exactly is going on

 

[justme00]

The CBEFM hasn't worked for me because of my irregular cycles. If you have long cycles I do not recommend buying this.

When you start test with cycle day 1, the monitor has you start testing on CD6. Every cycle the maxium tests they have you use is 20 sticks. CD6-25. So if you ovulate past day CD25 the monitor will not pick it up. Now after using my monitor for a few cycles, the start test date is for me is CD9. (Testing CD9-28). I don't know why it doesn't have me test later but it's been like that for a few cycles now. I have 30-60 days cycles and when my cycles are long, I will use the 20 sticks and still find that I have no peak reading. So I have to supplement with OPKs at the end.

You could always cheat it and tell it you're on CD1 when you are really on cd3 etc. That way it will let you test later in your cycle? That way it will not tell you to test until later in your cycle.

 

[akcher]

Thanks! I haven't thought of that!

 

[avistar]

I just got my cbfm! I am very happy and have it all ready to go! I just need to start my period now!!!!!! I read in the packet that it picks up on your hormone readings from day 1 so wouldn't it be able to tell that you could be having a long cycle, since it reads all kinds of hormones??? I have some extra opks just in case too. COMMON YOU BLOODY !!! <~~(sorry I am currently 14 days late!!!) and have had AF cramps for the past like 4-5 days!