are ovulation tests any good?

[griffintribe]

are ovulation tests any good?

[MrsTulkinghorn]

They worked for me. I was not sure when I ovulated and therefore when to concentrate our "activity". The first month I used them I conceived. I used the Clear Blue ones.

[griffintribe]

Test says that when positive the ovulation will occur within 24-36 hours and so have sex then. How many times should we have sex and over what time period

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

These are certainly not of any use if the menstrual cycle is irregular in nature.

OPK's can be fraught with problems anyway as they work on two misleading principles. Usage of such kits assumes that women only have one rise in levels of LH every month and that such a rise is immediately followed by ovulation. Both of these assumptions are simply not true.

[TaylorsMummy]

can anyone who uses these tell me what happens after ovulation? if you have already ovulated would there be no line at all? (apart from the test line)

[HonorMatopoeia]

The test gives you a guideline of when to start testing based on the length of your average cycle. Test within those days and 7 sticks is usually enough to catch your LH flow. If you have been unfortinate enough to miss it then you'll just get the test line, yes. However, I agree that if you have a particularly irregular cycle then they may not work for you. Mine was irregular but only within 8 days so I tookan average and they worked for me both times.

[TaylorsMummy]

thanks

[Gangle]

I'm using clearblue ovulation tests for the first time this month and I'm finding them a bit confusing. I started testing on CD 11, which was negative, as was CD 12, 13 and 14 (today). My cycle is a pretty regular 28 day cycle so unclear as to why I haven't ovulated. How acccurate are they? Could I have ovulated and the test missed it?

[poppy34]

don't know about whether or not you've ovluated gangle but I found clearblue very temperamental to use and gave up in the end (it was getting too expensive and I'm sure that there is some kind of syndrome where you get obsessed with urine based testing). so could well be them.

Found the superdrug ones easier to use

[Gangle]

thanks Poppy. I was going to use them for just 1 month to get an idea of when I am ovulating and to confirm that I actually am!! Never really have any signs so would be relieved to know all is working correctly! just read on another thread that someone tested in the morning and it was negative then again in the afternoon and got a positive so may try that now!

[Thelittlesoldiersmummy]

lol poppy re urine based tests that is so true

I am using them too this month my cycle is usually about 32 days so I sould have oved today but the test still show neg !

Next month I am going to try testing to get away from the urine testing whihc I am getting obsessed with lol

[rozzyraspberry]

They kind of worked for me. I used cheap ones from access diagnostics as I had just came off the pill and wasn't sure at all when I would ovulate. I did a test at around 5pm one day and the line was stronger than any of the others I'd had although still not nearly as strong as the control line (instructions said test line had to be as dark or darker than control line). Because I'd read that you shouldn't pee for a few hours when you did the test and it had only been about an hour since my last trip when I did the test I did another at 8pm. Was quite dark this time although still not quite as dark as the control line. Thought this meant that the lh surge was on its way up and I would get a true positive ov the next day. So got down to some serious bd. However, next day the test line was gone!

One week later I had an implantation bleed and sure enough I'm pregnant. The instructions didn't say to wait 4 hours after last toilet visit before doing the test although I have subsequently read on the website that you should do that. So my advice would be that they can be useful but save up the wee a bit before testing so the hormone is more concentrated and you get your true positive ov. Had I not done that extra test at 8pm that night I would have missed the surge.

Good luck

[coleyboy]

I used Persona as birthcontrol and was pregnant within 3 months of using it.

Whoops!!!

But a very happy 'accident'!!!!!!!!

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

i bought the clearblue kit with the sticks you pee on every day 14 days after your period or whenever it is.
i did one one cold morning in november as dh was out the door on his way to work...

'it's time!' i screamed.

'what? right now?' he asks.

'yes, right now, my egg wont wait!'

'it wont wait till tonight when i get back?'

'no' (sniffs....)

'guess i'm gonna be late then! shame!!'

lol

In July, ds1 arrived, right on cue!

[Thelittlesoldiersmummy]

did another test last night at about 8 and sure enough there was the line so maybe they do work !

[goingfor3]

Thgey worked for me. My cycle was a bit irregular so it was useful for me to be able to pinppoint the right time. I used clearblue digital.

[nogoes]

My GP has advised me to use them as I have a very irregular cycle.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Nogoes

If you have an irregular cycle using OPK's are a waste of time. These kits measure LH; if you are one of many women who are producing higher than normal levels of LH then the kit will just read this.

Some GPs are highly ignorant when it comes to dealing with such problems; I would ask the GP to refer you and to stop wasting your time and money!!.

If you have an irregular cycle these are often caused by hormonal imbalances.

[nogoes]

Thanks Attilathemeerkcat, that is interesting. I did mention the possibility of an hormonal imbalance to my GP but she said she would not refer me until January because I have always had an irregular cycle and conceived ds very quickly. She suggested ovulation tests because she said that they would show when I was ovulating so I would know when to actively ttc. I am a little ignorant about these matters so not really sure what to do, what are LH levels? If the test shows that I am ovulating does that not mean that it is my most fertile time?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi Nogoes,

I've done some replies for you as seen below:-

You write:-
"I did mention the possibility of an hormonal imbalance to my GP but she said she would not refer me until January because I have always had an irregular cycle and conceived ds very quickly".

January next year!!!. Do not accept this, infact I would see another doc and ask that you are referred or at the very least to have a blood test done. If you have always had an irregular cycle this is even more reason to refer you sooner rather than later. This person is also wrong to assume that because you conceived your firstborn quickly you won't have any problems second time around.

"She suggested ovulation tests because she said that they would show when I was ovulating so I would know when to actively ttc".

Again this is ignorance on the part of the doctor. Some of them are pretty much ignorant when it comes to such matters. Doing blood tests would be far more useful to you than doing opk's; a blood test would give an accurate picture as to what your hormone levels are like.

"I am a little ignorant about these matters so not really sure what to do, what are LH levels? If the test shows that I am ovulating does that not mean that it is my most fertile time?"

LH (luteinising hormone) works in conjunction with FSH (follicle stimulation hormone) early on during your cycle. These two therefore are very important hormones, they play a huge part in ovulation happening or not. Normally these two levels are the same; if they are not then ovulation is affected.

OPK's work on two misleading principles; namely that women only have one rise in LH every month and that such a rise is immediately followed by ovulation. Both of these statements are simply not true.

Irregular periods are often caused by hormonal imbalances; the cause of this needs to be properly determined and doing opk's won't address this at all.

HTH, do not be fobbed off!!!
Any other questions just ask

[nogoes]

Thanks Attila, very helpful!

[outaRetirement]

hi im a newby to mumsnet. been ttc for 2 months had v early mc then nyhing this month. has anyone tried microscopes to track ovulation.

[tinbus]

LADYOFTHEFLOWERS>>>>
you just put a on my face ... sweet story to tell your little one???
i bought the clearblue kit with the sticks you pee on every day 14 days after your period or whenever it is.
i did one one cold morning in november as dh was out the door on his way to work...

'it's time!' i screamed.

'what? right now?' he asks.

'yes, right now, my egg wont wait!'

'it wont wait till tonight when i get back?'

'no' (sniffs....)

'guess i'm gonna be late then! shame!!'

lol

In July, ds1 arrived, right on cue!

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

makes me chuckle when i think back!

[Halfbumphalfbiscuit]

I got some ovulation tests (the ones you wee on) from an NHS supplier on Ebay. They were the ones that doctors use and were very cheap. I used them for 3 months and was convinced I wasn't ovulating as I never saw the second line, then just as I was going to make an appointment to see my GP, I found out I was pregnant I'm not sure if the ovulation tests were faulty, but the pregnancy ones from the same place certainly worked!

[Paigesmummy89]

Hi girls please some advice, I have a 7 year old and haven't been able to conceive due to low pedestrone this is my 1st round of Clomid my fertile days are from Monday and I'm meant to be ovoulating on Friday please help, I really don't understand Thease tests whats with the faint other line also how often am I meant to be doing the deed? I'm doing every other day is that right? Any feedback would be really appricated! ????