Talk to me about ovulation predictor strips/tests

[Contented73]

I want to start using some type of ovulation predictor to supplement my regular charting. I have a really weak (sometimes non-existent) mucus sign, plus variable length cycles, so I thought this could really help. I've been TTC for a year and a half so I'm getting to the point of feeling like I really need to do something to help.

What did you use? Did it work? Was it expensive? I vaguely remember someone mentioned ovulation test strips that you could buy online really inexpensively and that sounded like a good option - but I don't know if they really work. I've also heard of expensive monitors but I really don't want to invest in something I know nothing about. Thanks for any info.

[halifax40]

I use the cheap internet strips and they work just fine for me. It is nice to see that LH surge happen (which usually means O in about 12-36 hours) and then see that temp chart rise to confirm that O happened.

[mammabunny]

Thank you for posting, I was just coming here to post the same thing. I am having trouble predicting ovulation (not even sure if it's happening). I bought the Target (7 sticks) ones. They were about $15. But I went through all of them and never saw any indication of ovulation. So I don't know what I should do.

[Contented73]

mammabunny - my guess is that they work best in conjunction with charting, so that you start testing for LH when you start seeing fertile mucus. If you don't get fertile mucus (my problem) then you start testing around the time you think you might be getting ready to O (I would just count days based on previous cycles). If I can find cheap enough test strips, then I won't care if I blow through 10 in a month.

Were do you get the cheap internet ones? Do most people test every day or every other day?

[jjawm]

I've found clear blue easy the best for me. They're not the cheapest, but they were the easiest for me to see the results.

[RunnerDuck]

Originally Posted by Contented73

mammabunny - my guess is that they work best in conjunction with charting, so that you start testing for LH when you start seeing fertile mucus. If you don't get fertile mucus (my problem) then you start testing around the time you think you might be getting ready to O (I would just count days based on previous cycles). If I can find cheap enough test strips, then I won't care if I blow through 10 in a month.

Were do you get the cheap internet ones? Do most people test every day or every other day?

If you just google "cheap pregnancy tests" or "cheap ovulation tests" you'll get a ton of results. http://www.babywishes.org/ is supposed to be a good one, according to peeonastick.com. I think the cheapie tests are all pretty similar but the BW ones are a little wider and a little more sensitive.

[halifax40]

Contented73 - I get mine off of eBay, for about 40 cents a strip....so a very cheap and easy way to go!

Testing every other day is not effective...you need to test daily as surge will often only show up for 1 day and you could miss it otherwise, as well even with women who get 2-3 days of positives, you start timing from the 1st +OPK, you need to know when that first would be..
For most women, once a day in the afternoon is sufficient...a few women need to do twice a day in order to catch surge.

Here is some great info on OPKs:

http://www.peeonastick.com/opkfaq.html

[Rose-Roget]

I was excited to find 20 test strips in a container by Answer. They are just the strips with none of the plastic packaging, so it's compact. It was about $20 for the package, and I found it at the local grocery store. I think it's great because I can test every day without having to estimate so much about when to start testing.

[Mulvah]

[anne1140]

I used www.saveontests.com. They worked really well. I've used Answer before, and I didn't like them, because they didn't detect the surge as well. (And I know I ovulated, because my chart confirmed it.) They're also more expensive. However, I loved my internet cheapies and will be purchasing them again!

You definitely need to test daily, and 2x a day would be even better. This past cycle, I tested 3x a day.