Ovulation?

[katbuad]

Hubby and I have been trying to get pregnant since Sept. Since about Oct/Nov I have been using the test kits to see if I am ovulating. Every month, the same nothing from the test. Last month, I thought I saw a positive on the test (please bear in mind this is compairing one pink line to another for intensity of color, harder than you would think). This month, too, I think I had a positive test. I even drug hubby in for a second opinion this time. He said it looked positive to him also.

I was just starting to get nervous with all those past months of nothing. Is this possible? Not ovulate for several months and then just start ovulating?

(For the last 4 months I have been using the Answer test strips and testing almost everyday. So I don't think I would have missed it if it had occured.)

[Amanda]

Those tests seem like a waste of money- I know since I have spent $$$ on them! with no luck!

I've been seeing a Gyn who swears by taking your basal temperature. They sell the basal temperature thermometers on eBay pretty cheaply.

[TheWife]

I used a regular thermometer and was able to get a good chart showing my ovulation and pregnancy, no fancy basal. I have always had great luck with the test strips also though, but I know a lot of people that said they don't. I just got a huge lot of strips on ebay for super cheap when I wanted them. The surge that gives you a + can last less than 24 hours so depending on what point you test, you may never see a full on 100% +, but I conceived 4 times using the strips. I used them every day, same time, and about 2 days before ovulation they'd start to get darker, and then on surge day they'd be almost 100% + and then they'd get lighter and lighter the days after that.

What other signs have you been monitoring? Do you get EWCM? Do you ever have any ovulation pain? If the strips aren't working well for you, there are many other ways to monitor.

[quapamom]

I don't have any experience with test strips. I did the body temp thing religiously and charted with both my pregnancies. I just used a regular thermometer every morning. I used the fertility friend website, but did my own charting. With all the information the temps and cm gave me I just didn't think it was worth the extra expense. I know that doesn't really answer your question, but maybe you can add to your routine? Good luck!

[Rebes]

I also had great results with using just a regular old thermometer and a blank chart I printed off a website. I found it accurate every month before we started trying, and then we conceived the first month we actually tried. The book "Taking Charge of your Fertility" was very helpful to me since I ahd no idea how my body worked!

[roz]

I used a basal thermometer and Robitussin. I was on Clomid and, after, three months it worked. My baby turned 25 on Sunday.

[Amanda]

You guys make it sound like the thermometer I got was super expensive! I think I spent $6 and it's digital. My gyn said that sometimes you need to see a more exact temp vs a reg thermometer.
Of course I haven't really been charting or using it!

[TheWife]

I know they are cheap but just hard to find sometimes! If you already have a thermometer there isn't always a need to get a new one if you are seeing clear patterns already.

[rgphib]

If you are like me and sleep horrible then taking your temperature is not going to help much.

I haven't heard good things about the Answer OPK strips. I used the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor and I LOVED it. Also they have new ClearBlue Easy Ovulation sticks that give a smiley face when you are ovulating so you don't have to "guess" if the lines are different colors.

I also recommend the book Taking Charge of your Fertility. It is wonderful!

Also...if you just recently came of BCP, it might take your body a while to "re-adjust". Some people start ovulating right away...some people can take up to a year. I was one of the unlucky ones. I was taking the OPK's for months with nothing....I was having 30 day cycles and then 70+ day cycles. I was not ovulating still after 10 months of trying. My doctor did tests (HSG, blood work and DH work) and I was put on Clomid to help me ovulate. I did one round and.....welcome Mr. Jack!

Good Luck!

[Regina]

I agree with getting a book or at least doing some research on just knowing your body....yes, sounds quite simple, but there are so many things I am still learning. Natural Family Planning books give a lot of information that is also helpful in conceiving at the right time. They talk about charting a bunch, differences of cervical mucus, temperture, etc. There is a book called the Art of Natural Family Planning by Kipley. My husband and I both read it two years ago, and we were able to avoid getting pregnant for a year....big improvement for us....but then I think he was wanting to have another baby, so he used the book to his advantage. So, I would think the info would be quite helpful for people trying to get pregnant. They have the book at the library too.

The ovulation kits helped me get pregnant with my first one, but I think that knowing your body is a lot cheaper and good for future use too. : )