Hi there,
I want to get a digital ovulation predictor kit. I heard Clear Blue is really good. Can someone please explain how they work? I think I saw one in the store with 7 test stripes or something.
Please tell me when I have to start testing and how and on what days. I just finished my period today. Is it too late to start? Is it something you have to start from day 1 of your period?
Your help is much appreciated! Thanks! 
Re: Digital ovulation predictor kits?
you would start testing on day 10 or 11 of your cycle assuming you have a 28 day cycle and ovulate roughly around day 14. and you would be counting the first day of full period flow as day 1- spotting doesn’t count. if you have a longer cycle, then you test later on in your cycle and then keep going until a later date too. i had 33 day cycles and ovulated around day 17, so i started testing later than day 10/11- more like day 14/15.
you pee on it every day at/around 2 pm. the strips are meant to detect your LH surge; LH is the hormone that that indicates your body is prepping to release an egg and so ovulation may occur within the next 12 hours. i say “may” because some months its possible you have your LH surge but your body doesn’t release an egg for whatever reason. anyway, when it detects your LH surge, the test will give you a positive and you go ahead and do your bidness that night and the two to three nights after that to make sure you get your egg.
how long are your cycles typically?
*testing on around the same time of day is very important. *they suggest 2 pm because it gives your body enough time to produce the hormone and plus, you have some pre-warning so you can plan to baby dance that evening. never use first morning urine because your LH might have built up overnight and your result will not be accurate. also keep in mind that LH surges can come and go very quickly, so if you miss yours but you know you normally ovulate around day 14, go ahead and have sex that day anyway. it might just be that you missed your surge in the test.
ovulation strips can be tricky, but give it a shot and see how it goes! i used them the cycle i conceived but by my due date and my longer cycle length, i got my positive about 6 days before i actually ovulated so i don’t know what was up with that. having said that, i was also lazy and wasn’t testing at the same time every day so that also could have messed up my results. in the end, just use them as a rough guide and listen to your body more- if you’re feeling in the mood, its probably because you’re going to be ovulating soon and your body is trying to let you know. i noticed i always got very, ahem, needy, shall we say, when i was ovulating. and of course if you’ve been tracking your periods, you can probably roughly guess around when you’ll be ovulating- really the one main thing to remember is to have sex**. the more you have it, the better your chances-- but don’t have it multiple times in one day- its exhausting, frankly, or maybe i’m getting old 
but it also reduces sperm quality. once a day should be good!
good luck!
** i say this because friends of ours have been unsuccessful so far, and when we got to talking about it, turns out they’re only getting busy once a month or so and not even sure if its the right time! 
Re: Digital ovulation predictor kits?
Thanks sgc and congrats on conceiving!
I have a few things that complicate the whole process of TTC:
1.) My cycles have been every 42 days for several months, but this last cycle was 35 days. Now I am not sure if it will continue to be 35 days from here on or go back to 42 days. I have also randomly gotten cycles that were 45 days.
2.) I RARELY want or even enjoy sex. I like the idea of it, but I never actually enjoy it anymore. I LOVE my husband like crazy but I honestly am NEVER in the mood. It is so depressing, considering I want a baby SOOOO bad! This has been the case for approx 1 yr. We had a very passionate sex life for several years....so it's not him...he still wants it...but I don't. I think it has to do with my hypothyroidism, and stressful life in general. I have been making an effort to cut the stress down though.
Can you please tell me if we need to have sex outside of my ovulation and fertile days. I don't want to have sex if I don't have to. I'd rather just do it during my most fertile days....but if there is any chance at all I can get pregnant even 2 or 3 weeks before ovulation then I will have sex at that time as well.
Re: Digital ovulation predictor kits?
^ nope. if you are not ovulating or close to it, i.e. have fertile discharge, there’s no point in having sex outside of pleasure. sperm won’t live in your body without the fertile mucus.
but i also think you should get some help for your stress and for your reluctance to have sex. stress effects the body in many ways and it may very well be stopping you from concieving. maybe if you took a vacation together or bought some new lingerie? have you thought about seeing a counsellor or getting medical help for your stress?
to figure out when to start using opks, check this chart- http://www.peeonastick.com/opkfaq.html#8
i’d go with your shortest cycle so far, 35 days, and test based on that. you’ll likely need more than 1 clearblue pack though.
Re: Digital ovulation predictor kits?
Yes, we just took a vacation in mid January. It was very relaxing. I've thought about seeing a counsellor but not sure if that is what I need. I am stressed because I work and I spend about 4 hours a day in commute and due to my hypothyroidism I am always tired. I am 28 but feel as though I am in the body of a 65 yr old and I think the exhaustion just causes stress. No amount of sleep affects my energy level...I am always tired....this is probably why I also don't care for intimacy because I'm too tired for it all the time.
Thanks for the information and the link. InshAllah all the girls trying will have their prayers answered and get pregnant soon.
Re: Digital ovulation predictor kits?
Oh and one more question....is it better to have sex every other day during ovulation or everday? My OB/GYN just said to have sex 2-3 times a week for the whole month....but I forgot to ask her specifically what about during ovulation.
Re: Digital ovulation predictor kits?
Around ovulation, I'd have sex everyday, although so long as you have fertile mucus, every other day should be fine too.
Have you had your iron levels checked, btw? I used to feel tired and lethargic all the time too and turns out I was anemic. Do you think that might help?
Re: Digital ovulation predictor kits?
I had my iron checked about 1 year ago and the doc said although I am not anemic or anything I am borderline for low iron so she gave me some prescription iron pills which I stopped taking after just 1 week because of the side effects...made me very constipated (i heard iron pills do that).
So after stopping that I have just been taking materna (the pre-natal vitamins which contain iron in them). I asked the doc if the iron in materna is enough and she said yes...