So, I've been using clearblue digital opks for our first 3 months. I'm interested in trying the clearblue fertility monitor. I know it takes at least a month to get used to your cycles, and that's okay with me. What is the advantage of the monitor over lets say advanced clearblue digital opk, which gives you flashing smiley high fertility days, and peak fertility days (up to 4 days)? Is it worth the extra expense over digital opks? I could buy the monitor under my FSA, but would probably just buy out of pocket to save my FSA money for copays. So, tell me why you love (or don't love) the clearblue fertility monitor over digital opks please!
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I used digi OPKs for 4 months with no luck, but my first cycle using the monitor I got my BFP. The monitor's biggest advantage is more notice - it checks hormones other than just LH (if I'm remembering right), so you get 5 days of notice before O instead of only 12 hrs, potentially. I started charting and realized I was often getting my positive OPK the same DAY as O, so if we hadn't BDd the 4-5 days before that, we missed a huge window!
In retrospect I think we relied too heavily on the OPKs and would often be lazy about DtD before it turned positive - my cycles were super unpredictable so doing it every other day for 2 weeks did not feel realistic. It turned out we probably shot ourselves in the foot relying on OPKs and the monitor really did the trick.
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@JoJoGirl: this is so interesting to me. So what CD did the digital OPK give you as high fertility and what CD did the monitor?
I just bought a 2 pack of the digital OPKs and was kind of surprised at how much they cost...so I was thinking it might be better to put that money towards the monitor. How long did it take for the monitor to figure out your cycles? Maybe I'll get the monitor for the next cycle since you're supposed to start CD1 right?
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Subscribing... I'm thinking about using the CBFM next month
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Like @JoJoGirl: said, once you've calibrated the monitor (which does take time) it gives you advance notice whereas the OPK is more like "hello! you're ovulating!". So if your cycle is irregular and you don't know when to BD, the monitor is a better bet. If things tend to be pretty regular within a couple days and you just want to confirm O, the digital OPKs are probably enough.
@sandy: What I did is I used Wondfo OPKs to watch the fade-in and then only used the digitals to confirm a positive. That way a box lasted a long time and I never misinterpreted a cheapie!
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@JoJoGirl: The first month we only BD the two days of our positive using the clearblue digital advanced opk. It did not give me any flashing smileys, I went straight to peak fertility. I thought that was awfully quick on cd 9!?!? The second month we tried sperm meets egg plan, but got worn out by cd 14, and I did not get my positive opk until cd 19! So, we only BD the two days of positive opk last month too. This month, we just happened to have sex on cd 14, and then I got my smiley on cd 16. So, we once again just BD those two days. Hmmm I'm seeing a trend! My cycles are generally 28-30 days long, but I've been getting my positive opks on all different days. Maybe I would benefit from the monitor!?!
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@dc yoga bee: I didn't read carefully enough; my response was about the regular digital OPKs! The cycle you got a peak on CD9 did you get AF around CD25?
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@spaniellove: Nope, it was 28 days. The next cycle with assumed O on day 20 was a 30 day cycle!
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@dc yoga bee: Wow that had to be off. I'm sure I'm missing a lot of back story here, but have you used regular digital OPKs? If your cycles are generally 28-30 days your window for O can't be that long.
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MONITOR MONITOR MONITOR!!!! I LOVE MINE.
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@spaniellove: I am at a complete loss! Nope, the only thing I've done is chart when my period starts for the past 30 cycles. I have an average 28 day cycle, and only once did I have a cycle that was 23 days (month I took the bar exam) and one that was 30 days (I think that was first month of my big girl job). For the past 15+years I've had a period- 28 days. That's what has me soo
. I cannot temp because I wake up at all times of the night unfortunately. @MrsMccarthy: Hehe another vote for the monitor! I really want to go ahead and order it, but I'm still 9 or 10 DPO
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Yeah no need just yet. Make sure you order it before cd5 of your next cycle though or you have to wait a whole cycle to use it or use it late and be off by several days. It will let you set it up to day 5
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I looked at the CBFM but I just can't afford it
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@babycanuck: did you check eBay for a used one? I bought mine used on auction.
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@MrsMccarthy: I didn't but I will now!
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I have the monitor, dig tests & cheapies.... I only use cheapies now
yup! The monitor never gave me much warning, the dig have missed O (was picked up by monitor & confirmed with temp), so I'm not a fan of the dig. Cheapies give me enough of a fade in pattern for me to have some warning, I can do them twice a day to make sure I don't miss it & they're cheaper. Even if they were all priced the same, I'd choose cheapies 
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@babycanuck: http://m.ebay.ca/itm/261372984983?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1 you should bid on this one'
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@MrsMccarthy: Does it matter if it's Clear Blue or Clear Plan brand?
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@babycanuck: http://m.ebay.ca/itm/390747216574?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1 or you could buy this one outright for 65 bucks.
It looks exactly the same as mine so I bet it works fine but look for reviews online
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@mrs. bird: Oh man! The cheapie opks are the only ones I haven't tried yet. I'm learning I actually do not like peeing on things from using the cheapie hpt
It's too easy to use like 2 or 3 in one day!
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I'm using the Clear Blue Kit 2 days with a smiley face. I track my cycle on FF and will likely DTD when FF states I am fertile. Then the OPK Smiley will reassure us we O'd. This first cycle happened like that. We only had to DTD three times.
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Another vote for CBEFM. The benefit of the monitor is that it remembers your previous data and will narrow down when to use the test sticks. After the 1st month or two when it learns your cycle you only need 10 sticks. If you are very familiar with your O date and don't use a lot of digital OPKs then it may not matter too much. But I like how easy the monitor is to use.
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@sandy: Hmmmm, let me go back and check my chart... but what I remember is I always got smileys the same day as O (I think I used OPKs + charting for maybe 4 cycles?). The month we used the monitor I seem to recall I went to "high" around CD16, had negative OPKs the next few days, CD18 or so I had a negative OPK in the morning, I missed testing in the evening, and the next morning (CD19) I went to "peak" on the monitor and had a positive OPK. So my OPK would likely have been positive the evening before, but because of my "high" readings for those 4-5 days, we BDd CD16-19 and I got my BFP that month.
@dc yoga bee: I was getting positive OPKs all over the map, from CD16 - CD23 on any given month (was coming off 10 years of birth control). We tried the monitor the first time cycle 6, so I think things were starting to regulate by then, but having 5 days of notice made a HUGE difference with such irregular cycles.
Okay here is my BFP chart:
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/3cf794/The days of my description above are a little off, but the point is the same - the "high" readings gave me 5 whole days of notice before my OPK turned positive, so it really worked exactly the way it was supposed to!
ETA: I"m not sure I believed FF that I Od on CD20 - I think I actually Od on CD18 because I got my BFP at 9DPO by this chart. And my due date was a week or so before what it would be with that O date.
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Got my BFP within two cycles of using the CBFM. And the running joke among my friends (who are all, like me, 35+ so not exactly in the demographic to get KU super easily) is that it is magic. Everyone we know who has used it got KU within 2 cycles of using it. My 39-yr old friend gave me hers after having her second baby, conceived within 2 cycles on it.
I also used Wondfo OPKs but didn't really need to. I also charted w temps and CM and did find value in that. If you are serious about TTC I would really recommend charting plus the CBFM.
Def check eBay. I got mine used and "reset" it and it was awesome.
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@stratosphere: Oh yeah, I should mention I was also 34 when I got KU with it.
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@stratosphere: You've convinced me! I ordered and it won't receive until I'm on CD12, so I won't be able to use until next cycle.
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@littlek: I'm getting ready to put it in my amazon basket as well! I'm looking for a bundle of just the monitor and stick, not the pregnancy tests too. I think AF will start tomorrow or Monday.
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@littlek: hopefully by ordering it you will jinx yourself and get pregnant this cycle! FX!
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@dc yoga bee: hopefully you won't need it!
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@dc yoga bee: I have one of these I am selling, the monitor and 19 sticks. Used for one cycle (successfully). Let me know if you're interested!
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@babycanuck: just wanted to let you know that Clear plan is the older name for CBEFM. It's the exact same thing. mine says clear plan on it too.
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AF has arrived. My new monitor will be here CD 3, and I'll start using it CD 4!
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@dc yoga bee: yay! It could take a few cycles to regulate so make sure to back it up with opks and BD on positive days even if the monitor counters it. I adore my monitor! Make sure to buy sticks too.
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@MrsMccarthy: I went ahead and bought the bundle on Amazon. New monitor, 30 test sticks, and 3 pregnant/not pregnant pregnancy test for $196 after a coupon. Holy Moly!
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@dc yoga bee: I think I got the same deal.
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@littlek: They're down to only 1 left in stock! In order for DH to feel comfortable with us spending $$$ on a fertility monitor (he doesn't understand why we need one, and don't just have sex every other day all.month.long), he was adamant we buy one brand new that was sold by Amazon. So, in case something is wrong with it we should have hassle free returns. Okay buddy, that means we're getting a $196 bundle...after a coupon!!
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@littlek: My monitor just got delivered before the storm hits! I hope you get yours before the storm too!
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I like your plan! I think that's what I'll be doing this cycle!
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i ordered the digital OPKs last week, have been using them leading up to O. Yesterday i got a negative, then an error message. and today/tomorrow SHOULD be the days I want to confirm peak/O. SO AGGRAVATED! amazon is sending me a new box, but they won't be here until EOD tomorrow. Guess I'll have to make do with my wondfos, and use the digitals next month (or maybe I won't even need them...HA.)
. I cannot temp because I wake up at all times of the night unfortunately. 
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