Hi Ladies!
Just wondering if any of you have used the clearblue easy fertility monitor?
I know they are pricey, but I'm attracted to the fact that you can use your first morning urine. Since I workout a lot I was getting dehydrated while using OPKs. Plus I hate having to hold my pee!
I think it might be better if I'm going to continue having longer/irregular cycles. Thoughts?
persimmon / 1408 posts
I bought one back in September b/c my cycles were longer and it was hard to time babydancing. I tried a month of OPK's but I could never tell if I was O'ing or not.
I say go for it. We had been trying for about 10 months when I bought it and I wish I had purchased it months earlier.
As a side note, if you have a Medical FSA or HSA (Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account), an ovulation monitor is an eligible expense! I have an HSA and used the money from my account to pay for it! Also eligible are: OPKS, pregnancy tests and accupuncture!!!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@arielle9510: You may want to consider checking eBay to get a better deal.
pomelo / 5628 posts
I used one for 6 months and then quit because I didn't really trust the results. That's probably due to my body and not the monitor. As far as OPKs go, I think it's much easier than other OPKs, but I think temping is better.
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
I should add that it didn't work for me because of my longer cycles. I had to go back to OPKs -- the digital ones from CBE.
persimmon / 1087 posts
I have one. First month of using it I got a BFP. It was easy to work and understand.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I was fully planning to get one if we didn't have a BFP in 6 months of active trying using temping and the cheapie OPKs. I love data and figured that it would be a useful tool to have.
pomegranate / 3008 posts
I used one and fully appreciated having it to be able to confirm what my temps were telling me.
cherry / 220 posts
Thanks for all the input ladies! I'm going to wait and see when AF arrives this month to see how long my cycle is. If it's under 40 days then I'll probably purchase one.
@MRSGREENGRASS- I will definitely keep up with temping and charting. I started this month and I find it very helpful.
@CARRIELOUWHO- I don't have a HSA account anymore since I started my own company,, but that's great to know! I didn't know it covered acupuncture as well.
pomelo / 5720 posts
I bought mine used on ebay and got a bfp my first month using it. I say it's well worth it because it takes some of the stress out of ttc. Good luck!
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
I'm looking into purchasing one this week if AF shows up.
grapefruit / 4703 posts
I bought the CBE digital ovulation test kit and because it's so much more expensive than the cheapy OPKs, I've just been using it to confirm when I *think* I have a positive OPK - much more cut and dry with the smiley face!
cherry / 220 posts
@MRSJYW - Did you end up buying a monitor? If so how is it working for you? I'm on CD2 and considering getting one.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
@arielle9510: this is the first cycle i'm using it... i bought one from ebay for $115 that had test strips as well. i have a long cycle and am on CD11... so still in the "low fertility" phase of the monitor.. i'll let you know next week how it goes... i bought it more for sanity purposes and also confirming my O days from the last few cycles as well... not sure if it's worth the money, but i guess only time will tell this cycle!
pomegranate / 3225 posts
I think I'm going to get one... Just started charting and I can see from that when I "thought' I O'd was way off.
cherry / 220 posts
@MRSJYW @CarrieLouWho- When in your cycle should you start using the monitor?
I'm still waiting to ovulate on CD25, but I'm just trying to plan out when I should purchase one. I don't want to get one too early in hopes that we get lucky this cycle, but I don't want to miss out and have to wait another whole cycle!
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
You need to start using it on CD1!!
You don't start "testing" until CD 6 the first month, but you need to program it CD1 morning (regular time you'll be testing). The monitor does allow you to program up to CD5 to start if you've missed setting your cycle. But, after that it tells you to wait until the next month!
I accidentally was off by 1 day (as in it was really CD6 for me, but monitor read CD5).... it worked out test wise for me anyway and I got Peak days on CD25/26... but it's MUCH easier and less confusing if you can set your monitor on CD1!!!
Then you'll turn it on every morning, and only test when there's a blinking pee stick on the screen!
Just as a warning though, for those of us who have longer cycles, we can go through NUMEROUS pee sticks (and they're expensive!).... I used 20+ sticks this past month.... (because I wanted to test every day it asked for one to keep the monitor accurate).
GOOD LUCK!
cherry / 220 posts
@MRSJYW- Thanks for the explanation! I understand why it has to start on CD1 but then that means I have to buy it before I'm even "out" this month?
How much are the pee sticks? My cycles are even longer then yours so I know I'll go through a lot!
When are you testing? I hope the monitor works for you! You know I'll go out and buy one right away if it does haha.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
@arielle9510: hi! i bought one when when i was trying to get pregnant but never used it because i got pregnant right away so i just returned it. i bought and returned it via amazon so i would just order it before you are "out" just so you have it! good luck! 
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
@arielle9510: I never get e-mail notifications for your replies! Think we're out and taking the NTNT route this next cycle to kind of avoid a Christmas baby. But, I highly recommend the monitor. I was at first really nervous because I wasn't getting the peak notification and had almost two weeks of "high fertility." But, surely got the two peak days! And it was 3/4 days later than what I had thought the previous cycles! I got mine on ebay for $115. But it may be worth it to buy a new one, because the monitors do have memories and could have stored info from the previous user (I didn't find this out until I already got it!) Good lu ck!
cherry / 220 posts
@andrea- Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll check out Amazon.
@mrsjyw- That's so weird you don't get email notifications. I've also heard that the monitor stores info from previous users, so I will definitely buy a new one if I decide to get it. I'm going to do some research and probably buy one soon. Thanks for all tips. I'm sorry you think you are out..but don't hold out hope!
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
@arielle9510: you're welcome! just reading the chat between you and @mrsjyw. the emails don't send if there is a dash after the name, just fyi! if you write @mrsjyw: then it will send.
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