New to the Group and Wondering About Ovulation Prediction Kits

We had good luck with the Clear Plan Easy kit. I had a lot of background medical issues that complicated things, and it still took a little while (about 6 months.) But frankly, I think the thing that really made the difference was when I quit my job and started doing private work on my own schedule. It was a scary thing to do, financially and professionally, but it really reduced my overall stress level and I think my body just heaved a big sigh of relief. So sorry that you had to go through a miscarriage, and we wish you all the best.

You can go to early-pregnancy-tests.com and get combination kits of 50 ovulation and 15 pregnancy tests for about $35. You do not have to get that many there are smaller packages. Good luck

I don't remember the exact brand we used, but it definitely worked. We had been trying for 4 months (doing all we could, if you know what I mean!) with no luck. I bought one of the kits (I think it had 7 strips) and it hadn't showed ovulation yet. I bought a second box and the second day showed ovulation. And tada, we were pregnant! Since I wasn't that regular after stopping the pill I needed 9 days instead of 7 to test. And it was really fun pretty much knowing EXACTLY how far along we were. He was conceived on THIS day or the day after. Oh, and it wasn't the $200 kit or anything...I think it may have been $15 or $20 (it's been 5 years). Good luck!

Wow! I see lots of responses here, so hopefully I'm not repeating anything. I bought the kits at the dollar store b/c I had friends who told me when I "tried" that they suggested being deligent about the sticks and using them even if I didn't think I was ovulating. So...I used 'em for 3 mos. to narrow down when I was ovulating. The 1st time we "tried" when the sticks said I was ready to go BOOM, it worked! I figured since at the time I was 35 it would take awhile. So, from personal experience, the cheapie sticks worked great. Good luck!!

I bought one when my husband and I were starting to try. I have always been one to calculate my cycles and that information really helps when trying to figure out the right time. There is lots of information out there available http://www.ovulation-calculator.com/menstrual-cycle.htm is the best site I Think... but if you are able to calculate approx. the time that you are ovulating then it will help the test be more accurate. And you don't have to get the most expensive one, but don't get a cheap one either.

M.....

I always had VERY good success with the Clear Blue Easy brand of ovulation prediction. Got pregnant both times with those sticks. I have tried others and some are VERY sensitive to hormone levels and will give you a false positive. So i would stick with the Clear Blue Easy.

Also, for best results, always use the sticks on the 2nd urination of the day. My fertility clinic gave me that advice very early on.

Good luck!

Hi M.
I'm sorry about your m/c. I too had one and was very eager to get pregnant as soon as possible. I used an OPK for several months and on the month that the OPK claimed I didn't ovulate I got pregnant! Don't be discouraged if you have a hard time with accurate results. I'm a proud mom of a 6 month old girl now!
Good luck!
n

You will not get pregnant if you stress yourself out so I would wait on the kits for now and just let it ride. It will happen if you don't think sbout it too much.

I tried to conceive for 14 months before I became pregnant with my son (now 19 months). I learned that ovulation predication kits are not as accurate as charting your temperature. You can have a hormone surge and not ovulate, making positive opks misleading. On the other hand, you will only have a rise in basal temperature if you ovulate, leaving no question about it when you're charting your temps. Also, if you don't have completely regular cycles it's hard to know when to use opks. Charting your temperature will help you to see exactly when you ovulate (get a feel for your cycles) and help you to predict when the best time to have sex each subsequent cycle. I highly recommend going to www.fertilityfriend.com and using their free VIP membership for a few months. They offer a ton of useful information (even an online course) to help you understand your cycles and teach you how to detect fertile signs. This site helped me to conceive my son (and I'm using it to try for #2).

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask. I started charting in February of 2005, so I've got lots of experience. Good luck and I hope it happens quickly for you.

I used "Maybe Mom" (a saliva test kit) that worked really well. And it was on sale at the drug store for something like $12, so it wasn't a big investment.

Hi M.. Ovulation kits are the best! I used them to conceive my 2 1/2 year old son. I always used the Clear Blue kit. It's just like a pregnancy test. Start testing about a week or so from when your period ends (it's good to figure out if you have regular periods first, ie every 30 days or so). Just urinate on the stick (I think the directions are for 5 seconds in the stream). You'll get a blank circle if it's negative. Keep testing daily at the same time (first pee in the morning) until you receive a happy face. Once you see that smiling little face, it means you will actually ovulate the next day. Start having sex the day of taking the test AND the next day. Those are your BEST 2 days to conceive.

Good luck!!!!!

I was feeling just like your where feeling so I used the Ovulation kit. After I miscarried( at 13wks) Oct 99 I went out and bought one and was PG by Jan 00 . Our DS was born Sept 15th 2001. It is unlikely that you will miscarry the next one.
Best to you both.
***HUGS***

I do not have info on ovulation kits but I would recommend a helpful book called Taking Charge of yout Fertility which has great info on getting pregnant and charting your cycles so you can know when you ovulate and want to get prregnant or do not want to get pregnant. My husband and I used it as birth control and then as a method the concieve after we also had a miscarriage- our son is about to turn one on Monday so keep trying!!

Hi M.,
Check out the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility." It has a ton of helpful info that I am shocked I never knew before (my luteal phase?) and has more effective, less expensive way to figure out when you are about to ovulate than ovulation kits. You can save money and learn more about how your body works. I read the book during the first month my husband and I were trying and got pregnant the next month when I fully understood and was using the techniques. I'm not saying that everyone gets pregnant month two, but the same thing had happened to the person who recommended the book to me. Very sorry to hear about the miscarriage and wish you all the best.
K.

M.,
I used ovulation predictor kits to get pregnant with my second and if done correctly they work great. If you are not regular the test can get exspensive because you will have to test for a longer period of time. I used the kit that came with a cup and alot of strips(like 20-30), it was cheaper and and just as effective as the packages of 4-5 sticks. I did not have a regular cycle since having my first so I needed to test more. I also tested twice a day so I wouldn't miss the surge in hormone. We had sex the day it showed ovulation and two weeks later found out we were pregnant.
Good luck,
C.

Ovulation kits can be pretty pricy and most people don’t need them. If you've just started trying I would save the money. I was able to accurately determine when I ovulated by monitoring my cervical mucus (CM). It's easy, it's free and you can check several times a day.

Stay hydrated, drink a cup of green tea every day (it keeps your CM thin so that its easy to swim through) and happy conceiving.

Hi M. - Consumer Reports rated ovulation prediction kits in February 2003 - they seemed to conclude that the brand of test did make a difference (see below). Best of luck!

The top-rated product, the ClearPlan Easy Ovulation Test Pack, was the only one able to detect LH concentrations as low as 22 mIU/ml. It was also easier to read than most other models. But even this product will not detect ovulation in the 12 percent of women whose LH peaks at below that concentration.

Its costly sister product, the ClearPlan Easy Fertility Monitor, was the second most sensitive model we tested. It detected LH concentrations as low as 36 mIU/ml, meaning it may work for about 65 percent of women.

At the other end of the spectrum, we had to spike the test urine with the highest LH concentration we tested--91 mIU/ml--before we obtained a positive reading from the First Response Pregnancy Planning Kit. Only 20 percent to 25 percent of women have an LH peak that high. Those results cast doubt on the product's label, which claims it contains enough test sticks "for 90 percent of ovulating women to detect hormone surge."

The worst-performing test kit, the Answer Quick & Simple One-Step Ovulation Test, didn't do even that well. In laboratory tests using urine with an LH concentration of 91 mIU/ml, only one of six tested Answer kits registered positive. When we tested another six samples at a concentration of 96 mIU/ml, we got only two positive readings.

I totally second the recommendation for the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility"! I had tried for 9 months when I decided to read this book. I got pregnant the next month. I also loved the added bonus of finally understanding my body and it's cycles. You can also use the info to avoid pregnancy if chemical birth control options aren't right for you later on. Good luck!!

Dear M.,

I have used an ovulation kit four times, and came up pregnant 4 times. The first go-round was an education because when I started testing on the day the instructions said to start, I had no change in the ovulation detector. The same for the second month, which sent me into a panic. I am a late in life mom, and years earlier, before my oldest two children, my first husband and I had trouble concieving and part of the problem was that the doctors could not detect an ovulation. Then I got a brainstorm. I went to the store and bought enough testing kits to test every day in between my periods. I started testing the first day that I was not flowing, instead of waiting later. WOW !!!! What I found out was that I ovulate EARLY, so when I was following the instructions and looking for that window of opportunity, I had already missed it. I think this was probably the problem all those years ago with the doctors as well.
My husband and I were together on the 8th and 9th days, which is when my predictor went off, and I came up pregnant. I took back all the tests that I had bought, because technically it worked on the first shot after I found out when MY personal schedule is. That was my four year old daughter. I used one( early this time a year later and got pregnant right away again. Sadly I lost that pregnancy at 7 weeks, but my doctor said I was fine, it was just a fluke, and I was cleared to try again it two months. So.... two months later I bought another kit, and we now have a set of two yr old twin girls ! Call me crazy, but I have always wanted a large family, so I thought I would try one more time for a boy, so I bought another kit and it worked like clock work. Also sadly, I lost that little one at 5 months because the cord got kinked. My doctor has been soooo supportive, gave me a thorough check up, and said that even though I am older, she would back me anytime because I am healthy and do pregnancy well, so we are considering trying one more time. I probably know close to what you were going through in Dec., having lost myself. Even though I have a wonderful family, I still feel the loss and send my thoughts up to the heavens with a tear or two now and again. They will be the babies in my heart forever.
As I recall, there are only a couple of brands of kits on the market, but I used both and had success with each, so brand did not matter. Good luck on your adventure. It is the most rewarding one that you will ever have. At times, as they are growing up, some of the sacrifices seem large or to last forever, but just remind yourself that they are only temporary, but your beautiful children are here with you, giving you hugs and kisses, and nothing is sweeter.

N. H ____@____.com

One tip - check out Costco if you're a member to see if they still carry them. They're a lot cheaper than the other stores, including Target. Good luck!!!

HI M.,

I used an OPK and it workded the first month we used it. It is worth giving it a try. You can also find out alot about when you are ovulating and the signs by reading infomation on the Planned Parenthood website.

Good Luck,
W.

Another vote for the ClearBlue Easy fertility monitor. It was (as advertised!) very easy to use; it was very accurate; and I got pregnant with my first in 2.5 months after getting it, at the age of 36, so I have zero complaints :)

www.saveontests.com - you can get them much cheaper online than in the store and they work perfectly.

Hello M.,
I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriage.
I use the kits because I do not have a very regular cycle. My cycle is anywhere from 26 days to 36 days. They helped me get pregnant with my daughter, because I had no clue when I was ovulating so I didn't know when we should try. My friend had no success until I told her (she didn't read the direction) that you have to hold your pee for 4 hours and you will get best results if you do it after noon.
If you do have a regular cycle, then I would just go onto babycenter.com or babyzone.com and calculate when you ovulate next.
Lastly, I tried the firtiliyfriend.com (whatever the name was) this last month (with no success) and it was great, but the free membership ends after 1 month. So I entered the past 6 months of data (I've been tracking my cycle for that long) and all of it disappeared after the month was over.
Best of luck! Try not to get too discouraged and enjoy the trying =o)

I tried for several months to get pregnant and the first month I used an ovulation kit it worked. My cycle has always been pretty regular so that might have made it easier as someone else pointed out..

i used LH (ovulation) test strips which i got online for less than 50cents each....much cheaper than the kit! and it predicted my LH "surge" very accurately.......good luck

Hi M.,

I used the Clear Blue Easy Fertility Monitor. It's a little expensive but it works (as long as your body can get pregnant). I used it once, my sister used it twice and we have loaned it out a few times for a total of 6 pregnancies on the same machine. It says not to do that but there is no real reason why not. You can google them and try to find a cheaper unit. Most are around $200 and then you have to buy the sticks that go with them. Good luck!

J. W.

After trying the aforementioned Taking Charge of Your Fertility-religiously-for 10 months, I did the ovulation kit and ditched my thermometer and cervical fluid for two months and became pregnant. We recently became pregnant with our 2nd on the first time thanks to the kit. There is a good brand, I think it's called Answer that comes with 21 strips, in case you don't ovulate at the magic 14th day, like me so it's not just a 7 day window. Good luck to you and follow up with your Dr. if you've had positive results with the kit and still aren't getting pregnant after 3-4 months.

I also had a miscarriage and used an ovulation kit to get pregnant again. It worked the first time because I new for sure when I was ovulating and we had sex two times during that period of time ( I think it is a 24-48 hour window of time) and it worked. I now have a beautiful 14 month old girl. Good luck and I am sorry about the miscarriage. I know how emotionally painful that is. I was devastated. That is partly why I bought the kit because I was such a wreck that I had to do something to make it feel like I would get pregnant again and SOON. I will pray that it works for you too. Jane

Hi!

the Clear Blue Easy works very well. We used it as birth control (you are not advised to use it this way) and when we decided to get pregnant, it worked on the first try. Same results or similar from friends. I highly recommend it. good luck.

L.

ps~ we got it on amazon.

Hi There

I used the ovulation kits both times and got pg both times.

Another recommendation for Taking Charge of Your Fertility (www.tcoyf.com). I tried to get pregnant for over a year, then got pregnant 3 months after using this book. I think it helped relieved some anxiety as I always knew what was going on with my cycle so that I didn't obsess about it. Evening Primrose Oil also helped to increase the quality and quantity of my cervical fluid. That really helps for determining the fertile phase of one's cycle.
Good luck and have fun!
C.

Hi M.,
I don't know anything about ovulation kits, but I know a lot about the benefits of hypnosis and I beleive it is very good for you, to find a hypnotherapist. Some are specifically trained to help with HypnoFertility, others help with anxiety and so on and just about all of them can help you relax.
Don't know where you are located, but I'm sure you can find alternative health practitioners advertised in a wellness magazine or some publication you might find at a health food store or massage or yoga studio.
Have fun, S.

It worked for us...I just got the Walgreens brand.

We bought the simple OTC ovulation kits. First time used, we got pregnant; however, miscarried. We waited 3 months before trying again. Decided to use the kit again it appeared to work and yep, we got pregnant (I believe 7 months after the MC) and are proud parents of an 18 month old son. We have decided to try for baby number 2 and I bought the same kit to have on hand. As others have mentioned, don't get too caught up in the process because than it does appear not to happen. I however, being in the science profession, I love having tools to help guide the process...so I look at the ovulation kits only as a tool and well, have fun with it to see just how accurate a tool can be. Have fun, relax, and the time will come. Take care.

M.,
We used the kit and it worked for us. It is all about timing and knowing your body. We also took my temp and kept track of everything. Once we understood how it all worked we were pregnant. Best of Luck to you.

M.,

I used the Clear Blue East Prediction Monitor. It costs about $150 plus $40 for the sticks. However, it worked great for many people I know. You just turn it on every morning at the same time and it will tell you whether or not you need to take a test. The first month you will take several test until it learns your ovulation pattern. Then it will tell you when you are at peak fertility.

I bought mine online. But you can also get it at Walgreens and other drug stores.

I wish you luck!

I don't think they work very well. My friend and I both tried them this month and they never showed that we ovulated. We were doing it every other day/every day from about 9 days past our period for about 12 days and we both got pregnant this month. I did the Basal body temperature with my 1st child and also got pregnant the 1st time. I think if you just have a lot of sex then you will not miss the ovulation time. Also, use the temperature charts anyway, because its cheap.

Hi M.,
The Ovo kits worked really well for us. I think it took me 2 months to get pregnant using these. They're kind of a pain, but they're effective.
I also had a miscarriage my first time around. I'm so sorry for your loss. It was the biggest heartbreak of my life.
Hope everything works out just like you want!
A.

Hi M.,
I can't help you regarding O.K.'s, but if you are trying to get pregnant I highly suggest a book called "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. This book is such a valuable book with so much information about fertility and how to conceive, plus information about charting, and other VERY effective methods for determining when you ovulate. There is even a section on gender selecting!