The Two Monitors Experiment

[Kallypso]

Hi all!
I've been keeping track of my cycles using my two clear blue easy fert. monitors...
Even though we're not actively TTC right now due to pending surgery, I'm still keeping track so I can make sure my cycles stay where they're supposed to be.
One of my main concerns with having just one monitor is that I was worried I'd be missing "O" because of testing in the AM. I'm so obsessive compulsive it's not even funny...
Sure enough, I've had a cycle that could have had my timing for BMS off....

AM Monitor: CD17 - High CD18 - High CD19 - Peak CD20 - Peak
PM Monitor: CD17 - High CD18 - Peak CD19 - Peak CD20 - High

The only thing that confuses me here is knowing which day I actually O'd on!
I don't BBT - so we can rule that out!
Only thing I can go by is CM & cramping - CM on CD18 & CD19 was EWCM. Cramps were O-like on CD19 mostly.
With the last few cycles I've been a CD19/20 O'er so maybe I should just call CD20 my O-date and go with that....

Does bother me a bit that it seems to be 11,12, or 13 days post O that AF shows up. Bit on the short end, don't you think.

Don't mind me, I'm just mostly rambling....

--Kerry

[BC-DKNY]

hi kerry....believe it or not, it makes sense to me. the reason being, is because they say most women have their surge in the morning, however it's not detectable in urine until the afternoon. thus the reason the experts say the best time to test is the afternoon. if you're a morning tester and actually had your surge on the morning of cd18, it wouldn't have registered on your morning test of cd 18 (which it didn't.) you would have to wait until the following morning then to actually see your surge (which in effect occurred the day before.) by you testing with 2 different monitors in both the AM & PM, you proved that theory.

so in essence, you did surge on cd 18. according to your PM monitor, you were back to "high" and done with your "peak" window by the afternoon on cd 20. you more than likely O'd between cd 19-20. it's hard to pinpoint the exact hour, but it could've been as late as the morning of cd 20.

i know you said you're not actively TTC, but if you were, hopefully you would've begun BMS'ing when you got your first peak on cd 18 and you would've been covered either way.

as for the length of your cycle, i would keep an eye on that. anything shorter than 12 days is not ideal. if it happens more often than not, it needs to be looked into. a once in a while short LP is really not uncommon. implantation takes place between cd 6-12, so anything shorter than that can prevent a conception from implanting. if you think this might be an issue, you can raise this topic with your doc.

HTH

[BC-Maura]

Hi Kerry: WOW! Thanks for the informal study. That's really interesting! I agree with Dina's analysis and if I had to guess your O day it would be cd 19 because of the Monitor, the cm and the cramping.

It shows the importance of BMS the same day as your first ++OPK because let's say you were solely a morning tester and were only going to BMS using the OPKs as a guide. When you got your ++OPK on cd 19 (morning), you might think, "Oh, I have until tomorrow to start BMS because usually you O the day after your ++OPK." However, you actually started surging on cd 18 unbeknownst to you and were going to O on cd 19, the day after your surge actually began. So, had you waited until cd 20 to BMS, you might have missed O altogether that month!

It also shows the importance of BMS regularly up to your O date. Because someone who was BMSing anyway even before they got their ++OPK might have BMS'd on cd 17 or 18 anyway, leaving sperm to do the trick for a cd 19 O.

Now *I* am rambling!

Anyway, anyone reading this should take away from your study that:

1. Testing in the afternoon probably is preferable when it comes to OPKs.

2. It is very important to BMS the SAME DAY you get your first ++ OPK and

3. Regular BMS leading up to O --even before a ++OPK -- can increase your chances of conception.

As for your luteal phase, when you say AF shows up 11-13 days after O, are you including the day you O or the day you get AF? If you're not including either day and your LP is 12-13 days long, you're fine. Anything less than 12 days is something to look into.

Best+++++++++++++++++
Maura

[Kallypso]

Thanks for the response ladies!
Informal study - that made me giggle...
This little science experiment of mine is fascinating me.
This stuff needs to be taught to girls in school - forget growing tadpoles in a bucket or watching moss grow - teach 'em how to chart their bodies!!

It does make sense that I'd actually get the surge detection in the PM testing - that is why I was worried about only testing in the AM.
While this is not an ideal way to keep track for everyone, it does help me see that I may have been missing my "prime" BMS days in the past by (like Maura said) waiting until the PM after the AM "Peak" to start BMS'ing.
It really is kind of interesting to me.

The last two cycles with the two monitors - everything was exactly the same - "High" & "Peak" on the same days. I was starting to doubt my theory!

Like many others I was concerned about OPK'ing in the PM because it wasn't FMU. Always told - FMU is the way to go...
My former ob/gyn always told me to BBT and OPK in the AM. Then again, her job is really just to make sure babies pop out in good shape - not make 'em get there in the first place.

Even though we're not "Actively" TTC - we still BMS'd for the heck of it. Any time I can convince my DH to BMS it's a good day... we aren't holding out hope - it was mostly just out of habit.... yes, habit... anyone buying that?

And OOOPS! Not including AF day and O day in my LP count. Good info! Makes me feel a tad better!

Thanks - again - for the feedback!

--Kerry - The Science Experiment In Progress

[BC-Maura]

Hello, Professor Kerry. You know, I think boys and girls absolutely SHOULD be taught more specifically about girl's cycles! I remember sex ed in school and it was so superficial. I say give them a copy of "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" and give them quizzes on fertility signs! Maybe it would cut down on teen pregnancy rates some ... and then when they're ready to have babies, they'll be ready to ttc with as much information as possible.

As for FMU, I think it only applies to HPTs! Although I have to say that I tested at all different times of the day (although I always kept the same time within a given cycle, i.e., every 24 hours whether morning or night) with success. Then again, dh and I BMSed every day starting on cd 11 or 12 until O was confirmed with temps, so OPKs were sort of irrelevant for me.

Anyway, let us know if you do any more experiments, ok?!

Best of luck++++++++++++++
Maura

[BC-DKNY]

i was gonna say the same thing about FMU....it definitely applies for HPT's, but supposedly the opposite holds true for OPK's.

you bring out a good point about your OB...youre right, they're not fertility specialists, so they may not be the best person to hand out advice about fertility.

i also think a lot of research has been done over the last couple of decades with IF being such an issue today. so i guess it stands to reason that the original advice that was given in the past has been fine tuned and amended over the years.

[carrieann]

Originally Posted by geekychick

AM Monitor: CD17 - High CD18 - High CD19 - Peak CD20 - Peak
PM Monitor: CD17 - High CD18 - Peak CD19 - Peak CD20 - High

The only thing that confuses me here is knowing which day I actually O'd on!

Does bother me a bit that it seems to be 11,12, or 13 days post O that AF shows up. Bit on the short end, don't you think.

Here is my take on this, ready?
For one..most women surge in the afternoon and not the morning. That shows true here for you on CD18.

As far as your luteal phase being too short. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of using progesterone cream AFTER ovulation. That might help extend it a little longer.