Question

Are those home ovulation predictor tests accurate? Do they actually predict if you ovulate? I got to thinking that maybe I should explain why I want to know. The OB I saw suggested I do the ovulation predictor to see if I ovulate. Is this a waste?

Comments

[Kendra]

Yep, they sure do work.

If money doesn't matter, then go with the pee-sticks. They're pretty convenient.

If money is a concern, and you're going to be tracking for several months, go with Basal Body Temperature (BBT) charting. It will give you basically the same info. You just have to buy the thermometer once, BUT you have to wake up every day at the same time to get an accurate chart.

I wouldn't recommend the "lick-the-plastic" variety, though. Anybody else have success with this kind?

[sarah]

i have no idea, but i just wanted to say i think you have a fabulous sense of humor and would make a lovely mommy. tried to post this before, but i don't think it went through. =)

[Andrea]

Lick-the-plastic is garbage. A waste of money, and sold by people who call scewring "baby dancing," to boot.

The pee sticks predict ovulation (LH surge) but they can't tell you if you *did* ovulate. BBT charting might- if you have a neat, regular cycle it will show a temp rise after you ovulate. The only way to be positive, though, is ultrasound.

Your OB should *know* this, dammit..

[Monica]

I've found that they do work. I've used the Clear Plan Ovulation kit -- it helped me know when I was ovulating, but it didn't help me get pregnant. I have friends, however, who have gotten pregnant using this. It's especially helpful if you discover, like I did, that you only ovulate one day a month.

[persephone]

Andrea is right - the only way to know for sure is ultrasound. BBT and OPKs can both be useful, but it depends on why you need to know. The difference is that BBT can only tell you *after* you ovulated, but an OPK will tell you *just before*. So OPKs are better for timing intercourse for conception, but BBT is fine if you just want to know whether you're ovulating at all.

I charted my BBT for months before I started using OPKs, and it probably saved me some money because I have a better idea what time of the month to start testing. I found it a relief to give up the charting: BBT was slow, painstaking and error-prone, and now I only use OPKs for a few days and don't worry the rest of the time. But if I were going through 7 or 10 of them a month, I'd be pretty frustrated. And poor.

One more tip: don't go broke on OPK's (I find they are much cheaper in the suburbs than in NYC, for example), but don't buy the cheapest ones either. There really is a difference in terms of how messy the process is, how easy the results are to read, and how many duds there are in the box. Arggh. I just found that last one out two days ago.

I think the ones I like are ClearBlue.

(I found you through the Julie-Dawn-Getupgrrl triumvirate, by the way, and I wish you a lot of luck with all the choices you face.)

[JJ]

I haven't tried the pee sticks, I have tried the lick a stick but I haven't gotten very good results from it. I've been doing NFP for a few months now and I'm sure if I ever ovulated I'd know it. See, that's my problem, so if I did ovulate maybe I'd have better results with my lick a stick. Read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility", you would not believe what they haven't told you about your own body. Also, try out www.fertilityfriend.com. You can track all your information there and print it off to take to your OB. Best of luck!

[Michele]

Thanks for all of the great advice. I knew y'all would come through.

JJ, I'm going to call Barnes & Noble tonight to see if they have it in stock.

My OB did offer up the fun invasive methods of finding out if my girl parts are working, but he suggested the OPK as a starting point. The whole peeing on a stick thing sounded much nicer than the other stuff. I'm a wuss.

I've never tried to get pregnant. And I'm not trying now, but I think I'll try the OPK just to see what it says.

[Michele]

Sarah, thank you. You are a sweetheart. Whenever I hear anything about Iraq, which is all the time, my thoughts automatically fly towards your brother and your family. Hope his turn to come home happens soon.

[Andrea]

TCoYF contains invaluable information. Those who are TTC and tend toward the crabby, though (like, for instance, me), will be irked by the chirpy little stories throughout, the moral of which is always "And then she used my method and look- she's pregnant!"

I never got there, myself. We're going to China.

(I too found you via Julia and getupgrrl, and wish you luck with your difficult choices.)

[Michele]

Andreah, thanks for the warning about the chirpy stories. Being that my gag reflex has a delicate trigger, I will make sure to keep a bucket nearby to catch any vomit.

Thank you for the well wishes! I'll take all the luck I can get....I'm greedy that way.

[Andrea]

You're very welcome. Feel free to come over to mine any time and scatter any adoption luck you might have lying around.