CB dual hormone sticks-when to dtd?

[GlitterMouse]

Just seeking some clarification from you ovulation sticks experts! It's all new to me!!

I've bought some of the clearblue dual hormone digital sticks. 2 days ago, I got a flashing smiley (high fertility) and had my first ever attempt that day. Was this the wrong thing to do? Should I be waiting for a still smiley -peak fertility?

I've had 3 days of flashing smileys now and no still smiley yet. Should I dtd again when still smiley shows up or leave it for this month?

[ksmom]

If you're doing one attempt at pos. OPK then wait until you get a peak reading (solid smiley). If you look at my chart, you'll see that I had 7 days of flashing smileys before I gave up testing so don't be discouraged if you get high readings for a week before peak. If say in two days you get a solid smiley, DTD then (so it would be like an E4D pattern).

[atomic sagebrush]

I like you guys to DTD at first solid smiley (peak.) DTD at flashing smiley is problematic because you can get many, many days of flashy before you get a solid.

BUT that having been said, if you are really dedicated to timing as a sway tactic some people try to hit it on the first or second flashy and then just hold with that. Don't be dieting strictly if you are going with that method though cause it may take forever to fall pregnant.

[GlitterMouse]

Thank you so much for your replies ladies...

Thanks for the info about high fertility going on for a few days-I was beginning to wonder if there was something wrong so will keep going and see what happens! The e4d route sounds like a good idea though.

I think we've decide to leave any further attempts for this month but will go into next months attempt knowing a bit more!

Atomic, not sure I fancy the 'taking forever to get pregnant' thing so thanks for the heads up on that!! I've been going on LE and exercise since January and have lost 28lbs so now at lowest adult weight. Think I will stick to solid smiley for my first attempt or maybe could I chance my arm and have one attempt at 3 days into flashing, then 4 and creep in like that towards solid? What do you think?

[maidentomother]

I would wait until you get the solid smilie/Peak then attempt ASAP.

When the Advanced OPK works optimally (and honestly it rarely does), you are supposed to get 4 Highs before your Peak. I find it hilariously ironic that it works perfectly for me almost every cycle I use it, bc my O day and luteal phase are quite erratic and unpredictable and I don't get positive OPKs on strips/regular digital OPKs. In others, I have seen everything from no Peak ever, just endless Highs, or direct to Peak without ever getting any Highs, to all number of Highs before Peak. For many women it changes from cycle to cycle also. Let us know what ends up happening in your case!

[atomic sagebrush]

Thank you so much for your replies ladies...

Thanks for the info about high fertility going on for a few days-I was beginning to wonder if there was something wrong so will keep going and see what happens! The e4d route sounds like a good idea though.

I think we've decide to leave any further attempts for this month but will go into next months attempt knowing a bit more!

Atomic, not sure I fancy the 'taking forever to get pregnant' thing so thanks for the heads up on that!! I've been going on LE and exercise since January and have lost 28lbs so now at lowest adult weight. Think I will stick to solid smiley for my first attempt or maybe could I chance my arm and have one attempt at 3 days into flashing, then 4 and creep in like that towards solid? What do you think?

It depends on what YOU want from your sway. If you believe timing sways, then you may not want to give it up. Most of us on here have 2-3-4 or more timing opposites so it's easy for us to give up on, but I know it's not that easy for those who believe in it. The problem with creeping up on it is that even with one attempt at peak, you may not get pregnant from that, so then you're going on and on and on month after month and a large part of that is doing things that aren't even helping your sway really (the timing element). While I can't tell you waht to do I do believe that it's best to focus on doing what works and getting pregnant quickly, rather than to drag it out chasing things that don't sway, running the risk that you'll lose too much and stop ovulation, and/or that you'll start to panic as the BFN add up and chuck it all in and start basically swaying blue just to get pregnant again. :)

[honeybee37]

I started using CB digital 3 cycles ago. I seem to have 4 days of high, and two days of peak before ovulating the day after (according to pains and CM changes). I am pretty sure I wouldn't ever get pregnant from an attempt on a 'high' day.

[GlitterMouse]

Thanks for all your replies ladies, they've been so helpful.

Atomic, I totally get what you're saying about ttc-ing going on and on and on and I am worried that I might 'fall off the wagon" so to speak, the longer I continue. Have to admit, I've had a few cheats this week and have put a lb back on. After my attempt I was a bit naughty and now feel I need to hold my nerve and see this through to the best of my ability. I have been so good for the past 5 months, I need to keep it up!

I'm sure you ladies are right, to do the deed at peak, static smiley. I don't really want to go on forever, I'm 38 and am at my lowest adult weight so don't want to make myself too infertile that I need to sway blue.

Thanks for helping me arrive at my decision. In an ideal world I *think* I would have liked to have tried creeping it in on flashies but don't feel I have the time or the energy! Plus, if I had bought a different brand of opk I wouldn't have heard of high fertility and would have dtd at positive opk anyway!!!

[atomic sagebrush]

Falling off the wagon is something to consider but the real danger is like I said, going on too strictly over the course of time. So while I know it feels scary, those cheats are actually golden because it allows your body a chance at nutrients that it may not be getting enough of otherwise. The weight will fluctuate over time depending on what time of day you weight yourself and lots of other variables, never stress over a pound or even 2 or 3!

[GlitterMouse]

Thanks Atomic, all makes great sense. Glad I don't need to stress too much over individual lbs. As you say, its the overall picture, over a longer period of time that needs to look pink!!

Can't wait for my next cycle now, want to get going at peak simley