CBFM Users - Join in...

[GeCon]

Hi,

I thought it would be nice to have a place where the CBFM users can exchange experiences, ask questions, etc.

I have only started using my CBFM again this month. Mainly to see what my cycle is up to as I am still BF'ing our LO at night and have only got my 1st "real" AF a month or so ago. I am hoping that using the CBFM will take some stress and pressure off as to when ovulation will take place.

Today I am on CD26: 9 Highs and no Peaks this month for me. Today back to Low. I know this is common to happen in the 1st few months of using the CBFM while it is getting used to your cycle, but still....

So who's next?

[LacePrincess]

Thanks for starting this thread! This is a GREAT idea. A lot of us have the CBFM and a lot of the same questions come up over and over again. I'm going to sticky this thread if you don't mind.

Here's a recent discussion where people can get started reading, a lot of commonly asked questions about the CBFM came up on it: http://genderdreaming.com/forum/tryi...y-monitor.html

And here's a graph that gives a great snapshot visual aid to understand exactly how the CBFM is supposed to help you 'read' your cycle:



As far as personal experience, I have owned the CBFM for almost 9 years now (!!!). I've used it when TTC all of my kids. I tend to have false estrogen surges and multiple surges before my body finally O's, so sometimes I find it's not that useful for me. I too tend to have a lot of months with a gazillion Highs and no Peak at all. The thing is, once the monitor registers a High it'll KEEP showing High even if your estrogen has actually gone down again (so a false surge that doesn't trigger the LH surge). I find that a weakness of the device, since if you have multiple estrogen surges your estrogen will actually dip down again in between and you're not fertile, but the CBFM won't show Low again in between the surges even though it should. And, the sticks are $$$ so I stop after 10 sticks each month even though the monitor will ask for up to 20 sticks before giving up on finding the Peak.

So it's most useful for people who have 'normal' hormone surges.

I found it useful before I got really good at charting, but ever since I learnt to chart really well I don't find the CBFM tells me anything I don't already know. So for me it's more a luxury to confirm my IC OPKs and charting signs then anything else.

[mkarntz1980]

well i am on month one of using my CBEFM....im only on CD 6 but still spotting from AF, it asked for a stick and it gave me a high reading?! i did start vitex a few days and im still bleeding so im guessing i still have estrogen from bleeding.....we will see what it shows tomorrow but i know i am no way close to ovulating!!

[rainbowflower]

the high reading is all related to oestrogen level, but as everyone's individual oestrogen levels pre-OV are different it takes a couple of cycles to get used to it

GeCon - as with OPKs, it's possible for the CBFM to miss your LH surge that it uses to give you peak readings. In this case, you will get a lot of highs in a row before you get a low again. I used the CBFM to TTC 3 times and I'd say that 40% of cycles it missed my peak days. Thankfully I was using OPKs alongside it so still picked up on them.

[GeCon]

2nd cycle of using the CBFM for me. CD23 and another High. I have taken Vitex earlier this month to hopefully shorten my cycle, but I am not sure yet.... EWCM on and off for the last week.. just playing the waiting game at the moment.

Your turn!

[BZ88]

I'm cd 16 still no peak and had ewcm last week and no pos opk yet I'm so confused this is my first month charting and I don't if I've already ovulated or having late ovulation. Is it possible for opk not to work too?

[rainbowflower]

I think with OPKs you have more of an idea if you've missed the surge or not (as you will get signficantly darker test lines even if not actually positive) if you only catch the surge on the way up or way down and not the peak. Are you doing them at a different time of day to the CBFM? if so, it's unlikely you'll have missed the surge when testing twice a day so OV might not have happened yet

[GeCon]

I am pretty chuffed this morning as I woke up to a Peak. The 1st Peak I have ever seen on my monitor. Means that the Vitex has hopefully reduced my ovulation from CD42 to CD26. Woohoo!

[rainbowflower]

yay!!

[True Blue]

I have used the cbfm since 2011 and always gotten peaks, it takes a few months (2-3) to get used to your cycle but I find it very accurate
For me O mostly happens on my second peak day

Just a tip: From the first peak reading the monitor will automatically read a second peak, then one high, then back to lows so once you get your first peak reading you can stop feeding it sticks