Sunday, September 5, 2010 Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this monitor after 8 months of trying to concieve.I have very irregular periods so the thought of a machine telling me when I was ovulating sounded great.

About the machine:You have to program it to start during your period.So, if you buy it in between your cycles, you need to wait until your next period to begin using the monitor, however you can program it up to day 5 on your period, meaning if you buy this and you are anywhere from day 1-5 in your menses, you can program it for whatever day between those five days you are on.If you purchase the monitor and you are on day 3 of your period, the monitor will allow you to program day 3 and start from there.For me I had a bit of trouble figuring out the programming but to be honest Im not that mechanically inclined, but I did eventually get it.

You start testing when the maching tells you to, so you won't be testing everyday.This helps because it saves $$ on the sticks.You pee on the stick in the morning (first morning urine for best results, as opposed to afternoon urine with OPK'S) at the same time every morning.There is a 3 hour window that is allowed.So if you set your clock for 7am, but you really have to pee at 5:30, you pee at that time so the urine is concentrated.The 3 hour window can go either way- before 7am or after, just as long as its the first urine.The machine will give you either a low, high or peak (with a little egg next to the peak days) reading.The instructions advise you to baby dance on high and peak days.

Now for the cons.Its pricey!The machine itself is expensive, much, much more then OPK's and the sticks are pricey as well.When you buy the machine it will come with a certain amount of sticks, but then you need to buy refills which can get costly.

Did it work?? For us it worked.I was able to get pregnant the second cycle using this monitor.It showed that I was ovualting on day 10, where I figured I was around days 12-16, so we were way off.With the new found knowledge of when I was actually ovualting we got pregnant with our little boy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor

Product Description:
The Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor helps reduce the time it takes to conceive your baby. Trying to get pregnant should be an exciting time for you and your partner. The Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor provides an advanced monitoring method to maximize your chances of getting pregnant.

The Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor is simple to use, and helps reduce the time it takes to conceive your baby. Detailed view.

Test stick monitors hormones in your urine.

The screen displays three levels of fertility -- low, high, and peak (shown).

Use the "M" button to tell the monitor your monthly cycle has begun. This Clearblue monitor is very simple to use. The unit is equipped with a test stick that is used to monitor hormone levels present in your urine. Briefly, a test is completed by wetting a stick for three seconds, placing it in the test stick slot, and waiting for results. The monitor can be programmed to follow the days of your monthly cycle to help maximize your chances of getting pregnant. In addition, each test displays a fertility status reading on the screen. Based on the results of your test, your chances for conception are displayed on-screen using three bars that correspond to the three different levels of fertility -- low, high, and peak.
The monitor also comes equipped with a handy "M Button." When you press the M Button you tell the monitor that your period has started and a new monthly cycle has begun. When you press the button you also establish the six hours each day during which you can do a test. This is called the "testing window." The testing window should be set so that it is convenient for you to test the first urine of the day both on weekdays and the weekend. At the start of each new cycle you can either press your M Button at the same time as you did on your previous cycle, or if you wish, you can change your testing window by setting the M Button at a different time. Remember, your testing window must be convenient for you to test the first urine of each day.
Your Changing Fertility
This device more accurately identifies a greater number of fertile days than any other method. During the early days of your menstrual cycle, you have a low hormone concentration, i.e. low fertility. It is during these days that your chances of getting pregnant are significantly lower. At 10-12 days into your cycle, you experience a rise in Estrogen (E3G) that signals high fertility. Your chances of conceiving are increased during these days before ovulation because sperm can survive for up to five days.
During this stage -- the Follicular Phase -- a follicle containing an egg develops in the ovary. A surge of Luteinizing hormone signals peak fertility, and it is here that your chances of conceiving are at their highest. This peak moment of fertility only last a couple days, but the Clearblue helps you pinpoint this optimal moment for conception. It is at this moment that ovulation occurs, and the follicle containing the egg bursts releasing the ovum. Of course, the egg can be fertilized for up to 24 hours, therefore you have a short duration of time within which you can optimize your chances for conception. The fourteen days after ovulation is called the Luteal Phase. During this time, the remains of the follicle forms the "corpus luteum," and, again, your chances of getting pregnant are significantly lower. All of these phases can be monitor with the help of the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor.
Performing a Test
The Clearblue monitor is easy to use. To perform a test simply switch on the monitor every morning within your testing window and before you go to the bathroom. On the mornings when the monitor requires further information about your hormone levels, a test will be required. Tests must be performed with the first urine of the day. First remove the test stick from its protective foil wrapper and use immediately. Hold the test stick pointing downwards in your urine stream for only three seconds. This is long enough to ensure the sampling end is sufficiently wet. Keep the test stick pointing downwards, take the cap off the handle, and place it over the wet end of the test stick.
You will see a red light flashing in the test stick slot. This is the monitor checking to see if the slot is ready to receive the test stick. You should not place the test stick into the slot until the red light has gone out. Holding the test stick by the cap with cut corner pointing downwards, insert it into the slot. Push the test stick down until it lies flat and clicks in place. Once you've correctly inserted the test stick, the display will flash the test stick symbol for about five minutes while the monitor reads and interprets the information in your urine. At the end of five minutes the monitor will ask you to remove the test stick which should be thrown away. Your fertility status will then be displayed. It's that easy.

What's in the Box
Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor and instructions.