Reddit mentions: The best home testing kits

I'm going to third Taking Charge of Your Fertility and also the subreddit /r/tryingforababy has some great info.

I wish your doctor would have explained that to you more thoroughly because it takes a long time to get a handle on what this all means.

If you're still worried, ask for a referral to a reproductive endocrinologist for testing. This is expensive and so I wouldn't consider it the first course of action.

Basal Body Temperature

Spend at least one cycle taking your temperature with a basal body thermometer (they're more sensitive to slight temperature fluctuations) at the same exact time, every morning before you even get out of bed. It's very important that it's done upon waking without getting up for at least 3 hours prior.


Chart this temperature for a whole cycle (if you ovulate, it wouldn't be unusual to see the temperature spike several tenths of a degree around days 14, 15, or sometimes even 16. It should then stay up for two weeks (use the first day it spiked as ovulation day and you can predict your period should come exactly 14 to 15 days afterward.) Were you to get pregnant it would have been due to sex three days before up to one day after ovulation day. If you're pregnant, your temperature will stay up past the two week mark. Then you would want to take a pregnancy test.

Some women chart their Basal Body Temperature, or BBT, on paper, but many use FertilityFriend.com. It's free and extremely helpful in visualizing what your cycle is up to.


Ovulation Predictor Kits, or LH Surge Predicting

Your LH hormone surge is what tells your body to release an egg. Test with urine (preferably after not drinking water for two hours before you test, which sucks) with these - most women use them and they're cheap and effective. Did I mention cheap? The directions are on the packaging but the test line needs to be as dark or darker than the control line. The best time of day to test is anywhere from 11am to 3pm. That's when your surge should show up in urine.


Cervical Mucus

Another great way to see if you're ovulating is to monitor your cervical mucus. Here's a great website explanation of the different consistencies you should watch for. Basically, if it's super slippery, stretchy and wet/clear, like egg whites, it's go time. Think of it this way: if you were a little sperm, what would be easiest to swim through? The stuff that's already like semen. Wet, slippery, etc. Not dry, not like hand lotion, and definitely not sticky/pasty/thick.


Finally,

If none of these signs point to ovulation, then I would see a specialist. If you seem to ovulate but still aren't getting pregnant, it could be your tubes or your uterus creating an issue. For all else, the ladies at /r/tryingforababy are great with answering questions, too.

Welcome! However, I don't want you here ;) - we don't want to be here either, so I hope you're going to be okay and won't need to come back to this sometimes sad place. Good luck.



Edit: Also, the good news is your age - the sooner you learn what's going on, the better, because your body is still so young!

I have done natural cycle (so timed with OPKs, no monitoring/meds) IUI using frozen donor sperm! In my case, it's because I'm a woman married to a woman.

I started off using the cheaper OPKs that you can get online (a lot of people here use Wondfo, I happened to use Easy@Home). Those are nice because you can buy a ton of them for not much money. A lot of people tend to use them twice a day, and I did at first as well, but I quickly learned that I pretty much can only catch my LH surge between 4-6pm. Most people tend to surge in the late afternoon-early evening, but that's not always the case.

If you aren't comfortable with trying to interpret the cheaper OPKs (determining if the test line is the same color or darker than the control), then I highly recommend the Clearblue Digital OPK (specifically NOT the advanced version - that one will give you a bigger fertile window range which is not important/helpful when timing IUI). When you are having your LH surge, you get a smiley face. Simple but definitely much more expensive.

I definitely recommend supplementing the OPKs with temping. You can use a Mabis or any other basal body thermometer to take your temperature daily first thing in the morning and then put those numbers into a TTC app such as Fertility Friend. It won't tell you when you're ovulating before it happens, but it will tell you after the fact and then you will know if your IUI timing was good or not.

Also, you should check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It will give you a lot more information on charting and helping you to pinpoint your ovulation day.

I hope that helps a bit! Please feel free to ask me any other questions 🙂

These are the ones I bought, from Easy@home:

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Home-Ovulation-Strips-Pregnancy/dp/B00DOJG6RA?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

So far I'm very happy with them, the strips themselves seem very well put-together, whereas some photos of other internet cheapies look kind of flimsy, if that makes sense. I paid extra for faster shipping, but otherwise these are SUPER low-cost. I got the 50-OPK/20-HPT pack, but they come in other sizes and mixes, if you aren't interested in the OPKs.

For tracking, I rely mostly on CM, which was SUPER important this cycle. Before my last TWW, I had been taking a regular multi-v plus folic acid supplements, but during my C1 TWW I started taking my prenatals daily, and I'm pretty sure they caused me to ovulate early (lots of B vitamins). My cycle is normally like clockwork, so any change is very abnormal, and if I hadn't been checking CM, I would have missed it completely. I ovulated on CD13, versus CD16, and I hadn't even started the OPKs until CD14. Luckily, I was temping, so I was able to confirm my O-date after the fact.

If you are looking into getting a thermometer, I ended up getting mine at the grocery store, and it was like $5. Still a BBT, and I've not had ANY issues with it: Veridian Healthcare 60-Second Digital Basal Thermometer. The price online varies from $6-10.


I swore I wouldn't start temping, but I do honestly feel relaxed by doing it. I think it just suits my personality, because I really like data analysis and following a routine. I do wake up a lot at night and temp at different times each early morning (usually from 3am-8am), but even so, my chart looks consistent enough! :)

CW: Previous loss mentioned

Cycle: Trying since April 2017


Ovulation cycle day: 13


Relevant BD/BD method: Husband coins the phrase "Fuck week" method. Sex every night from CD8 to CD16.


Tracking methods and apps used:


First cycle using Ava bracelet. 🙄 I used FF for a long while but over time started to genuinely despise temping. Temp drops would send me into downward spirals in the wee hours of the morning. My husband started to resent FF. My cycles were very regular and since I knew I typically ovulated between CD 12-14 (thanks to FF), we adopted fuck week protocol and stopped with temping some months back. I would encourage anyone starting out to jump right into temping because I regret not starting sooner but would also encourage anyone to stop it if it's making you miserable.


As for the Ava, I had an abandoned HSA account from an old job with a few hundred bucks and (for whatever reason) it's too big of a pain to merge it with my current HSA so I've been running it down. Ava is kind of neat but I assure you, you do not need this thing. It's overpriced for what it does, imo.


Symptom spotting:

Nipples were mildly tingly but they were last cycle too so I didn't put much stock into it. Bloated and gassy before BFP but still did not register until after the fact.


Day of positive test(s): 14 DPO (CD 27)


I'm away on business travel this week and next. I got my BFP in a hotel bathroom alone on Wednesday morning. Thanks to the huge bathroom mirror, I got to see the big smile on my face. 😊


BFP stands for big faint positive in my case because the line was there but no where near as dark as the control. I brought a few cheapie ClinicalGuard tests from Amazon with me on this trip. I took another test CD16 (Friday) and it was still faint as the first. Que deep panic setting in. Turns out there's a number of reviews on Amazon warning not to use these for line progression purposes. I have a FRER at home I can take when I get back. Debating if I should get a Clearblue Digital while I'm down here to show hubs when he picks me up from the airport later this week. 🤔 🤷


I had a miscarriage at 6 wks this year in April and had a very faint line on a FRER at DPO 16 then. Nothing like prior miscarriage to rob the joy of a positive pregnancy test. (This is why the faint line has me so terrified.)


I did get a fucking grip after I read this article so panic averted for now. A faint positive is still a positive. The line on a home pregnancy test isn't going to tell you if you will carry to term. It's just pregnant: true/false. Embracing the "today, I am pregnant" mentality and cherishing the bloat, gas, and increasingly sore boobs.


Supplements and medications:

NatureMade Prenatal Multi+DHA

NatureMade CoQ10 100 mg

NatureMade D3 25 mcg (1000 IU)

Now Fish Oil DHA 500/EPA 250


Husband was also taking the same only swap the prenatal with a Men's One-a-Day vitamin. We've been on this regimen for a while now. Hubs also takes Adderall.


Birth control history, if relevant:


Two back to back Mirenas, last one removed April 2017. Had not had my period for many years until ttc. Forgot how much it sucked. It took about 3 months to normalize after removal.


Typical cycle length: 27 days


Health conditions/medical tests: Sedentary and stressful office job. Otherwise healthy.


Link to chart: Ava chart

I switched to "pregnancy monitoring mode" or whatever and now I can't see what the chart looked like before that. :/ It said that I ovulated on CD 13 (Sept 26). OF COURSE, the one night I forgot to wear was a fairly critical data day CD 12.

Note that the temp rise is not very clear post ovulation. (Not as clear as I was used to on FF.)


Link to lineporn: Squinty Arrow added for husband's benefit.


Other (advice, magic secrets, freaking out, miscellaneous):


I have been stressed out to the max with my job this cycle. So much for "just relax and it will happen". 😂 That being said, I have gone through a weird attitude adjustment over the past few cycles. Hard to describe. I stopped being so negative and also stopped being overly anxious about making things perfect. I drank coffee throughout this cycle and into ttw. I tried to get up from my desk and walk everyday. I didn't consider myself out immediately just because something wasn't optimal. I read somewhere on Pinterest, "You don't need perfection to get pregnant" and it really stuck with me. In the end, conception happens on the microscopic level and how you feel about it isn't going to impact much. So you might as just go with the flow. My husband helped me see this. He really helped lift me out of my funk.


I fly home on Thursday and wouldn't you know it, hubs and I have our first appt with an RE on Friday morning. (Nuts to think I made this appointment in August.) If everything stays good by Monday (Tuesday the latest), I'm going to call to cancel or reschedule a month out and see how it goes.


I would have been due in December with the baby we lost earlier this year. Hopefully I will be far enough along to make an announcement at the family Christmas party instead. 🤞


Sending my love and best wishes to everyone reading and congrats to the other BFP posters this week! There was a long time when these threads were too hard for me to read so also sending my love to those in that place too. ❤️❤️❤️

Edit: Looks like I am heading back to that place too... 😭

Welcome and good luck! :)

As for reading material, get your hands on this. Very good read (just ignore some of the anti-doc speech she has in there and you're good to go).

Do you have a smart phone? Download Fertility Friend! There's a free version and you can also pay for a subscription version that unlocks additional features. (You can also use their website if you don't mind using a desktop version -- desktop and mobile versions sync so you can use both as well, website located here )

Get thee a BBT (basal body thermometer). You can normally find them in the drug store or online (unless you're like me and can't find them anywhere except Amazon, but in theory, you should be able to find them anywhere a thermometer is sold! :P)

ETA: I just noticed you said you're in your 30's. There's also /r/ttc30 if you're interested in checking that out :)

ETA2: If you want a recommendation on what OPK's to use, I use Wondfo OPK's. They're dirt cheap (For a 100 pack of OPK's and a 20 pack of HCG tests, it's ~$35?). Supposedly their HCG tests are garbage, but I've never had a problem with the OPK's. They work great :)

Let me know if you have any questions :) I think I covered all the basics lol

I read in the comments that you were using Clear Blue Easy strips. I got the cheapo's off amazon and it worked, but I got pregnant on the first month - I anticipated problems and had none - luckily. But I always feel like I caught a lucky egg and that it might not always be so lucky. Stay strong mama. Even though I got pregnant first month, I had implantation bleeding and I thought that I had my period and wow did I feel saddness. I couldn't imagine months of it. I hope your lucky egg comes sooner than later. Your positive attitude makes me think you are a terrific mommy and you deserve another bundle of joy soon.

This is exactly what I've always done. I like the CB for the low/high/peak distinction, but I like actually being able to see the strength of the line to determine actual positive OPK day. (...also, the Wondfos read faster than the CBs, and I'm not a patient woman.)

I really like the CBs because I don't feel like I have very readable CM most of the time. If you feel like you have a good handle on your CM, and if your CM follows a predictable pattern, you may not find them as useful -- the low/high distinction is made by detecting rising levels of estrogen in the fertile window, which is the same thing you're doing when looking at different kinds of CM.

This is the CB kit I've always ordered from Amazon. It's much cheapter to buy them from Amazon than in your local drugstore -- I think this same kit was something like $70 at my local CVS. You can re-use the reader for multiple cycles, as long as you still have sticks left.

Get as healthy as you can.

I was super obese. I lost 115 lbs... then got pregnant, but I still need to lose another 100 or so pounds to be at my goal.

Talked over with Dr and she said because of my age (32 at the time), and wanting 2 kids, that she was fine if I kept up my healthy lifestyle changes and started to try.

We got pregnant very fast (2nd cycle after pulling iud). Unfortunately I miscarried. Know that not every pregnancy is successful and viable. Not to scare you, but had I known 1/4 of pregnancies end I wouldn’t have felt so alone.

The miscarriage was in Nov. after taking a little break, we decided to use ovulation strips

https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Home-Ovulation-Strips-Pregnancy/dp/B00DOJG6RA/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?keywords=ovulation+test+strips&qid=1565659016&s=gateway&sprefix=ovulatio&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&smid=A2X1ZITIH00L9R&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzMEpaSTVTVEQ3NE5TJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjY1NDYwMjVMWlpZTEJMR0w4VyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjc2MzI1MzhCVThTUThGRFZWQSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

(Cheap and effective and the app is simple) also you don’t need expensive pregnancy tests.

We used the strips because we didn’t want to waste time, and we got pregnant after 2nd cycle of trying (mentally I needed a few months break).

I’m now 26 weeks :)

First response was super spot on and great.

In my perfect timeline, I’d have been at goal weight before TTC, but that would have taken at least a year longer and by then my clock may be ticking too much.

Okay, here we go. First of all, good job having safe sex but let this scare be the motivation to have safer sex, i.e. get on some birth control on top of the condom use. There are a variety of options and is cost/parents are an issue go to your local Planned Parenthood to go over your options. :)

That being said I understand what you are going through right now. A lot of what you're describing is what I suspect not pregnancy just because it'd be crazy early to be getting signs of being pregnant. I'm thinking you're just being hypersensitive to things because you're stressed and worried. Google is hell for people who suspect unwanted pregnancy, haha. If it would make you feel better, take a test, but I'm not sure it'd pick up on pregnancy this early so it may be a waste of time.

http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B0002YIQEQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342981043&sr=8-1&keywords=pregnancy+test

I would buy a pack of these for the future to have on hand for possible scares like this one down the road. They're cheap, work, and it's nice to not have to worry about picking up a test at the store when you're already stressed, especially with you being so young. I would also pick up the morning after pill to have on hand. Not now because it is not an abortion pill and will not work if you're already pregnant and you can only take it up to 72 hours after your sexual encounter, but again, good to have on hand.

Overall, however, if your condom didn't break then I'd say your chances are slim to nil that you actually are pregnant.

I would also take this as an opportunity to talk to your partner about unwanted pregnancy. Would you want to adopt, get an abortion? It's your decision, but would you have your partner's support both emotionally and possibly financially? Would he want to keep it? These are important questions that I think it's important to ask your partner.

If you have any more questions, ask. I've been in your shoes before and know how it feels.

To answer your question: Once you stop the provera, you'll get your period within 7-14 days (a lot get it faster though). [ok, technically it's a withdrawl bleed, not a period, but for this case it's the same]

On your first full day of flow, count that as CD1. The monitor should recommend what day to start using it. You can look it up online i'm sure.

If you haven't already, I highly recommend reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility and the Impatient Women's Guide to Getting Pregnant. These will help you understand better what's going on.

Also with PCOS, I highly, highly recommend temping (TCOYF is the bible for temping). With long, unpredictable cycles and inconsistent ovulation, it's the only thing that can confirm you ovulated - with PCOS, unfortunately the monitor may give false positives (you have a LH surge, but don't actually release an egg).


Btw, even with the monitor, you might invest in some cheap OPKs - with 50+ day cycles, i've been going through 50+ OPKs in a month and I know those fertility sticks are expensive. Wondfos are the brand most recommended. These are the ones I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y1X6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.


Good luck with everything! You'll find a wealth of knowledge on this sub!

I'm dealing with this as well, but for me I'm always hopeful I'll be pregnant. I have confirmed endo, and I've been dealing with the symptoms for 20 years, but I still get surprised at how much my pre-period issues can line up with early pregnancy indicators.

I'm surprised they didn't automatically give you a pregnancy test at the Gyn's office. I can be on my period and they'll still do it.

One thing that has helped me with the scares is getting a huge pack of test strips so that I can do one (or more) a day without feeling like I'm throwing money away. Amazon has some really good deals. (Don't forget to have plastic cups on hand too!)

Also, have you tried a period tracker app? I am currently trying both Clue and My Calendar, to see which I prefer. They can help you track symptoms as well as your period, so you can see patterns. My Calendar also tracks temperature, which is a great indicator of different stages of your cycle.

I saw this in another thread recently and it's pretty awesome: https://www.amazon.com/ClinicalGuard®-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-Individually-Sealed/dp/B007VT30C8

"Pee stick" pregnancy tests work just fine, even at the dollar store. They use the same testing method as the clinical strips above (react to presence of hormone).

With any of these tests, there's basically no such thing as a false positive. If it's positive, you are definitely pregnant. If you get a negative result, you will want to wait a few days and test again - if you still haven't gotten your period. Also make sure you get plenty of urine on the stick to minimize the chances of false negative.

I'm not sure how it is in Canada, but if you do end up needing an abortion, most likely you will still need to have a test done with a positive result at the doctor's office. You may also be required to confirm the pregnancy with an ultrasound (the trans-vaginal kind; unfortunately the over-the-belly type isn't accurate enough in the early weeks of pregnancy).

You can do all of this at Planned Parenthood if you have anything like that up there. If you absolutely have no other options and are close enough to the border, I'm pretty sure PP doesn't have citizenship requirements. But you would probably want to call them to make sure. They generally provide services based on a sliding scale and should be able to give you a quote over the phone with your income information. I don't know for sure if they're able to provide services non-residents but at the very least, they won't judge you for calling and asking.

I'm really sorry to hear that your doctor is like that. I imagine it's also not that easy to switch providers. Best of luck to you and let us know if you need to talk or need any more advice.

Firstly, I would read Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler​. It goes over the basics (and more!) of charting your cycle so that you can tell when you are fertile. It will answer a lot of your questions. Even if you choose not to chart your temperature it'll give you a really good understanding of how your body works. It will also help you recognize when your cervical mucus indicates peak fertility. I would recommended charting though, it really helped my understand my inner workings and it's the only at-home way to confirm ovulation. If you decide to chart, have a look at Fertility Friend, an online charting app.

Wondfos are just a brand of cheap ovulation and pregnancy tests that can be bought via Amazon. They are really useful. I would definitely use them. The ovulation test strips (known as OPKs) here are often the easiest way to tell you're fertile. Here's a link.

Soft cups are disposable menstrual cups. Women use them after sex to keep semen as close as possible to the cervix for a longer period of time. Some women stay in bed with their hips elevated for the same reason. I can't comment on soft cups as I haven't used them.

Cough syrup is used to thin cervical mucus. This helps the sperm swim through it more easily. Usually, this is only used if your cervical mucus doesn't reach the fertile stage on it's own. Mucinex and Robitussin (the plain not the DM versions) are used. Honestly though, I wouldn't jump into using this stuff unless you've confirmed that you need it.

Another common aid here is PreSeed. It's a sperm-friendly lubricant that mimics your own fertile cervical fluids. Once again, you may not need this. Just remember that normal lube is not sperm friendly and can hurt your TTC chances.

My opinion is to try charting (temperature and cervical mucus) and OPKs. It's how I got my BFP quickly. I wouldn't bother with adding any extras just yet. Position and time of day don't matter. Although don't have sex more than once a day, it reduces sperm volume.

Good luck. If you have any questions, just ask.

I feel you on this one! Im not sure if I missed my surge this month on OPKs or Im just not ovulating for whatever reason. So now Im just sitting here waiting for AF to show up (not due for another 10-11 days) and if I dont get a BFP this month I need to step it up a couple of notches TTC.


btw, to save your wallet these are the ovulation strips I bought. I can use 2 a day from CD 10 to 30 (my cycle is around 30 days so I could go all out if I wanted to) if I wanted to without using them all and the best part is they come with 20 pregnancy strips which means you could use 1 each day of your TWW and still have a bunch left over if you wanted to go all out.

Also, Im pretty sure most pregnancy tests (including the strips I sent you) require 20-25 mIU of HCG per sample to turn positive where as digital tests require something around 50 mIU of HCG to be positive. That is why youll see people's tests gradually get darker or not turn positive until closer to AF or even after AF depending on the amount of HCG in their system. Its also why a lot of times companies that make pregnancy tests will sell a "confirmation pack". Im pretty sure both clearblue and first response do. Its a double pack of one regular line test and one digital. I'm pretty sure they recommend you use it after a missed period or after the regular line test.

But other than that I know EXACTLY what you mean because I also feel like Im taking crazy pills

It is totally possible to ovulate but not have a period. In a woman with 100% normal function, she'd ovulate somewhere near the middle of her cycle, conceive, and then not have the next period two weeks later. So, yeah. You could have gotten pregnant. I would go get a blood test ASAP. And, depending on your type of PCOS, I would recommend using ovulation tests for a month to see if you have significant fluctuations in your Lh levels. A significant spike would indicate ovulation. I use these to see if/when I will start ovulating (I don't currently, but I am on meds and dieting so that may change!) http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Step-Ovulation-Strips-50-Count/dp/B004IJHDN6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425582295&sr=8-1&keywords=wondfo+ovulation+tests Good luck, OP! And congrats - maybe? - on baby and your engagement!

My cycles have always been irregular, never had them go normal.

I will put in my 2 cents and tell you that if you really want to have a child, go visit your OB/GYN and tell them. If you've been trying to get pregnant for at least 3-4 months on your own, they will most likely prescribe you something like clomid to try. They may even give you progesterone to help regulate your cycles before you start clomid. Super cheap meds even without insurance.

Don't wait too much longer, it only gets harder for your body to have children as you approach 35. I started trying when I was 25, Ping ponging between doctors and a miscarriage later, I had my first when I was 31. Second when I was 33. I'd like to have one more, but I'm getting older and the last one was rough on my body.

My point is, if you end up needing more help like IUI or IVF, those things take time. Your 30 now, but you could easily be looking at having a child at 32.

Read the book Taking Control of Your Fertility. Really understand how the cycle works. The more you know about how it should work, how to predict and test your cycle, the better chance you will have of getting pregnant. Also, buy some cheap ovulation test kits. Test daily. Take your temp and chart it. FertilityFriend is very helpful.

Tested again today, still no LH surge. I've never been regular, so I'm going to keep testing every day until it shows up! If you're using expensive drug store type opks, I would highly recommend these: http://www.amazon.com/Combo-40-Ovulation-10-Pregnancy/dp/B001FYLNVU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330829689&sr=8-1

There are no bells and whistles attached, but they're easy to use, and a super great deal. I don't feel guilty about testing twice a day (if I'm feeling antsy). Good luck to you!

Yeah, those, you can get 100 strips for the cost of one at a CVS. They're like 30 cents each at that point vs like $15. So anytime my friends were like oh no my boobs are tender and I'm nauseous, I'd like like girl I got you, I have like 20 tests in my cabinet rn haha

dude trash pregnancy tests are like the worst thing to find, bc a lot of them have an evaporation line after the 10 min or so reaction line that looks like a (false) positive test. no one told me it's a thing and I once checked one way too late and I was super scared for like a week haha

I'm new at this, too, but as I understand it... you should use them 2-3 times a day (preferably afternoon & evening, the levels are higher then) until you figure out the best time of day. Then do 'em daily until you see the patterns!

As far as I know, it's usually something like no line if you're nowhere near ovulating, then faint lines that get darker as you get closer to O, super-dark during O, and back to faint and then nada as you're post-O. However, again, I'm new and if I'm totally bass-ackwards, I hope somebody corrects me. =)

And FYI, Amazon sells the cheapies! http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Step-Ovulation-Strips-50-Count/dp/B004IJHDN6/

They have pregnancy tests, too - just check for the Wondfo brand. I've had good luck with them, and I don't feel guilty if I waste one... but hey, if you're trying to figure out how your body is working, that's not wasteful! =)

When I was in college for engineering and working full time there was a point in time when I skipped THREE periods. Its close to finals and there is a lot going on Assuming you've been taking your birth control correctly and you said you also used a condom it is HIGHLY unlikely you are pregnant (unless he has the most stubborn sperm EVER).

Go ahead and test once a day over the next few days. If you need access to cheaper tests try Amazon. If you can't get it delivered to your house as you live with your parents ask a friend if you can send it to them.

Take your birth control as you normally would. Don't skip anything and don't go any faster than normal.

If you ARE actually pregnant you need to talk to your fiance and decide what you want to do. Either way make an appointment with a doctor or find your local Planned Parenthood and they will have the tools to help you figure out where to go from there.

I'm sorry that you're going through this, and I know its really scary. I was in your position years ago (sheltered household, self-taught sex-ed and all) and luckily I was not pregnant, but I went through the full gamut of figuring out what a positive test result would mean for my life. You've done everything in your power to prevent this and if you are pregnant it is not a reflection on you. Especially coming from a sheltered household it can be all too easy to let yourself feel like there is something wrong with you for "letting this happen" and that is just not true.

Breathe. Regardless of the outcome, you are going to be ok. You can handle whatever is ahead of you. You are strong and smart and you can handle this. And you're not alone. Talk to your fiance about this. You two are planning a life together, and life includes scary moments like this.

Edit: I just saw that you took a pregnancy test and it came back negative. Woohoo! Congratulations!

Yes, that's possible. I have friends who had periods the entire way through multiple pregnancies - everyone's different. I've had several losses, and I know exactly what you mean as far as how it feels. We might all have different experiences, but I know what my body feels like when something's up, and it's very different from anything else. Best thing to do is test! =)

FYI, tests are super cheap. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AOMAOG/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We're not TTC yet (soon! can't wait!) but I have a couple of medical issues that necessitate weekly testing. Holy fuck, if I had to pay $10/test, we'd be in the poor house! =)

Good luck!

OPKs

OPKS (Ovulation Prediction Kits) are used to let you know when your body is producing more LH. LH ramps up in the body shortly before you ovulate. These kits are often a dip test that you use with urine you have held for 3-4 hours. Unlike pregnancy tests, these strips are only positive when the test line is as dark or darker than the control line. Having a +OPK does not guarantee you are going to ovulate. Instead, it says that if you do ovulate it will be within the next 12-48 hours. Though some people ovulate as soon as 6 hours, and some as late as 72, most people ovulate 12-48 hours after a positive OPK. Many women do not surge until the afternoon, so it is a good idea to test in the morning and early evening when you are getting close to the day you normally ovulate. Many of our users purchase bulk packs of Wondfo Ovulation Prediction Kits as a cost effective and reliable way to test during the cycle. Here is how to tell if your Wondfos are counterfeit. Sometimes your body gears up to ovulate and then decides to abort the ovulation for whatever reason. If that happens you will have a positive opk, however, if you keep using them you will find another positive opk in a week or two. If you are not expecting this, it may seem like you are late for your period, when really you are not.

When you were temping and charting were you getting clear shifts to indicate that you are actually ovulating? If not, combined with no being able to get a positive OPK, you may not be ovulating every cycle.

If you're not ovulating every cycle you may want to try to have that problem addressed before you spend the money on sperm from the sperm bank.

Also, like others have mentioned if you're going to keep trying to figure out when you ovulate by temping and using OPKs you probably want to switch to cheaper OPKs so you can just test everyday till a positive OPK or a period. I'd suggest Wondfos. Wondfos have always been very accurate for me. I've never really had problems with them. And they're cheap! There are a couple of ways you can buy them (amounts per purchase) but the one I linked is 100 OPKs + 20 pregnancy tests for $33 so only 0.33 cents per test. That way you can just keep testing.

Once your OPKs start to darken I'd suggest going to testing twice a day. If the test is nearly positive I'd test 3 times a day till a positive.

Hopefully something works for you. And if you're not ovulating regularly hopefully you can figure that out and find a way to correct the problem.

ETA: If you decide to buy Wondfos make sure you get them from an authorized seller on Amazon. There are a couple but the ones I can think of off the top of my head are Easy@home, fairviewmart and UShealthTests.

It is scary! But this does not prove you are pregnant. Without a test, you are getting worked up and worrying yourself over potentially nothing. The mind if very powerful.

Those symptoms are also associated with other things as well as pregnancy. You always have a linea nigra. And usually it does not get darker until around the 23rd week of pregnancy. Your hormones are unlikely high enough for that to happen now.

Take it one step at a time.

Take a test asap. You can get a test at the dollar store. Amazon has them on prime. You might be able to get them same day.

Then, once you know the real answer, you can make a plan. Come back here and post and people can help from there. Planned Parenthood is a great resource if you don't have a lot of money. Your insurance might cover some of it, but PP can help you with that.

If you have to sell some things and borrow some money. A baby is way more expensive than an abortion. If you are pregnant, you will have to do what it takes to find a solution for yourself.

Be easy on yourself. Many of us have been there, and you will be ok. You are in my thoughts.

And not that you asked, but you might want to consider an IUD. It's a more reliable option than other forms of birth control. It might give you some peace of mind.

A lot of people here use the MABIS thermometer and really like it. I just got a cheap one from Target and it works just fine. As far as OPKs, the Wondfo brand/other internet cheapies are really popular and super cheap compared to some of the digital ones (Clearblue, etc). It depends on your preference, though. My first time around I used the Clear Blue digital OPKs and I liked that they were cut and dry with their negative/positive response. This time I'm using Wondfos because they're much cheaper, although there is more room for interpretation with the negative/positive. You can check out /r/TFABLinePorn to see what pictures of positive/negative cheap OPKs look like. You can also get cheap HPTs bundles, too. Happy shopping!

MABIS Basal Thermometer, Digital BBT Thermometer, Basal Body Temperature Thermometer... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000O6YCZY/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_mdyrzbBGK3WVV

Wondfo Combo 50 LH Ovulation & 20 HCG Pregnancy Test Strips https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY8UBNC/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_blyrzbS8T1B71

Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test, 20 Ovulation Tests https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AOJ5R8W/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_ZlyrzbKCE31EJ

For me personally it wouldn't be worth it to take another Plan B. Plan B is only about 95% effective anyway, and it's really only pumping progestin-only birth control into your body, which is what your Nexplanon is already doing in a pretty decent dose.

What I would do, however, is go to Amazon and buy some of their pregnancy tests. They sell packs of 25 for about $8. Super duper worth it for helping put your mind at ease, and they'll be useful to you in a few weeks when you should test anyway just to be safe.

I've been on a generic version of Lybrel for almost a year now. I had some break through bleeding for the first few months, but since then it's been perfect. No cramps, no bleeding, no pregnancy. No weight gain for me either. I absolutely love it and it's totally worth having to take a pill every day.

Like /u/CreakyTom mentioned, i would definitely recommend the bulk pregnancy tests. Link.

And just think of all the savings on tampons and pads!

Stores do....but they can get expensive! I ended up ordering the test strips off Amazon. You end up using so much it's better to buy the strips that you pee in a cup and then dip! They sell combined pregnancy tests/ovulation strips...this is the one I got https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DOJG6RA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481161728&sr=8-1&keywords=easy+%40+home&pi=SX200_QL4
This amount lasted me three months trying! The lh is the ovulation test, hgc is pregnancy. The pregnancy tests are also super sensitive so you can test earlier than some of the more expensive tests. Feel free to message me if you want more info! It can be overwhelming, and in totally type a, but we were successful on cycle 3 of trying, so I'm more than willing to share what worked for us! I had a friend talk me through her process and I found it so helpful!

B's mom insists that we all provide lists for her and her mother so there's no question of what to get - it's kind of nice, because you actually get what you ask for! I never got any gifts that I asked for when I was a kid, so this is cool to me. :)

• AncestryDNA test - I've wanted to do one of these kind of tests for SO LONG, so I am finally hoping to do it this year!
  
• SUSHEZI! I'm hoping this thing is cool and works well; if so, I foresee quite a bit of sushi in our future.
  
• This lap desk so I can shitpost from bed more comfortably. :)

Gummies are fine, but be aware that most do not have iron. I've actually never seen a gummy prenatal that includes iron. If that's an important supplement for you, you'll have to get it a different way or choose a pill prenatal.

Fish oil probably doesn't hurt. I personally take one when I remember. I've heard it helps baby brain development or something, I don't remember. Either way, I've seen nothing that says it's harmful, just that it either does nothing or is beneficial.

Just remember that any vitamin or supplement is just that, a supplement. If you're getting what you need in your diet, then all you really need is a folic acid supplement for TTC purposes. Many women aren't quite getting everything they need, especially when they try to grow a baby, which is why prenatals exist.

An app that doesn't use temps is really just guessing. If it uses CM, it's educated guessing. If it just goes by cycle length, it's an averaged shot in the dark. My average cycle is about 25-26 days. A period tracking app would tell me that I probably ovulate around cycle day 11. I actually ovulate on cycle day 15 on average. If I used one of those app, I'd miss my entire fertile window.

OPKs will predict when you are about to ovulate. Temps will confirm when you've ovulated. OPKs can't confirm ovulation and temps can't predict ovulation. Temping is a very cheap and easy way to track your cycle, including ovulation date and Luteal Phase length, but it drives some women crazy with obsession and other women have trouble because you really have to temp at the same time every day after a decent amount of sleep.

Many people use Wondfo's. You can get them from Amazon for relatively cheap and they're easy to use. Just pee in a cup, dip the end for 3 seconds, and wait. They're also about as sensitive as most other pregnancy tests. There are some, like First Response, that are both much more expensive and more sensitive.

Good luck!

Bulk you say? Wondfo brand is super cheap on Amazon, but they are just the strips so you have to pee in a cup first and then dip. I personally prefer that, cause I think it's easier to pee in a cup than on a stick. It's always good to have another brand on hand in case you're not sure (something with a digital read out), but this really gives a good bang for your buck.

Welcome! At 2 months, you have absolutely no reason to worry that you won't be able to do this. It can take a healthy couple up to a full year to conceive.

Do you temp? Use OPKs? My suggestions:

Buy and read Taking Charge of your Fertility. This is going to show you things about your body that you never knew. It really is eye opening.

Buy a Basal Body Thermometer. You can take your temperature vaginally or orally, as long as you do it the same way every day. You want to take your temperature after at least 3 hours of solid sleep. Don't get up, don't move around. Wake up to your alarm, take the temp and go back to sleep. I believe the one I linked has a 'history' so you can read it in the morning.

Enter your temperature daily in Fertility Friend This is free and will help you track your ovulation. You should have a drastic dip and then a pretty drastic rise. This indicates that you have in fact ovulated.

Temping is only good in retrospect. You can see that you have ovulated, not that you are going to. That's where [Ovulation Predictor Kids] (http://www.amazon.com/Combo-Ovulation-Pregnancy-Test-Strips/dp/B001E1Y1X6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1404993367&sr=8-3&keywords=wondfo) come in handy. You use these in the afternoon (when most women will have a surge of Lutenizing (sp?) Hormone. This indicates that you are gearing up to ovulate. And yes, it's true that it's possible that you don't ovulate every time you surge. That's why you want to temp to actually confirm it.

Combining these 3 things will give you a really clear picture of what's going on each cycle. For some women, it can really stress them out. For me, it makes me feel empowered. Let me know if you have any more questions!

1. nice graphing calculator (i'm an engineer and i couldn't imagine life without it).
   
2. BACtrak breathalyzer (the assurance is worth the cost).
   
3. Hamilton Beach 33969A Slow Cooker Made meals much easier to do during the week, and has a ton of party uses.
   
4. Photive CYREN Bluetooth speakers inexpensive and work surprisingly well. i take them everywhere and people are always appreciative.

thank you so, so much for your response — i'm also wondering why the hell i'm getting so slammed with anxiety and mood swings when it's been a month after i've taken it, same as you? i also get really nauseous when i'm anxious — super fun side effect, amirite. :/ hormones are no joke when it comes to how they affect mood.

if there's anything that will help ease your anxiety, take a pregnancy test. i have a giant pack of cheap ones i got on amazon that work well and are pretty highly rated.

thank you for your kind words and again, it's enormously reassuring that i'm not the only one going through this crap.

i hope you get your period soon! and i hope you ace your finals. you got this girl!

You madame, are genius! I'm getting an IUD later this month, but have been period-less on Depo for YEARS. Just ordered a pack to help ease my mind when I question if I'm experiencing side effects from my birth control or if they're actually symptoms... Bless you ❤
Similar version (US): Https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VT30C8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_7eGIzb8Z7KG1Z

Take a test. It's not physically impossible for you to have gotten pregnant; it's just very unlikely if you used condoms properly. But not impossible.

Another possibility is stress, which can make your period late. It could also simply be your wonky cycle being, well, wonky. Mine is wonky too. It's been like that for so many years, in fact, that I go on Amazon and buy these in bulk because it's way cheaper than buying the pee-on-a-stick kind. This is what that use in doctors' offices, and they're easy and I'm poor.

I'd recommend also going and getting on the pill. Your period will show up regularly (or not at all, depending on which kind), and it's an added layer of protection on top of condoms. If you really don't want to gamble with pregnancy, it's a good idea to take the pill.

Congrats on losing your V-card. I wish you many years of happy, healthy fuckin'!

Hi, two months of trying isn't enough to start worrying about infertility. Doctors usually start asking questions after 6 months to a year of trying. I'm 30 and I also waited until I was financially ready to start a family. I also never thought about having kids when I was younger but I thank god I realized I wanted a family! I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant (high risk pregnancy due to a short cervix). Anyway, I used these products to know exactly when I was ovulating + to help me with lubrication since I tend to be stressed/dry during sex:

- Pre-Seed Fertility Friendly Personal Lubricant

- Easy@Home 50 Ovulation & 20 Pregnancy Test Strips Kit

I was lucky and got pregnant on our first try. Give it a shot and don't worry too much about your age or whatever else the other women are doing.

I've bought a heap of pregnancy test strips (no casing, but reliable) from Amazon. It was about $15 for two years worth if I test every fortnight or so. It gives me piece of mind. :)

Edit: Look for something like these. Happy non-baby making!

If you're the type who is paranoid about being pregnant (I totally get it- I am too) I recommend buying pregnancy test strips in bulk and keeping them on hand. Here is what I get, it's 25 strips for $12 and they work just as well as the store bought tests. https://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Strips-25-count-medical/dp/B0002YIQEQ?th=1

$12 dollars is a great price for peace of mind in my opinion and I love that they ship to my house. I look much younger than I actually am and I always feel uneasy buying pregnancy tests in stores, like the cashiers might judge me. Buying the strips in bulk so they're there whenever I get paranoid has really helped me a lot with the "am I or am I not" anxiety.

Keychain Breathalyzer, which will either keep you in the responsible drinking zone, or can be a super fun party game - totally up to you.

Happy birthday!

Really, on a Monday?

Good luck to you! FYI, OPK tests can get speedy if you buy them from Walgreens, etc. amazon has a ton at a much better price. These get great reviews an are typically the ones I've seen used by the women here.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004IJHDN6

A couple of things. First, amazon offers pregnancy test strips way cheaper than drug stores. If you're the type of person to test often i highly recommend.

Second - If you're super excited about getting pregnant then it might be a good idea to distract yourself to lessen the pressure. Maybe take up a new healthy hobby to help prepare your body for all the changes? Or work on wedding stuff to distract yourself, I'm sure there's plenty to do :-)

My best advice: Don't tell them. It's so much less stressful when you don't have someone jumping down your throat all the time when you may or may not get pregnant on the first try.
Best products I've found:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FYLNVU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001FYLNVU&linkCode=as2&tag=ttin04-20
AWESOME price for the sensitivity. I absolutely love amazon.com.
Also, here's my blog for the TTC lady (or man lol)
http://ttcinfo1219.weebly.com/#/

When I google and match the package to what Amazon offers, says they're sensitivity of 25miu (so a normal 'cheapie' strength, but not quite FRER which picks up on 12miu)

And yes looks positive! :)

Amazon.com. They have many options from packs of just pregnancy tests to packs like the one I get, which has OPKs and pregnancy tests. For $16.95, I get 50 OPKs and 20 pregnancy tests and my husband and I have amazon prime, so I get it in two days without having to pay any additional shipping. I use a pint sized take out tupperware to pee in and I haven't gotten any on my hands (more than I can say for the time I tried an expensive test stuck in my urine stream).

On the one hand, yeah, I should be supporting smaller, more local businesses. On the other hand, I can pee on things as many times as I want during the day and it's still cheaper than a Starbucks habit :)

After getting to know how I 'worked' with keto. I, at about 9 months on the diet, stopped giving super serious mode thoughts about intrinsic sugars from vegetables. So I eat corn, carrots, peas, and onions to my hearts content. I know I'll probably get downvoted for saying that, but it's how it's been working for me. I don't however extend that to fruits, which I love, but pretty much steer clear of. Also 15g per day is slightly to restrictive for me. I did 20 starting out, but now if I hit 35g net I know nothing bad will come of it. I know it sounds dumb, but atleast for me, I could eventually feel when I was pushing the limits which I corroborated with these.

I say this, but currently been on a 7 week plateau. Onederland so close yet so far away...

A d&s abortion barely counts as surgery (dilation and suction). Nothing is cut, there’s no scalpels or scarring. It’s about as complicated as installing an iud. However if you’re from the United States, I wouldn’t take the ability to get an abortion now or in the future for granted, nor the ability to get the morning after pill.

I can’t take hormonal contraceptives and I bleed heavily already so copper IUDs are out for me. My birth control is condoms, and the morning after pill if they break. Abortion is also free and on request in my country, so failure of the first two methods is really not something I have to worry about because there’s always abortion. My partner is about to start contracting for an American company though, and it’s a possibility we may have to relocate stateside in the future. We’re both waiting for sterilisation appointments while we’re still here and still have inexpensive, comprehensive private health insurance where sterilisation is a policy benefit with no co-pay. (We pay around $80 USD a month each for the most expensive plan there is, which includes dental and optical cover and unlimited surgical and medical treatment in a year — my eyes water thinking what that same kind of cover is going to cost us in the US, hopefully we can get it as part of a renumeration package).

I think if you have the option of sterilisation you should take it. If you can’t handle it, next best option would be jadelle (the implant), with condoms, and the morning after pill (plan b) if you break any of those condoms. Stacked together that should lower the odds of pregnancy into the 1:100000s. Stock up on the morning after pill while you can still get it. Maybe even send away for some abortifacient pills from aidaccess.org as well. Pick a day of the month and test for pregnancy on that day every month with something like this: https://www.amazon.com/ClinicalGuard%C2%AE-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-Individually-Sealed/dp/B007VT30C8

Sorry you're having anxiety problems - that shit sucks. Having cheap pregnancy tests on hand can help ease your mind when these things come up. They arrive in an inconspicuous package, and you wouldn't have to worry about going into a store or whatever is available on campus.

Long cycles occasionally happen. Sometimes stress can delay ovulation, but having the occasional long cycle isn't unheard of. If your period is actually 3 days late, taking a home pregnancy test should be accurate. If you haven't had any kind of sexual activity since March, and have had fairly normal periods since then, you are probably not pregnant. If you are 7 months pregnant, a HPT will also give accurate results. Sugar, toothpaste, anything else really won't help determine if you're pregnant. It is very important that you find out if you are pregnant or not - if you are, you'll need to know what your options are/get prenatal care. But again, I do not think it is likely you are pregnant.

You haven't mentioned if you have been using any forms of birth control. If you're a sexually active person, which it sounds like you are, figuring out some methods can go a long way in easing your anxiety. Most apps are not great at predicting when you're fertile, and so please don't rely on an app alone for protection. Babies are not the only thing you can catch, either - I would suggest having condoms on hand to help contain semen.

I highly recommend a big pack of pregnancy tests. They're really easy to use, and they'll set your mind at ease. Very cheap for a ton of them. I use these: https://www.amazon.com/ClinicalGuard-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-Individually-Sealed/dp/B007VT2OQG/ref=zg_bs_166804011_4/138-8654923-4304842?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=KNS9WNGTGM1WJMSVENK6&th=1

Take them as often as you like to ease your mind :)

First of all, you're not stupid. You're stressed out!

Best way to know what's up - pee on a stick. =) (Seriously!) And if you haven't already seen them, Amazon sells them way cheaper than even the dollar store. (http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-50-count/dp/B004AOMAOG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376517187&sr=8-2&keywords=wondfo+pregnancy+test)

That said, I have several friends who've recently gone off the pill, and every single one of them has said the first month or so is absolutely nuts. Hormones are regulating, mood swings all over, total pregnancy symptoms as your body adjusts to 'normal', whatever that is for you.

As far as breakthrough bleeding (fake period) or a regular period, that doesn't 100% mean you can't be pregnant. Plenty of women have periods all the way through pregnancy, which seems almost impossible, but it happens more than you might think.

And what you're describing (food aversion, bloat, fatigue, etc.) are pretty typical symptoms of hormone flux, PMS and pregnancy. You know, because nothing can be simple. :P But really, all of that can be totally normal while your body adjusts to the hormonal changes from stopping the pill.

I know what it feels like when I'm pregnant because I've been pregnant, but it's going to be totally different for everyone. My telltale signs may not even exist for other ladies, and vice versa.

So... don't feel stupid, and if you can't handle the stress, pee on a stick! =)

Temping is good to give you an idea of when you ovulate, that way you can start using OPKs the days leading up to it. So if by temping you notice a pattern where you usually ovulate on CD15, then you start using OPKs starting on CD11 (for example). The line will get darker as you get closer to O, so that's technically when you should do it.

Temping for a few months beforehand is good to give you an idea of when you O and such, that way you're not going crazy using OPKs. I used these with great success using first morning's pee.

Because pregnancy tests in drugstores are expensive af, I found you can get super cheap pregnancy test strips on Amazon, 50 strips for $12! I have PCOS, so I never have periods, so I just use one of those strips every few months just to make sure. So much peace of mind :)

ClinicalGuard® HCG Pregnancy Test Strips (Individually-Sealed, Pack of 50) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VT3BUE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ekodBbRJ0BV3K

I recommended this to someone else earlier today: please get opk test strips. I was also using Fertility Friend for about a year & when it came time for the first month to start trying to conceive, I got a BFN. I BDed every day that the app told me was within my fertile window. By using the test strips I was able to find out that I ovulate a week late and that Fertility Friend had gotten my fertile window wrong. Best of luck at getting your BFP in a few days or next month!

Absolutely.

OP, here is a link to Clinical Guard test trips from amazon. 20 tests for $7.29 and 25 tests for $7.99. You'll be set for a while.

I use them as do my friends, never had an issue with them (apart from when I didn't follow the directions. almost had a heart attack that time) and they're great. Simple to use, easy to discard of, easy to read.

Love the info! Thank you. Mainly I meant the product listing.. Haha! Is it this one or this one?

Thanks again for sharing the study!

I hope I can get it at the local supermarket :O I'll keep an eye out, for sure.

I think I saw someone link to a huge pack (10-packs, 20-packs, 30-packs?) on Amazon, maybe that's worth a look if you're really paranoid. Ideally, I'd get a 3-pack every time, just to be sure, because what if the first test is sorta iffy, and then the second test is really clear and then you're torn between the two results, so you should take a third one just to be sure?! My wallet doesn't allow that, though.

Edit: Found a link of a pack of 50 tests for the curious

Looks like you won't need them, but if you're in need in the future these are cost efficient and dependable. I've used them in the past. These tests detect at 50 ng/mL (which to my understanding is the detection level of most urine screens). There are also tests available for purchase that go down to 20 ng/mL.

Good luck!

Ladies, I know this isn't ketobabies, but if you're trying for a baby with irregular periods, then get thee to Amazon and order an ovulation predictor kit. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DOJG6RA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1541726768&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=ovulation+predictor+kit&psc=1. The cheap ones work just as well as the expensive ones)

I've been trying too, and it turns out I was way off when I thought I was ovulating. The more you know! Good luck y'all!

My boyfriend and I are doing just the pill for BC. If it ever makes you nervous and you want to test to make sure, use these (not the seller):

http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-50-count/dp/B004AOMAOG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1311182944&sr=8-4

I bought them and they work really well. I also absolutely love not using condoms. It feels really good to just have him inside me :)

Felt exactly like period cramps for me, they just kept lasting on and on and I kept expecting my period to come and it just didn’t. After a week of that I took a test and it was negative. It continued for another week and then I tested again and it was positive.

Honestly pregnancy symptoms and PMS symptoms can be practically identical. The only way to know for sure is to pee on a stick.

Directly after your period ends can be a safe time for many people, but for those with shorter cycles 27 days and under it can also be the beginning of the fertile window for many women. So it’s doubtful you’d be able to predict it one way or the other at this time. I would suggest getting some pregnancy tests from the dollar store or order on amazon and test weekly until you get a positive or your period comes just to give you peace of mind.

(Amazon 25 pack for $8 ClinicalGuard® HCG Pregnancy Test Strips (Individually-Sealed, Pack of 25) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VT30C8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oaKkDbM2EQ3JC)

http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-50-count/dp/B004AOMAOG/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371507696&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=wandafo+test

that's the best i could find right now. i guess their prices went up from when i bought them, but still 38 cents a piece is way better than like $5 or more a piece from the drugstore lol

They usually start showing positive from 25mIU/ml which is pretty sensitive and about the same as First Response. The hCG levels grow exponentially as the days go by, so even if you test negative 21 days after the sex that got you pregnant, testing a week later should definitely be positive (if you ever do get pregnant on the pill, not saying this is an inevitable outcome lol). Sometimes the withdrawal bleed does stop during pregnancy on the pill, but it can stop just because your lining was thinned out quite a bit by the hormones. That's why you can't rely on the withdrawal bleed as an indicator either way.

I use the Clinical Guard tests. Always gotten a negative on them but they have a pretty good reputation for showing true positives.

Buy some Wondfo OPKs and if you like sciencey stuff get a saliva microscope. Add these to your monthly tracking. Plenty of T1 Diabetics have families. Are his sugars typically well controlled? Cleaning up his diet may help a little.

Check out /r/ttchealthy

Wondfo Combo Ovulation and Pregnancy Tests (50 LH + 20 HCG) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY8UBNC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DJ89AbTFS27RY

Ovulation Fertility Scope Saliva Based Bia Lady Q Microscope - Aluminum Enclosure https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018SSE6QE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_k189Ab1JDYV8E

A lot of people recommend taking a prenatal now. Some people also like to take a fish oil high in DHA and CoQ10. I bought my vitamins by the brand Dr.s Best because I’ve used them for supplements before and really like the way they compound things. At the very least you must start taking some folic acid everyday. You don’t want to mess around with brain and spine problems.

FRER will def show something if you're pregnant. For future attempts, try these they work well and are easy to read and best of all, super cheap.

I'm also a woman paranoid about getting pregnant. I go through the same shit, every month. FWIW, my cramps and other symptoms vary pretty wildly from month to month. I also found that as I've gotten older, my symptoms have changed. Maybe you're also going through such a change.

FWIW, /r/birthcontrol has a link to some very cheap pregnancy tests on Amazon - I bought a pack of these just to always have them on hand so if I ever feel anxious at all, I can just take a test and not worry about it any more.

The best advice I have is to maybe try one of the phone apps that help you make sure you don't miss any pills. I just started using one and it's been great for the ease of mind that I'll be nagged if I somehow forget.

I did look it up and it does seem suprisingly effective lol. And oh yea duh of course you will be getting a haircut lol. If thats the case i would not worry about a hair test. I was in the army for four years and took a lot of drug tests none of which were hair follicle. And there is no point on doing a hair test on someone with a shaved head. And it's expensive. Good luck on the everything else. These are the strips ove used: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Home-Marijuana-Single-Panel/dp/B00DVPS4IQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=marijuana+drug+test&qid=1563118365&s=gateway&sprefix=marij&sr=8-3

I'd say that there's pretty much a zero percent chance that you'd ever test positive for eating half of a pure CBD cheeba chew.

If it makes you feel better, get these and test yourself.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DVPS4IQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Honestly though, I think that it'd be a waste of money. You're fine.

Are you using ovulation tests? That helped me a lot!

These are pretty great: http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Step-Ovulation-Strips-50-Count/dp/B004IJHDN6

Also, /r/tryingforababy has a lot of great advice on this.

I've used clearblue before (link: http://www.amazon.com/Clearblue-Plus-Pregnancy-Test-Count/dp/B000NDS2CC/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1383003511&sr=8-7&keywords=pregnancy+test) and it said I wasn't pregnant which I wasn't so I guess it worked. Don't know how reliable it is though.

First response has better ratings on amazon though. (link: http://www.amazon.com/First-Response-Result-Pregnancy-Packaging/dp/B000052XHI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383003511&sr=8-1&keywords=pregnancy+test)

Hope this helps a little! Both of those come with multiple tests, best to use first morning pee. I'm sure there are more reviews online if you want to do more research but tests seem to work pretty much the same.

Implantation bleeding is generally very rare. If it does occur, usually it is more like spotting, not a full blown period. Also, implantation would most likely occur at the earliest a week before your next regular period.

I think it's just an irregular cycle - probably anovulatory. Most women have at least one a year.

If your period stops abruptly or just to have peace of mind, take a test after your regular period would have been due.

FWIW, I highly recommend keeping these pregnancy tests on hand even if you're practicing safe sex, but especially if you're not on birth control. You get 25 for $6 and the peace of mind is priceless.

I would think it would depend on how much, and how often, you were taking it. Perhaps your body composition as well since it would be fat soluble, and how diluted/concentrated your urine was.

Using a drug test from Amazon is a good idea, imho, because you can find out how much you can take before you test positive. They look pretty reasonably priced too. I found this 15 pack for $10.50 https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Home-Marijuana-Single-Panel/dp/B00DVPS4IQ/

In my opinion the clearblue fertility monitor is over-priced and uses old bulky technology (it has been around in this form-factor for about 15 years).

There is little need to spend the money on it as they sell another product that does exactly the same thing (tests for LH and Estrogen using identical sticks) that is called the "Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test".

The only thing that the Clearblue fertility monitor does that the Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test doesn't is cycle day calendaring and insists on a pre-selected test window - the cheaper Advanced Digital Ovulation Test will show exactly the same status, low fertility, high fertility and peak fertility at exactly the same times.

Don't believe that the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor "adapts" to your cycle, it doesn't, it just keeps a note of your cycle length (which you can do with a chart, spreadsheet or fertility friend) - in fact lots of people who are Fertility Monitor pros just start feeding in sticks a couple of days before ovulation and stop after the peak reading.

Compare the prices -

Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test with 20 sticks included
= $35.98

vs

Clearblue Fertility Monitor - $151.99
+ 30 Sticks $48.76 = $200.75

I have all of these types of units btw, the two types of digital ovulation testers and also the CBFM.

NB: You need to make sure that you get the "Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test" not the "Clearblue Digital Ovulation Test" as this one only checks for LH (and not Estrogen and LH like the Advanced Digital Ovulation Test does).

iirc these are the ones I had ordered, and I had no issues with them, but to make sure, if you get a positive, I would confirm with a storebought First Response Early Response. :)

Did you take those tests first thing in the morning or after a bunch of water?

I don't have experience with those $1 tests from the dollar store, but they may just not give a super bold line because they're cheap, but I'm not sure.

I only have experience with these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DVPS4IQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

And I did buy one of these Equate tests from Walmart.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-1-Panel-Home-Drug-Test/299295693

I did notice that the Equate brand from Walmart had a much fainter line than the Amazon ones, so If you can pass that one I would think that you will be fine.

​

Since you only have a day I would recommend buying one of those Walmart tests and trying it with a similiar void (pee) as the one you think you'll provide to Quest. On top of that I would buy some vitamin B-12 or a B complex (all the B vitamins), and take 1 or 2 pills atleast 3 hours before your test so you'll have some yellow color. And basically start drinking water early in the morning and pee a few times before the test, and then slow down a little before the test. Basically err on the side of dilluted so that atleast if they say it was too diluted you can just say that you accidently drank too much water and they should call you in for a retest. That should buy you a few days, or they may not have any issues with it.

I took one yesterday at quest and when I went in I was almost in pain because of how full my bladder was, I took B vitamins about 2 hours before and they didn't show up as much as I had hoped, which is why I say take it 3 hours before, but I said something like "I hope it's not too diluted" and she didn't seem to care.

Also, maybe while your out try and buy a test from walgreens or CVS, just so you can see if you pass those too.

Let us know what happens, and I hope it works out for you! I know it's stressful but you should should be fine. From what I've read a line is a line is a line, no matter how faint.

Hey just putting this here for future reference (and for anyone else) - EVERY sexually active woman should have some pregnancy tests on hand, regardless of contraceptive method. Life, uh, finds a way!

Amazon sells packs of 25 for $12. Do yourself a favor and get some so you have them on hand in the future and don't have to pay $10 a test at the drug store.

Before starting fertility treatment, my cycle varied between 35 & 45 days, and due to this, it was very difficult to determine when I was 'late'. The anticipation killed me, especially when we first started TTC ...

I think the first time I was 'late', I went ahead and took a test (negative) and any time after that, I just waited an additional 5 - 7 days to see my period would show up (it always did). Once I got on fertility drugs, I was on a strict 28-day cycle so I knew that the one time I was late, it was for real (and it was)!

Go buy yourself a package of cheap Pregnancy & Ovulation Predictor tests from amazon. It'll save you a ton of money and you won't feel as guilty taking a pregnancy test "just in case."

GOOD LUCK - and don't get discouraged if it takes longer than a few months. These things come with time, patience, & a whole lot of FUN!

So what's our take on the FRERs on Amazon? It's such a good price, especially with Subscribe and Save, but it almost feels too good to be true.

Should I go with my gut or my wallet?!

You are fine. If that is all you smoked and you are fit it is most likely you are already clean.
.
Test yourself: 15 Pack Easy@Home Marijuana (thc) Single Panel Drug Tests Kit - #EDTH-114 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DVPS4IQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zFIACbZ99YW55
.
.
If you aren't clean when the time occurs, use the 3oz Synthetic: https://www.quickfixurine.com/quick-fix-synthetic-urine-plus.html
.
.
I've seen the synthetic work 20+ times. It's sold as an alternative in "wet sex" fetishes 🤣🤣.
.
Edit: word.

I love this comment. Lol.

Last cycle I had 6 empty circles, 4 flashing smileys, and then the solid smiley. Considering the fact that sperm can live for 5 days inside you, I'd say that was a pretty good indicator for me. (even though I didn't actually get pregnant but whatever)

But jeez, $35 for 20 sticks!? And that won't even cover 2 full cycles for me, because my cycles were longer than I predicted and I had a lot of empty circles. Meanwhile, there's this mountain of tests for $20 on Amazon, but... I kind of like the smiley faces and the early calls for pot roast... hmm...

Hey everyone, I have a ketones question-

I bought these urine test strips when I first started keto a little over 3 weeks ago. I read that urine strips aren't always super accurate but I figured they'd be good for just starting out to make sure I'm in ketosis.

Every time I tested they'd turn dark red indicating 16 mmol/l. However starting this past Sunday I'm testing around .5-1.5 . Is that normal? Nothing else changed, my diet and exercise are the same. Thanks!

This is a great product, not that I know from personal experience or anything...

Also, in one of my bioe classes, we had a guy come in from I think Baxter and explain how after they developed a pregnancy test in a stick vs. a 'home science kit' type of thing, someone in marketing had a bright idea to stick it in a plastic holder so they could charge like $8 for 2 tests instead of $3 or something. Sigh

edit: for an example of the 'home science kit' type of test, scroll down to the 1978 entry here

If anyone is curious, here is how modern day sandwich Elisa or 'blue line' test strips work

Got a super faint line yesterday and another faint one this morning! And then I went and bought a digital test to try tomorrow because I still don't quite believe it.

ETA more info:

I was using these super cheap tests from Amazon and I just bought a Clearblue digital to try tomorrow.

I used an Ava bracelet that I bought with HSA dollars to track my cycles since last December. Except, we went to a super remote area on vacation last month and so I was unable to sync data. So I just guessed ovulation week based on previous predictions and banged it out every day for 5 days, with day 3 being the predicted ovulation on day 14, since I sometimes ovulated on day 16 or 17. We had sex twice on day 3.

I tested the day before my estimated period (cycle day 26) and got nothing. Tested the morning of my missed period and had a faint line. Tested again this morning, another faint line.

I have really bad anxiety and while I'm pretty confident I won't get pregnant before I'm ready, sometimes I wonder if I am. Thanksgiving last year, I spent way too much time worrying. After that, I got a pack of 20 for $7.50ish and every so often if I start to wonder I take one to give myself peace of mind. I read reviews and whatnot and people had said they were struggling TTC and buying these were cheaper than one of the drugstore ones. Reviews said they can notice as early as seemingly 2-3 weeks (one review said they tested positive 8 days post-ovulation). That's decently early to get accurate results. I was a bit surprised they could be that good at that price, but yeah. They're definitely underrated.

Damn, a pregnancy test should NOT cost $20! The pricey First Response ones I get come in a box of 3 and cost $12 for the pack. If this comes up again in the future and because you guys are only using the pull-out method, you may consider buying a bunch of these pee strips: http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Strips-25-count-medical/dp/B0002YIQEQ

They come out to about $0.60 each and you can always have a stash around if you're wondering. One of these cheap ones got me a super faint shadow of a positive at only 8 days past ovulation, which was 6 days before my period. That's how I knew to test with the more sensitive one the next day and got a clearer positive.

Oh, and those Clearblue digitals are really only good to use after your missed period, so that might be why you thought that. They measure for a higher level of hCG so they won't show pregnant as soon as some others.

I don't have a Mirena, but my birth control pills give me really light periods that aren't too reassuring. So I bought a ton of these and do one every month:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002YIQEQ/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
(sorry about the mobile link - look up wondfo pregnancy tests)

The peace of mind is worth the small price! :)

As a warning, the morning after pill is only effective for women under 165 pound, and the only way to confirm if you are pregnant is to start taking pregnancy tests. Do yourself a favor and get a bulk pack of inexpensive early detection pregnancy tests and take a test every month. For $0.40/month, you can get some peace of mind, or at least very early detection so that you can assess your options. The tests from the dollar store are just as effective as the fancy ones from the drug store, by the way.

Period trackers are only really guessing info based on what you report, so they can't know for sure if you are ovulating, obviously. Women often report bleeding in early pregnancy, and throughout their pregnancies, so your period isn't necessarily a sure sign.

If you are going to continue to have unprotected sex, perhaps birth control is right for you. Effective birth control and regular testing will go a long way toward relieving your anxiety.

I think the next step of conception would be tracking if and when you do ovulate. A lot of the ladies here chart various items such as BBT and Cervical mucus, although it can be as simple as using Ovulation Prediction Kits.

As far as your fears of infertility due to medical issues, I think it would be important for you to talk with your OB about your intentions to get pregnant. They would know best about your body's health and capability, in addition to recommending the best courses of treatment if necessary.

Also, if you just want to talk, vent, or yell about fertility, pregnancy, or really anything, then jump into the chat we have setup. You can also find a link to the chat in the sidebar as well as up at the top of the page.

I have Mirena and so far I don't have periods anymore. I just trust that it is working and I never really worry that I might be l pregnant. If you can't bring yourself to trust that your birth control is working, why don't you buy pregnancy tests in bulk for cheap? Here is the link from the side bar: http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B0002YIQEQ

If you're actually making yourself overly anxious about this, you might want to talk to your doctor about either switching to different birth control or finding ways to cope with no periods. Good luck!

On the whole DUI topic, I bought a breathalyzer from amazon, its awesome - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026IBZSK/ - peace of mind is totally worth it. And its peanuts compared to what I spend on beer and fedex.

Since getting Skyla, I've started getting a bit of nausea and bloating around my period that I hadn't previously. These are totally normal premenstrual symptoms. Check to make sure it's still in place, but you're almost certainly not pregnant. If you're going to feel paranoid on the regular, a good solution is to buy a bulk pack of pregnancy tests [from Amazon] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SXCX1TO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
and take one every so often to calm your nerves.

Do you use ovulation prediction kits? I believe those should still work with a Mirena. You can get a pack of 50 Wondfo 's pretty cheap on Amazon. I am actually really glad I started tracking, it's helped me understand my body much better.

Amazon has bulk packs shipped to your door.

$16.5 for 50 ovulation strips and 20 pregnancy strips.

We only use the ovulation tests to pinpoint probable ovulation ie not every day.

Another fun fact is most ovulation test strips will show positive if you are pregnant. They can act as a simple giggle test in a pinch.

I used easy@home: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Home-Ovulation-Strips-Pregnancy/dp/B00DOJG6RA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

You can find wondfos on Amazon too.

I gave my leftovers away to a friend when she visited/hosted Max's baby shower. At 36 weeks I thought I was in the clear and would never need them again.

Wow do I have so much baggage.

Do you want to be able to skip your periods? Unless you're having some debilitating cramping or really heavy flow that would make your life easier without a period, I wouldn't worry about it since it causes such anxiety for you.

If you do want to try skipping, would taking a cheapie pregnancy test every month help you feel more at peace about it? Amazon has a pack of cheap tests that are 25 for $8.

If you have Amazon Prime... ClinicalGuard® HCG Pregnancy Test Strips (Individually-Sealed, Pack of 50) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VT3BUE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dvMTAbY179XKK
They are the easiest and cheapest and have helped reassure me. But maybe waiting and just trying to keep your mind off of it is best.

So basically what you'll need to do is track your cycle. I use the smart phone app called "Fertility Friend." You take your temperature every morning when you wake up and record it in the app. The day after you ovulate, it rises at least 0.3 degrees and stays up for at least three days, confirming ovulation. Here's what my chart looked like last month. After a few months, you'll be (and the app will be) able to see a pattern--say, that you ovulate on cycle day 18, and you're fertile from cycle day 14 to 18. Then you know to avoid those days.

I also use Ovulation Predictor Test Strips to help me tell when I'm about to ovulate because for me, I need to be trapping my husband in the house at that time ;) It might be useful to you if you're avoiding pregnancy to know when you should use condoms or just avoid sex.

I definitely recommend this book: Taking Charge of Your Fertility as a total textbook. There are other signs/metrics you can track to corroborate your predictions about when you're fertile (like the consistency of your cervical fluid and the position of your cervix) but those are harder for me to explain--I let the professionals do it ;)

This has worked for me in the sense that I know, with absolute certainty, when I am going to ovulate every month (I am just not pregnant yet). Many many women in committed relationships use this method successfully to avoid pregnancy without involving hormones--it just takes about three months to really establish a pattern. Let me know if you have any questions!

For moments like these, I highly recommend getting a ton of tests for cheap from Amazon. I got 50 for like 10 bucks a while back and it's really helped me calm down.

Here's the link

OR buy a breathalyzer.

The fuel-cell models police/EMTs use are $140. It's a LOT cheaper then a DUI. You can help everyone at the party stay safe AND it's a cool to use to see who's really having a good time and who's faking.

I liked the clear blue digital advanced. You can get a 2 month pack for $40 on amazon , depending on how long your cycles are and how frequently you test (2x/day vs 1x/day).

I like them because they test for estrogen levels which increase before LH starts to surge. So your supposed to get some advanced warning of O.

Oh, they exist.

HCG Urine Test's are about as effective as everything else, and are occasionally sold without the big plastic housing. I am certain that some of those $20/piece tests you get at the store are HCG test strips in a big, plastic conatiner for easy handling.

The inexpensive ones look like urinalysis test strips. Here is some image of some:

http://clinicalscienceproducts.com/products_urine_pregnancy_test_strip.html

I have not seen them outside of hospitals, but it makes sense that they would sell these in packages of one at wall mart.

They are really cheap. Particularly when you buy multiples, they are cheap.

Oh, wow, you can get them on amazon. Here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AOMAOG

They work. I would recommend getting some if you are sexually active. If there is ever a scare, you can blow through 5 of these without worrying about how much they cost.

Also, with the way these strips work, they can detect some types of nasty tumors, so, there is that.

Different tests have different levels of sensitivity. These FRERs have great sensitivity (or at least they did for me, despite some of those reviews...) so I'd try one of those to make sure! Good luck, I know how frustrating TTC can be, especially with irregular cycles

I use Clear Blue as well. These to be particular. http://www.amazon.com/Clearblue-Advanced-Digital-Ovulation-Count/dp/B00AOJ5R8W/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1418867664&sr=1-1&keywords=clearblue

This is my first go round at this though, so I am not sure if it works or not. Hopefully I will come back with good news. I did notice though that I went straight from an empty circle to a smiley face in one day. I read their site and sometimes women just go straight into peak without having a high fertility test reading. It isn't normal, but I was told to trust the test and that it was really sensitive.

I have Nexplanon, too, and am adamantly child free. I have a fund for if I ever fall pregnant.

​

I also bulk buy these tests once a year and take one every month-ish. They're super cheap and just as effective as the $10 ones. Also, none of the in person awkwardness.

My other comment is likely buried so leaving these here. These are great to have on hand and are accurate and cheap (25 for $8.95 on amazon). They worked really well for early detection with both of my kids bonus: no results window that you may accidentally pee on.

Wondfo Pregnancy Test Strips, 25-count medical https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YIQEQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_llFVDbVQJBVKV

If that's what your pamphlet said, then you're good. I know it can be a bit nerve-wracking, but you're fine. Just try to relax and enjoy. If you're a worrier though you can keep a stash of pregnancy tests [quite cheap on amazon] and a plan b pill or two, that way you have it and you don't have to worry about getting it when you really do need it.

Close, but it's actually this one, which is sensitive to ~250 thousand, which in the medical literature indicates a "very low chance" of causing pregnancy. I'm going in for a lab test in 3 weeks, but this is FDA approved as an alternative to lab tests and highly recommended in the journals I read, so it's just an extra layer of reassurance.

These are Ovulation tests that test for Lutein Hormone (LH) which can help predict a forthcoming ovulation in the next 12-48 hours. It's not a guarantee or confirmation that you do ovulate - only temping can help confirm an ovulation. I use cheap Wondfo tests which you can order on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004IJHDN6

We're currently doing the Sperm Meets Egg Plan (SMEP) so that dark OPK means it's a BD fun filled weekend for me and the DH!

Good luck! I'm so jealous of people who say "we're trying for a baby" then next month, bam! These are the ones I used- http://www.amazon.com/Combo-pack-Ovulation-tests-Pregnancy/dp/B001FYLNVU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1407325952&sr=8-4&keywords=ovulation+test
Way cheaper than the packs you can find in stores, and good for a few months of regular testing. Actually, I should check the expiration on mine and maybe give them away on r/tryingforababy since um...don't need them at the moment and don't plan to add a second baby right to the family right away.

Because you don't pee on a stick for what most people here are doing.


For many types of pregnancy tests, to determine if you're pregnant or not, you have a stick and you pee on it. Most of the tests you see on TV and that are the easiest to grab at the store are like this.


But most of us on this sub aren't talking about pregnancy tests all the time, and this post isn't about pee cups for pregnancy tests. Nah, we're talking about ovulation predictor kit tests, which tell you if you're ovulating or not. Ovulation happens once a month (hopefully) and means that your egg is released and is ready for sperm to come and attach to it, making a baby. It's a bit tricky to know exactly when you're ovulating, especially if you just started checking for signs of it. But there are reliable and proven signs, including fluid or discharge that has a stretchy, egg-white consistency (called egg white cervical mucus or EWCW), a slight drop in your body temperature, and a surge in a hormone called the luteinizing hormone, or LH. You can check if there was a surge in LH from at-home urine tests. If you're trying really hard to have a baby, it's super important to know if you're ovulating or not, and so most of us on this subreddit are taking these little tests daily or twice-daily for a week or two each month.


For ovulation predictor kits (OPKs), it's not a stick that you directly pee on, it's a strip that you dip into a small amount of urine for 5 seconds. Here is the brand of ovulation test strips that I use. Here is information and instructions for this type of test.


So, you need a little cup. And I was wondering what kind of cups we all used and if or how they got cleaned. And I got my answers! And that is the very, very long response to your question!

Not necessarily. These ones gave me a + 6 days after ovulating.

Best of luck. Might as well test and put it to rest, right?

If this isn't your month, you should invest in amazon cheapies. This is what I use. :) That way I didn't feel terrible about all the testing when I finally got a positive!

I get them from Amazon, but I'm sure you can find a better deal somewhere. They are pricey for something you put pee on, but I think they're worth it.

You can use the old monitor with new sticks when you run out. Then old sticks with a new monitor. So, a box can last 2 to 3 cycles depending.

Someone posted this in 2X and I wanted to share it with this community as I think it would be a cheap and easy way to distribute pregnancy tests to those who can't obtain them.

http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-50-count/dp/B004AOMAOG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1311182944&sr=8-4

Additionally, my boyfriend bought two boxes of 36 condoms on ebay just a few weeks ago for about $10 shipped so that may also be a cheap continuous source for donating supplies.


EDIT: Just did some digging and that link was actually submitted but the lovely creator of this subreddit!

UTI test strips: http://www.amazon.com/Areta-Parameter-Urinalysis-Reagent-Strips/dp/B00D5UZMDC/

bulk pregnancy test strips: http://www.amazon.com/ClinicalGuard-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B007VT30C8/ They have other amounts available as well. $10 for 2 years worth seems like a small price for peace of mind.

I love Wondfos. Bonus for this set because it come with HPTs! (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY8UBNC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_S4.OzbFPXQXV1)

I was told by my doctor that it could take up to 18 months for your cycle to return to normal after stopping Depo. I know the literature says up to a year, but my doctor suggested otherwise. I'm actually on Depo, but I missed 2 rounds and asked about this since I still never got my period.

I don't get my period on Depo and my mind still worries about pregnancy even though it is SUPER unlikely, like a .03% failure rate.

If you're being safe, I would suggest the same thing I do - invest in some cheap/bulk tests (http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B0002YIQEQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335488886&sr=8-1) and just take them whenever you feel nervous.

There really is nothing else you can do - the doctor can't make your period come back. So, just keep being protected and then keep testing if you really are worried. Just remember that it is a risk you take when you have sex and there is nothing much you can do except being as safe as you can in the way you trust most.

On Amazon. And I guess it's 25 for $10. :) I used these with my first and second pregnancy and have never had a problem. The only one that ever gave me the false positive was the $5 one.

If he's open to it (which it doesn't sound like he is TBH) can you get him to do a scientific trial? Tell him it's to put your mind at ease, if that will help.

Buy one of these, hire a sitter, or send baby to grandma's for the night (if you can). Give him full permission to tie one on, but you get to test his BAC at set intervals so he can see at exactly what point he becomes incapable of caring for your baby, based on BAC levels. (Note: If he can't legally drive then that's the cutoff IMO) Make it fun for him if that's what you need to get him to cooperate.

Continue to test for an hour after he's finished his last drink. Go over the results in the morning when he's sober. Maybe he needs to visually see what his blood alcohol levels are doing to understand the weight of what you're getting at. Maybe he needs to see this not as a judgement from you, but a serious concern for the stability of your family. He needs to understand that it's not solely about being competent to physically care for an infant (though her safety is the primary concern), but if there is an emergency and he needs to drive somewhere, he needs to understand the severity of the impact to your family if he gets arrested for drunk driving, or crashes the car.

It's hard to say when would be the best time to take it without knowing more details about your cycle, but that might not be much help if it's very irregular. I suggest you take a test now, but even if it's negative, continue taking tests every 2-3 days until you get your period. (And if that doesn't happen after a few weeks, make a doctor's appointment.) Get a pack of cheap tests, like these from Amazon or some from the dollar store. They're just as effective as the expensive ones. And keep the extras in your bathroom for peace of mind if something similar happens in the future.

This one. Has the best reviews. It is expensive but if it saves you from a DUI it's money well spent. It really surprised me that I was over the legal limit after a full 8-10 hours of sleep.

BACtrack S80 Professional Breathalyzer, Portable Breath Alcohol Tester https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026IBZSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_Fq3oyb7SNA6DH

I remember going MONTHS without it and I wasn't pregnant... it was glorious! Now, after four years on it, I barely get one. It's awesome.


Since your period can be irregular, you can invest in some of these! I did and I would do one if I was the slightest bit worried.

Hugs! It's so hard, just take it day by day. I MC in late August at 12 weeks and have three people announce their pregnancy one due after mine (was due) in March. Today I have to go to Thanksgiving with my husband's family and his cousin has a 10 month old who's perfect. It's such BS, I get it! Take it day by day and if that doesn't work minute by minute.

Have you tried the [Wondfo Strips] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RY8UBNC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_X-veAbBJ4DCM1)
I've recently discovered I'm ovulating much sooner than my predictor app on my phone.

This one has worked pretty well for me. Nice and compact, so I can hide it in whatever I want along with my “bottle of water”.

I’m not an affiliate in any way, shape or form.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006536ZXC/ref=oh_aui_i_sh_in_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[ClinicalGuard] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VT30C8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_r7dLAbGKA0QKH) is the shit. Right up there with FRER, I got two positives at 10DPO on them.

Welcome to the sub!

I got two from CVS (dog ate the first one -_-) for $7-$9 and they worked just fine. No need to wait for an online order if you have a CVS nearby.

As far as the ovulation tests, I'd recommend this kit from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Combo-Ovulation-Pregnancy-Strips/dp/B00RY8UBNC

When you order, make sure to check the shipper against this list of authorized retailers so you don't get duds: https://community.babycenter.com/post/a55235887/fyi-_authorized_wondfo_sellersdistributors

The easiest thing you can do is take a pregnancy test once a month. You can buy the dipstick kind really cheap on amazon. I use these and they work just fine.

Something you can do that is a little more time consuming is to chart your basal body temperature. Basically, you take your temperature first thing in the morning. Your temperature will rise after you ovulate, and then drop again right before your period (generally about 12 days later). There's definitely a learning curve to it, but if the method works for you, you get a lot of information about your cycles. The book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, is a very good resource.

I too have heard bad things about clear blue digital advanced and it is rated poorly, however the original clearblue ovulation test (pink ones) have good reviews :)

http://www.amazon.com/Clearblue-Digital-Ovulation-Test-Count/dp/B002VLYAOI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

The negative pregnancy test isn't conclusive because it's a bit early. Blood tests are best bet.

Because you only rely on the pull-out method, I recommend this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AOMAOG/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They're cheap and work well. I like having them on hand just in case I'm getting panicky about a late period.

You don't get to choose the clinic, usually. When I have taken piss tests it's either administered at the employer's site or I've been sent to a lab of their choosing like Quest Diagnostics.

Seriously, buy some THC test strips and check your whiz every couple of days. They have the same 50 ng/mL cutoffs that pre-employment tests do. Practice loading up on Gatorade - not water - and see if that can push you under the line. Your low bodyfat will help you get clear faster.

I use concentrates daily too. My personal time-to-clean is about 12-14 days from daily use. Good luck.

https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Home-Marijuana-Single-Panel/dp/B00DVPS4IQ/

if you use natural family planning, make sure to use more than basal temperature (and make sure your sleep schedule is pretty regular or that measure is somewhat crap as well).

There are ovulation tests you can use too. They are more or less intended for those trying to conceive (TTC, get used to that abrev. if you go that route) but will assist in your purposes as well. They, like pregnancy tests can be pretty brutal in price unless you are shopping in bulk for just the strips. This is how I get my pregnancy tests too, btw, as I am on depo and test monthly since I don't have a period/withdrawal bleed.

You might be ok. I got thc pee strips off Amazon for pretty cheap. It's worth getting a multipack to see where you're at.

I got these 15 for $10.

Workout as hard as you can as often as you can until like a day or two before the test. If you want you can get this 15 pack of at-home tests pretty cheap if you want to test yourself as well

https://www.amazon.com/AncestryDNA-Genetic-Testing-Ancestry-Test/dp/B00TRLVKW0

Only one way to find out...
Also Italians were once part of the Roman empire which conquered the middle east. Migration from different populations and the Mediterranean sea had a significant role in transportation of people which must of had some mingling some where down the line. He honestly looks very arab and I'm confident if he did a DNA test, he would show up as part middle eastern.

Bulk pack of Wondfo tests from Amazon. :D No curious looks from other shoppers or the cashier!

But maybe you will have my luck: bought a big pack (25 or 50, can't remember which)... got positive result the day they arrived.

We're at our first TTC cycle this month too! I also struggled with the basal temperature thing too. I found it easier to spend 20 bucks on a 50 pack ovulation pee test bundle on Amazon.
Good luck!

Are you using the strips that have an app with it? Like this from Amazon? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DOJG6RA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Because if so - I JUST got this a few days ago and am looking forward to using it!

​

Interesting about your surge being short! That could be something I'm also experiencing. Does your test brand have enough for 2x testing?

If you are thinking of going the NFP route, you can buy these ovulation test strips cheap at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Step-Ovulation-Strips-50-Count/dp/B004IJHDN6/ref=sr_1_5?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1372703244&sr=1-5

They are mostly used by people trying to get pregnant, but I don't see why they wouldn't be helpful for trying to avoid pregnancy. This way, you will know with a great more deal of accuracy if you are ovulating or not. And they're cheap!

I went through the same problems you did trying various methods of BC. I finally settled on the IUD and that's worked amazingly well for me, but understand it isn't for everyone.

Good luck!

I read somewhere that the cheap ones are slightly more accurate than the more expensive ones with the digital readout. A very good friend of mine bought twenty five pregnancy tests for $15 on Amazon.com, and they are supposed to be some of the most reliable tests on the market.

I would like to suggest you Easy@Home 50LH+ 20HCG https://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Home-Ovulation-Strips-Pregnancy/dp/B00DOJG6RA . It's only ￡14.80 and much better than Onestep. Easy@Home is the Best Seller OPK on Amazon.com. They seem to have just arrived in the UK market. In fact, I think Onestep is the worst.

In addition, I recommend their App "Premom" to record your ovulation strips and make predictions about your O day. I am not sure if you can download it in India.

A lot of the times, they take the $1 test, put it in a fancy piece of plastic, then add a bunch of marketing/overhead and margin (profit) to it, then sell it for way more.

You can buy a 20 pack of test strips like these for $7.50 that work great.

​

You can test to see if you are ovulating with these. I'm not sure if it would tell you, but they test for a specific hormone so I think it would work. Then you can know a little better when pmdd would hit. you could probably track it with a period tracker app like clue too.

Personally, I smell better in ketosis than not. I have a mild, kind-of spicy body odor — unless I eat regular butter — then my pits are hella-stinky. I've been making clarified butter instead, which removes the water-soluble compounds and apparently keeps the stink at bay.

As far as breath goes, burning fat produces acetone as a byproduct (i.e. nail-polish remover). This isn't as unhealthy as it sounds, but can be noticeable on the breath. I use a cheap-o breathalyzer to monitor the strength and tell me how deep I am in ketosis. I find my own breath pretty annoying if it goes above ".06 BAC". It's gone as high as ".16 BAC" if I'm burning a lot of fat (ex: the morning after a long hike).

I think you should be okay. It's very uncommon for women to get pregnant while on an IUD. But for the peace of mind, you can do a pregnancy test once a month. Buy yourself some tests like these

https://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Strips-25-count-medical/dp/B0002YIQEQ/ref=sr_1_13_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1467499554&sr=8-13&keywords=pregnancy+test

These aren't any different that what I use in my clinic. So don't think for a second that OB/GYN clinics have better tests, they're all the same. Just do a test once a month and you should be set. If you seriously think you might be pregnant, wait 4-6 weeks after your missed period to take a pregnancy test. Sometimes if you're really early on, a test won't catch it due to not enough HCG in your urine reaching the limit for the test. Then, if you are, make that appointment. If not, it's okay. Sometimes our bodies do weird things. Even though the paragard lacks hormones, your body can still react to it differently than without it.

Hope this helps!

http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B0002YIQEQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344610519&sr=8-1&keywords=pregnancy+test

I have those. Do one every other day just to be sure. They work great, much more economical than the store bought ones.

Spermicidal lube can cause irritation in some but you wont know until you try it. I recommend these pregnancy tests. Cheap, easy to use (though you'll want to get disposable cups or a designated pee cup), and accurate.

I have an IUD (Mirena) and also double up by using condoms. And I still get nervous about the whole thing even living in California and not... oh idk.. Alabama

But that's about as good as you're gonna get it. What you can do to help you feel better, is use pregnancy tests once in a while. You can even buy the strips in bulk off of Amazon

I would suggest getting taking control of your fertility or downloading the free "e-book" with Fertility Friend...they hava some analysis on what your temps are telling you, beyond just "o" and "pregnancy". May explain what is going on.

Checking CM and using OPKs would be really helpful.

Possibly. I only track my calories everyday (~1300), but not my macros at all. I just trust that if I have Keto Chow for breakfast/lunch during the workweek and (usually) salads for dinner, that will be low carb enough. However, I went from 185 to 150 now so I'm suuuuper happy with my results so far! :D

But I don't know if I ever entered ketosis because I never felt even a single whiff of the keto flu. I don't want to draw blood so it's hard to tell. [Edit]: Oh now I remember that there are those keto sticks. [Edit 2]: Ordered this! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUB7BUV

I did the same thing when I skipped placebo but I highly recommend getting these tests: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YIQEQ/

25 tests for $8. Those are exactly what they use for a pregnancy test at the doctor's office. The only difference between these and the fancy drugstore kind is the expensive packaging & plastic handle. Well, you do have to pee & dip rather than putting it in the stream of urine, but there you go. I've used these for years.

> slightly different percentages from the same places

That's actually pretty cool and just shows how "random"(?) genetics can be.

But that's not boring, if I took the test, it would come back 100% Asian. From someone's Amazon review

I used these strips. Good luck!
15 Pack Easy@Home Marijuana (THC) Single Panel Drug Tests Kit - #EDTH-114 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DVPS4IQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_aGz4CbVEZ04X3

Nice Timing. I JUST purchased this electrolyte product for my upcoming fast. Looks CLEAN without knocking me out of ketosis:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXDAHIB/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A2YBUKGVC3GJ20&th=1

They also have some cheap k-strips (100 for $8): After you're DEEP into ketosis you prob wont be excreting ketones anymore but these will let you know when you 'entering' ketosis (after a time the body balances the production and just creates the amount needed):

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUB7BUV/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AE9NHKM2LLI68&psc=1

This one says 6 days

https://www.amazon.com/First-Response-Result-Pregnancy-Packaging/dp/B000052XHI

The accuracy percentage is slightly less the earlier u try, so think like 90% six days prior, 95% three days prior, 99% one day prior, etc. But overall very accurate.

I'm currently pregnant with my 2nd, we tried for our first for over a year, I've peed on more sticks than I'd care to remember lol

You can buy pregnancy test strips like these for a few cents each and get extra peace of mind.

I take them too! Bought these because Im paraoid and like to save money.

Dip-strip pregnancy tests. I got the 50 pack. Costs about $10.

The fun (and awful) part of birth control is that it gives you symptoms that are near identical to that of ovulation or pregnancy, because that's how birth control works. It tricks your body into thinking it's already pregnant.

The mini-pill is the only pill that will allow you to ovulate while taking it. This happens when you miss a pill since the mini pill is basically the smallest possible dose of hormone to keep your ovaries in check. Miss it and it thinks it's party time. The combination pill is a much higher dose (generally) and will supress your ovulation even if you miss one pill, usually.

If you were on the mini pill, the information you got would be correct. But your body thinks its pregnant, and so it's not going to ovulate, because that's just a silly thing to do.

If you're worried, you can buy OPK's (Ovulation Prediction Kits) on Amazon (Bonus Amazon Smile link!) for about 20-ish bucks. If you take an OPK twice a day, every day, you'll see that you're not ovulating.

___
Usually

I bought this kit
https://www.amazon.ca/Easy-Home-Ovulation-Pregnancy-Predictor/dp/B00DOJG6RA

And got pregnant my first cycle trying. That unfortunately ended in a miscarriage at 5 weeks, but i used the strips again 2 weeks later and was got pregnant again right away. They worked great for us

I used these guys and they do the job. Have yet to test clean on one (after about 6 weeks) so they must be pretty sensitive.

If someone is ttc, I would recommend these pregnancy strips from Amazon. They are the cheapest I found, plus it gave me a positive at 3 weeks! Pregnancy test can really add up fast. I have no idea why they make them so expensive. The only difference with these is that they don't have the plastic covering over the strip.

Ooh I can help here!! You can buy huge packs of test strips online for mega cheap. I bought this pack ($19 for 50) and they're going to expire before I could even come close to using them all!

If you do not want children, period, you should probably still use a condom as pills are not a hundred percent guarantee. If you find the level of risk is acceptable then wait until after the first month to get into a routine and see how you feel on the birthcontrol.

You're still probably gonna wanna test, for those "just in case" feelings. My suggestion is bulk pregnancy tests, http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Strips-25-count-medical/dp/B0002YIQEQ like these to give you peace of mind.

EDIT: also the ladies at /r/birthcontrol are always there for you BC questions.

> If you're particularly paranoid a cheap 400x (minimum) microscope can be bought on Amazon for under $100. You can check your own jizz any time.

Jesus dude, this isn't science class.

http://www.amazon.com/SpermCheck%C2%AE-VASECTOMY-2-Test-Kit/dp/B00KTI0JW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453168451&sr=8-1&keywords=vasectomy+test+kit

Results from that kit matched expectations in clinical trials 100% of the time. And they matched mine as well. The test is basically flawless.

I plan on doing one every year just to be safe. My doc said he saw one fail - and it was something like 10 or 15 years later.

For anyone looking, check out one of these or anything similar. I've got one, it's barely bigger than a flash drive and it's about comparable to these bar-top ones as far as accuracy goes.

For the people who are saying "Just don't drink and drive", you're kind of missing the point. The people who would listen to you probably don't need one of these in the first place. I've used it more to help convince someone else that they need to call a cab than I've used it to prove to myself that I'm okay to drive. That's the big thing. Any drunk guy can say "Nah, I feel fine" and shrug off your insistence. But it becomes a lot easier to convince them when you can show them that they just blew a 0.12 on one of those things.

These are the exact ones I ordered and they have been mostly fine. This past weekend I had one that was realllly slow to soak up and thus didn't have much color so I did a second one. The one after that had super faint lines, even the test line, so I did a second one then too.

[Here] (http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B0002YIQEQ) is a link to a really good deal on pregnancy tests courtesy of r/birthcontrol.

When in doubt take a test. I have the IUD so the chances of me getting pregnant are pretty slim but I still test occasionally if I am feeling paranoid. I buy internet cheapies in bulk for times like this. While it's unlikely that you're pregnant if it will soothe your mind then you should take a test.

Found this on one of my Facebook genealogy groups. If you buy from Amazon and add it to your cart, there's an additional 20% off, bringing it down to $63...and free shipping with Prime. I don't believe it's an affiliate link.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TRLVKW0/?tag=smsibiho-20

Of course I find this literally the day after I purchased a kit for my cousin! sigh

The only thing that can rule out pregnancy is a pregnancy test. You can get them super cheap on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Strips-25-count-medical/dp/B0002YIQEQ

I did one of these, then about three weeks later did an actual lab test. Both indicated that I was clear. I still have one lab test, and one at home test. I'm doing the second lab test in a week or so (six weeks after the original one), and I'm saving the at home test for the 1 year mark. I also intend to do an at home test every 6 months or so for the first couple years, then yearly after that. Probably overkill, but unless my wife opts to get a tubal, then we need to be absolutely certain that we can't get pregnant.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KTI0JW2/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_KQkevb01DKKDB

This sounds like an irrational level of anxiety for this (and there's nothing wrong with that, we all have our irrational fears that we can't do anything to stop). Would it maybe help if you tested regularly? I've seen that as a trick for people who have similar anxieties, they buy the cheap test strips in bulk (like these: https://www.amazon.com/ClinicalGuard®-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-Individually-Sealed/dp/B007VT30C8) and test monthly or even weekly. Although that tends to be more useful in places where abortion is a more viable option. It would still help regularly confirm that you're not pregnant, and between the pills and condoms, you're beyond relatively safe.

http://www.amazon.com/BACtrack-Breathalyzer-Portable-Breath-Alcohol/dp/B0026IBZSK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top I bought it to be on the safe side. I had been drinking at a buddy's and he pulled out his for fun, turns out I had blown over .12 and felt slightly buzzed, pretty shocking for it to be that high at the time. Had some friends get in trouble with the law and never wanted to go through that. It should be fine out of the box but they do want you to send it in yearly for calibration.

This made me laugh so hard -- we've all had Troll- Uterus scares!

You don't have to spend $14.99 per pregnancy test! I wish someone had told me this earlier in my life.

You can get these pregnancy strips at Amazon. You get 25 tests for around $8. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YIQEQ

I know you are thinking they are too cheap to work well but hear me out: These are MORE sensitive than the ones you buy at the store and are the same ones they use when they test you at the doctor's office. The only difference is that there is no fancy plastic handle. Rather, you pee in a disposable cup and dip the stick.

Each one is individually sealed in it's own pouch and they last a long time.

These are a good thing to have on hand for when you need them. I used to use them all the time when I was on the pill and skipped the placebo in order to avoid a period. I always checked at least once a month JUST in case.

Edit: I accidentally a word.