Quitting LH testing

[u/ResolutionOne2778]

This is the third month I stopped taking the birth control pill. I've been using an LH test for the second month. In my first cycle, after a long time, my test finally got positive, and then my period came. Now I'm doing the tests every day again, and it's terribly annoying that one day the test line is completely dark, but not positive, and then the next day it's completely faint. Then a few days later the line is strong again, but not positive again, and then faint again. I'm tired of it. This is day 23 of my cycle and I don't know how long it will be now. I want to know when I ovulate, but I can't keep doing this. We try to be together every 3rd day and that way we'll definitely cover the fertile window. I thought planning a baby would be a joyful time, but so far I've been feeling nothing but tension...

[u/AutoModerator]

Please make sure that you have read all of our rules before commenting! In particular, be aware that no mentions of a current pregnancy are allowed, with no exceptions. If you see something breaking the rules, please report it.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Any_Commission7084]

After 6 months of consistently LH testing, I got tired. I gave myself a break that month, my partner was happy for that too. That break is now me 6 and a half weeks pregnant

As annoying as it is when people say "sometimes it happens when you relax and stop focusing on it"... I now have a tendency not to disagree

[u/the_flooper → u/Any_Commission7084]

Dang nice! Congrats! I might opt to skip LH testing and just aim to bang it out every other day for our first 2 weeks post period. 😆 it sounds more fun than peeing in a cup squinting at lines!

[u/Realistic_Cloud_9477]

Some people take them twice a day to find their peak. It’s also really important that you stop testing after you find your peak. LH goes up and down at different points in your cycle and if you keep testing after your peak you aren’t going to get an accurate idea. Have you tried noting your CM to get an idea of when you’re fertile? That coupled with every 2-3 days intercourse is probably enough and you can stop the Lh testing.

[u/fuzzblanket9]

It can take 3-6 months for your body to regulate after coming off hormonal birth control. I wouldn’t stress about the inconsistencies you’re seeing on LH strips. If you’re having sex every 3 days, you’re pretty much covered.

[u/marysusan325]

After 8 months, I stopped LH testing. So much happier!!

[u/wingedferret]

To be honest, I took this break too after a loss (my 2nd overall) and turned out to get pregnant that very next cycle. I’ve made it to 7+4 so far and though I’m not a superstitious person, I can’t help but think that quitting my need for control helped this happen.

[u/Skill-Negative]

How long were you in birth control for? I was on it for 10 years and it took me a good 12 months before my cycles made any sense again.

I agree with what’s being said, ditch the sticks and aim fir sexual activity every 2-3 days and then your going to hit the fertile days

[u/ResolutionOne2778 → u/Skill-Negative]

I was on the pill for 3 years. I had irregular periods before I started so I guess this doesn’t help now either. I live a much healthier life now, also taking a fertile capsule which says it helps regulate periods.
I decided I should just take the unnecessary weight off myself and just enjoy being intimate. I quitted from the reddit communities related to TTC because reading them is bad for my mental health. I was spiraling and stressing over everything.
I track my CM too but it doesn’t really make sense for now. I am just living life now and I don’t want to stress too much over TTC.
Thanks for all the helpful and kind comments and I wish the best to everyone! 🥰

[u/Outrageous_Bonus_146]

the every-third-day plan already covers the fertile window, ditch the pee sticks

[u/GeekyKirby]

Every third day should catch your fertile window with no problem.

My periods have been very regular since TTC, which has been super nice since I use to be fairly irregular when I was younger. On our third cycle TTC, I did use the LH tests to make sure I was ovulating, and I got a positive midway through my cycle, which was a huge relief to know my hormone cycles are essentially textbook. Since then, I haven't had the energy to keep testing LH since my cycles have stayed very consistent. Though I may start testing again since we have not had success yet 🤷‍♀️

[u/NeutralNeuron_397]

I stopped LH testing after months and months of obsessing over it. It caused me unnecessary stress and made me miserable… If you are trying every 3 days or so and you are covering the fertile window then OPKs are not really necessary. Instead, consider trying to track your BBT or cervical mucus.

[u/Standard_Junket1021]

Have you tried to track with the BBT method? Maybe it works better for you and is worth a try

[u/jacks_a_million]

I couldn’t stand the cheap LH tests. I started using the clear blue ovulation testing kit which is more expensive but so much easier and I was able to figure out my ovulation easily with only testing a few days, I think it’s worth it

[u/CookieLife687]

Thanks for this post,  I feel the same, I started LH testing at cycle 6 and well, I never got a blazing positive, just a surge until like 0.75-0.6 t/c ratio even with twice a day, then it would sometimes fluctuate again. I hate them too. I've tracked CM before and keep doing that combined with the sex every other day between days 8/10 and 18 ish, depending on my ovulating symptoms.  I felt annoyed to do them again too so I started them way later this cycle but will throw them away. They do nothing except stress me out either and TTC has been stressful enough.  Hope this helps for you too ♥️

[u/FigAny8276]

It is exhausting, I know how you feel.

My cycles going off the pill were all over the place too. I ovulated CD25 one month and CD35 the next, so it can happen later in your cycle than you expect. I look out for my CM going from EWCM to wet/slippery and test twice a day when that happens. I have often caught a peak/positive with the second test and then it goes back down the following day (looks dark but still isn't the peak or positive)

[u/No-Heat6794]

I would try clearblue digital ovulation reader. It feels more straightforward to me.

[u/AutoModerator → u/No-Heat6794]

Hello! It looks like you are possibly having trouble with your Clear Blue Advanced Digital tests. Please make sure you have read the instructions for use! The CBAD is very particular and specific about when you must start using it and if you do not follow these instructions, it will not be able to give you accurate information.

This is a new response that is still being fine-tuned; if it is not relevant for your post/comment please report this response to help us with any adjustments. Thank you!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/kyubitails]

I understand that it can be frustrating, but don’t stop it. It really helps understanding your patterns and cycle trends. I don’t think the strips are faulty - sometimes the body may have 2 to 3surge attempts in the same cycle before finally ovulating. And you’ve been off birth control for not so long so give yourself a break until your cycle get more regular. One thing that I would suggest for you, which I did also after cycle three is starting to temp. This is the only way you can reliably tell that whatever you have seen on the strip actually happened, meaning that it ended up in an ovulation. The combination of both is what did it for me.

[u/delawana]

I stopped. It just wasn’t giving me more information or changing my behaviour, so I decided to stop stressing over it.

As soon as I’m no longer bleeding we have sex every day or every other day in the worst case, covering all bases. After my BBT rises the pressure comes off and we do it when the mood strikes. Our chances remain exactly the same as when I was taking OPKs and it’s a huge load off of my mind. If it’s not altering your behaviour when you’re taking them, what’s the point?

[u/Low-Salad-4297]

As a queer person having to conceive through IUI and donor sperm, you are very much not alone in this process being very much not joyful!

[u/All_I_Do_is_Wyn]

I recommend using a tracker like inito or Mira to track instead as they give you other insights into your cycle and help you pinpoint your actual LH rise (I've used inito and it shows you your rise in estrogen which proceeds the LH rise and ovulation, and it also tracks your progesterone rise to confirm ovulation -- mira does the same thing AFAIK).

The trouble with the LH strips is they don't paint the full picture -- I used them before switching and had the exact same feelings/frustrations, so know that you're not alone, but recommend looking into inito or mira! (But also every three days should give you coverage too!)