So, a line is a line? No matter how faint and regardless of color intensity. Well, at least that’s what we have always been told by our Doctors, friends, family and even certain websites. If you Google it – it must be true! I was absolutely a firm believer in this myself, until recently. Some well known name brands of HPT’s (Home Pregnancy Tests ) will give you the specific concentration of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) the pregnancy hormone secreted once the fertilized egg implants itself into the uterine lining – the average Test ranging from 25miu to 40miu. And then there are some, that won’t.

Image: www.firstresponse.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

Nowadays, several brands advertise that their tests can detect pregnancy 6 days sooner! Wow how technology has changed a lot since these tests first came out. Specifically one of the most well known, First Response Early Response. Also known as, “FRER.” It’s a (Pink Dye Test) and most of us have recommended it to someone else at some point or another, especially if you’re actively TTC (Trying To Conceive). It’s always been our go-to brand! Known as one of the most reliable.

Well recently in our lovely little Facebook Group, the sensitivity actually came into question. There have been consumer studies that have suggested that although it’s sensitivity is 25miu – it can detect as little as 12.5miu, or even as low as 6.5miu. Talk about being sensitive! Most of us going through that TTC journey, (as stressful as it can be) tend to track our CM (Cervical Mucus ) our CP (Cervical Position ) and of course our BBT (Basal Body Temperature ). Which is known as Charting! And since we now can pinpoint exactly when Ovulation occurs through Blood Work and a higher Shift in our temperatures, we now also have a better idea as to when we can start testing for pregnancy. Of course the closer you are to your missed period, the more reliable the results will be. Our LP (Luteal Phase) generally remains the same from cycle to cycle and is about 12-14 days on average for most women – although it can range anywhere from 10-16 days realistically. Implantation usually occurs anywhere between 6-12dpo. So with that being said, most on average usually start testing around 8-9dpo and continue until they get their BFP (Big Fat Positive) or until the dreadful Period rears her ugly face. That can usually be predicted with a drop in temps as Estrogen is responsible for the first part of our cycle known as the FP (Follicular Phase) and in order to sustain a healthy pregnancy, progesterone is needed and will dominate the second half once Ovulation occurs. Because Progesterone is a heat inducing hormone, it causes the temperature rise once Ovulation occurs.

Now the only thing about testing early, is you need to have a highly sensitive test! If you are in fact pregnant, you can get a ton of false negatives using 40-50miu tests that early on, as it may take several days after implantation occurs to produce enough HCG to register positive on a test. That’s usually when First Response comes into play! Being one of the most sought after tests and known for their accuracy and (again) reliability.

Image: www.firstresponse.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

They are (Midstream Tests) and fairly easy to use. You should always read the instructions thoroughly before using any HPT to avoid misinterpreting the results or even to prevent common user errors. With these, you can put the absorbent tip inside your urine stream, or you can collect a urine sample in sanitary clean cup. I usually opt to collect mine in a clean cup, so if I notice the sample isn’t concentrated enough, I can dump it and try again later – as to avoid wasting a test. They also just came out with a newer model, and it resembles the Clearblue Easy Blue Dye Test!

Image: www.firstresponse.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

It advertises a 50% wider tip, Easy to Read Window and a longer handle. Unfortunately I haven’t had an opportunity to try one, but I’m sure it’ll make going pee a bit more fun! Ha Ha….

Now, for the bitter sweet news. I am very shocked and dissapointed with what we have found out recently. The admin in our group, who also runs her very own blogging site (Love Echoes Forever ) and a truly amazing one I might add – decided to call the First Response Manufacturer directly to inquire about the sensitivity of their HCG tests, which also may include their Digital Gold.

Image: www.firstresponse.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

In regards to their digital, it’s still a bit inconclusive as from Consumer Studies and information we have found on other various websites, the sensitivity for that specific test is indicated at 18miu. I was a bit shocked with the outcome of their Pink Dye Test, which is a bit more common. So here is a quote, from Monique.

“OK, the number I called is the number they have on their insert.

1-800-367-6022

I chose all the options for the First Response Early Results test. Then after listening to all the information, I chose 0, to speak to customer service.

I talked to Betsy. She told me the information on sensitivity level is proprietary information. But the test is quantitive not qualitative & any amount of of hCG in your system can result in a second line.”

So, what does that mean exactly?? Well…. (in a nutshell) – It’s actually very similar to getting a blood test done, which many of us do whenever we get a positive result on a HPT. Now there are two different types of HCG blood tests that your PCP, OB, or even RE can order. The most common is a Qualitative Test, which is common to most urine tests. You need a certain concentration of HCG in your system in order for that test to come back as Positive. It simply says, YES you are Pregnant, or NO you are not. Now a Quantitive Test will give you specific numbers. No matter how much or how little HCG you have in your system, that test will give you a count. Anything below 5miu is considered non-pregnant levels of HCG. Anything usually at 5-25miu will require a redraw, and anything above 25miu is considered positive for pregnancy.

Now with that being said, the First Response Test doesn’t have a specific concentration needed! I believe it is Quantitative which means that ANY AMOUNT of the hormone found in your system, will cause a 2nd line to produce. Even amounts that are technically considered to be Not Pregnant, which would be anything under 5miu.

(A debate also entails that it could be Qualitative with a threshold of zero)

The unfortunate thing about that, is there are other factors that can cause SOME levels of HCG to be circulating throughout our system at all times. Not saying that applies to everyone. But for some, yes.

– Pre Menopause can cause elevated levels of HCG

– Any medication(s) containing small trace amounts of HCG

– Some Fertility medications

– The HCG Trigger Shot

– Certain Cysts

– Even certain Cancers

Now, for the majority of those who are NOT actively TTC, this probably won’t effect them as much since they typically wouldn’t test until after their period was late. Normally by that time, you’ve accumulated a high enough concentration to form a nice, dark, unmistakable line. So in this case, the test can still be considered reliable.

As for those of us who on the other hand are ACTIVELY TTC, that’s where the problem comes in. We tend to test early, and that means (again) that an expected FAINT line which would normally be acceptable that early on in pregnancy, could very well be a FALSE LINE! Which in the end can cause tons of false hope and can be truly heartbreaking! So honestly, this truly upsets me. I am starting to believe, “A line is a line no matter how faint or the color intensity,” is going to truly become a thing of the past soon. Other brands will certainly want to keep up with the competition and I truly believe more and more manufacturers will start to convert their tests that way.

This is my advice to anyone who attempts to use a First Response, treat it as an OPK (Ovulation Predictor Kits) where when you see the line is equal to or darker than the control line, it’s considered positive! And my other advice, follow up with a Blood Test!

Last but not least – ALWAYS read the manufacturers instructions thoroughly before taking a test!

Image: www.firstresponse.com

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Can Soda, Juice or Tea give a FALSE POSITIVE RESULT on a Pregnancy Test?

February 27, 2015

By peeonastickfreak

After flipping through a ton of website pages and results from our beloved Dr. Google – I have come across some speculation on the possibility that certain liquids (aside from Urine) can cause a false positive on a HPT! (Home Pregnancy Test) and it made me really curious. Needless to say, I decided to conduct a little experiment myself to see if Soda, Juice or Tea could yield a possible false result!

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Product Review SurePredict 10miu HCG Test Strips

January 22, 2015

By peeonastickfreak

I ordered a pack of SurePredict 10miu HCG Test Strips and I decided to give my 2 cents on them for those of you who opt to use highly sensitive HPT’s (Home Pregnancy Tests) when testing early!

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How to get Urine Stains off of a HPT

December 18, 2014

By peeonastickfreak

Whenever you’re testing for Pregnancy, (especially in Early Pregnancy) it’s always best to use FMU (First Morning Urine) in order to have the highest amount of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) available for detection. If that’s not possible you can always hold your Urine for a minimum of 2-4 hours while refraining from drinking any beverages!

But unfortunately with that being said, highly Concentrated Urine typically is very dark in color, in comparison to diluted Urine which is very transparent and light. Sometimes when the test is completely dry, (more often than not) after it’s been sitting out for a while – it can leave a nasty looking Urine film where it once ran across the test.

If you’re anything like most of who are actively TTC (Trying To Conceive) there may come a time when you would like to show a family member or even a friend online to seek their opinion in distinguishing a second Line – (Evaporation Line?) or perhaps you would just simply like to share the good news! Either way, a strong, yellow film can make the test very undesirable and even a bit embarrassing to show. So what can you do?

I conducted an Experiment, and this is what the Tests initially looked like the next day.

I was supposed to make an Update on the outcome and was a bit grossed out with the way they looked. Not to mention Dried Urine can also cause an Evaporation Line to appear.

I had read somewhere that you can CLEAN a TEST simply by redepositing water on it, so I thought I would test the theory out. I used a Cassette Test and a Test Strip for this specific Experiment. I treated both of the HCG Tests as if they had never been used before and deposited 5 drops of water where the Urine would go, then proceeded to re-dip the Test Strip. I started to see the water (slowly but surely) literally wash away the Dried, excess Urine!

I was actually very surprised that I was watching this work Because the stains were REALLY DARK.

The trick is, you have to make sure that the test is COMPLETELY DRY first before attempting this, otherwise there’s no way for the water to absorb and you will over saturate the test including the container (which can be a huge pain!)

In the end, this is how the Tests looked! And I gotta say, I was really impressed!

You may want to do those a couple times before you deem this as Picture-Worthy!

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What Do I Record as Cycle Day 1? (The Difference Between SPOTTING and Your PERIOD)

November 25, 2014

By peeonastickfreak

Image: www.healthtap.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

When you’re new to (Charting) it can be a bit confusing sometimes to know exactly WHEN or WHAT to Record on your Fertility Chart as CD (Cycle Day) 1. We used to assume that anytime you had any kind of bleeding, “Well that MUST be the start of our Period!” Yeah, ummmm, no matter how Light, Heavy or even when it happened!

I’m sure you’ve heard this from a friend or family member, “You must just be starting Early,” OR, “It must be a LATE Period.” Better yet, no matter how Light it was, maybe they also told you – (or maybe you just assumed as so many of us do) that it was just an EXTREMELY LIGHT Period! Well, as time goes on more and more research is done to help expand our minds and give us some clarity!

There are two phases to our Cycle – The Follicular Phase (The time from the first day of our Menstrual Period until Ovulation takes place) and that’s controlled by a Hormone called, “Estrogen.” The next Phase of our cycle is known as The Luteal Phase (The time from Ovulation until either our Period starts or we achieve Pregnancy) and that’s controlled by a Hormone called, “Progesterone,” which is a heat inducing Hormone.

If you happen to take your BBT’s (Basal Body Temperatures) throughout your cycle, Estrogen keeps your temps low during the first Phase prior to Ovulation and Progesterone elevates and sustains our higher temps post Ovulation. Most of the time, (either one or two things will happen) – we will notice that our BBT’s have remained High past 13-16 DPO (Days Past Ovulation) and have possibly achieved Pregnancy! Or, our temps will drop back down which is a good indication that we can expect our Period sometime soon.

Sometimes though we can experience what is known as, “Mid-Cycle Spotting,” on or around Ovulation. That is not uncommon! Usually (if you’re also keeping track of your Cervical Fluid or Cervical Mucus) you may notice a bit of Fluid that resembles raw Egg Whites. If you happen to see a bit of Pink, Red, or even Brown tinged EWCM (Egg White Cervical Mucus) that is considered to be amongst the most fertile, and is caused Sometimes by a bit of spotting due to the Mature Egg breaking through the Egg Follicle.

At other times, (although it is considered RARE) you may notice a bit of spotting between 7-10 DPO and if you’ve achieved Pregnancy than that can also be known as, “Implantation Spotting,” which OFTEN gets mistaken for a Period! (Now, not ALL spotting is associated with Ovulation and Pregnancy) BUT – it can be considered as a clue, and can therefore give you a bit of insight. To actually peak into your Fertile Window – you may wanna consider taking a OPK (Ovulation Predictor Kit), also to confirm Early Pregnancy I would highly suggest taking a High Sensitivity HPT (Home Pregnancy Test!)

So, how do you differentiate between Spotting and actual Flo? Well, (as some licensed Doctors have put it) if you wipe and only see a bit of Pink, or a few drops of Blood – then that would be considered, “Spotting.”

Images: www.wikihow.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

Any amount of RED Blood that requires a pad or a tampon would be considered, “Menses or actual Flo.”

Image: www.wikihow.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

So essentially, if you need a pad or a tampon than you can officially record that as, “Cycle Day 1.”

Cycle Day 1 (again) is defined as your first day of actual Bright RED or Dark RED Flo that requires a Pad or a Tampon!

Image: www.egeve.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

If you’re actively TTC (Trying To Conceive) and you have a higher Temperature above your coverline – (and you notice a bit of spotting) Don’t lose hope just yet! There may be a possibility that it’s simply Implantation Spotting.

If you’re new to Charting, (or tracking your Period) even if you’re NOT actively TTC – Charting is still a great way to pinpoint your Period each cycle and can also indicate whether or not you should possibly Test for Pregnancy.

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Home Pregnancy Test Sensitivities

November 24, 2014

By peeonastickfreak

Image: www.americanpregnancy.org Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

At the end of every cycle, (one of two things can happen) either the dreaded AF (Aunt Flo) rears her ugly head or you find you’ve missed your Period!

Some of us Chart our cycles every month by taking our BBT (Basal Body Temperature) using a special kind of Thermometer called a, “Basal Body Thermometer.” They are a bit more sensitive, and can record even the slightest body fluctuations. The next thing would be our CM (Cervical Mucus) which goes through different phases throughout the course of our cycle, as well as our CP (Cervical Position).

During the first Part of our cycle, Estrogen is responsible for gearing our bodies up for Ovulation. Once that happens you’ll notice your CM and CP getting less fertile and Progesterone (which is a heat inducing Hormone) keeps our Temperatures higher and elevated until AF shows up. Progesterone is responsible for the second half of our cycle known as the (Luteal Phase). If your Temperatures remain elevated past your ETD (Estimated Testing Day) or the day you’re expecting your Period – chances are you may be Pregnant! Estrogen is responsible for the first Part of our cycle, (Follicular Phase) so it just makes sense that our Temperature will drop within a day or two of AF.

There are all kinds of different Test Sensitivities, and you’ll find it rather easy deciding which one is right for you depending on how far along you may be in your possible Pregnancy. Usually the first day of your missed Period you can expect a reliable result, although some opt to start testing as Early as 8dpo (Days Past Ovulation). A good rule of thumb is if you KNOW you’re testing Early, you may want to rely on a HIGHLY SENSITIVE TEST that’s at least 25 mlU/ml and if you’re far enough along than usually a 40 or 50 mIU/ml should be sufficient.

Here is a List I’ve put together by Name Brand and Sensitivity!

Tests UNDER 25 mIU/ml:

– First Response Digital Gold 18mIU/ml
– First Response Early Result (Quantative Test that will pick up ANY amount of HCG per the manufacturer)

20 mIU/ml Tests:
– AimStep
– Aim Midstream
– AimStick OTC PBO
– AimStick OTC/Accu Dip
– At Home Pregnancy Test
– D Best One Step
– Early Pregnancy Test
– Save On Tests
– Simplicity
– Tests For Less

25 mIU/ml Tests:
– AccuHome
– Answer
– Answer Quick & Simple
– Clearblue Easy (Digital) 35-50 mIU/ml
– Clearblue Easy Earliest Result
– Confirm 1-Step
– CVS Brand (Midstream)
– E.P.T. ( + or – ) Result Window
– Equate ( l l ) 2 line Result Window
– Equate ( + or – ) Result Window
– Fact Plus (Cassette)
– Fact Plus 1-Step (Cassette)

– First Signal One-Step Pregnancy Test (cassette)
– Health Check
– Health Mark
– Insta Test
– Iverness ( + or – ) Result Window
– Life Sign One Step (Midstream)
– New Choice (Dollar Tree Brand – Cassette)
– Smart Strip HCG (Fertilinet)
– Walgreens Brand (Digital)
– Puralin One Step Pregnancy Test
– One Step Be Sure Pregnancy Test

40 mIU/ml Tests:
– E.P.T ( l l ) 2 Line Result Window
– E.P.T ( + or – ) Result Window
– E.P.T Certainty

50 mIU/ml Tests:
– Clearblue Easy
– CVS Brand (Cassette)
– Early Pregnancy Test
– Iverness II
– Dollar Store Tests
– Target Brand
– Rite Aide Brand
– Drug Emporium Brand

100 mIU/ml Tests:
– Fact Plus Pro (Cassette)
– Walgreens Brand (Midstream)

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How To TEST with a OPK Test Strip

November 22, 2014

By peeonastickfreak

Image: www.eBay.co.uk Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

So you’ve decided to start using OPK’s to help you determine when your BEST chance at Conception is? That’s great! You’re now on your way to maximizing your chances of successfully getting Pregnant. If you haven’t started charting, I highly recommend it!

Although testing with OPK’s (Ovulation Predictor Kits) is a great way to gain some much-needed insight into your Fertility Window – It only Does just that! You’ll need to follow-up with 3 days of sustained higher BBT’s (Basal Body Temperatures) to confirm that Ovulation has in fact taken place. Usually a great indicator (or second fertility sign) of WHEN to start testing with a OPK, is when you start to notice Fertile Cervical Fluid. Usually after Menstruation you’ll notice a bit of Scant, dry, or Sticky CM (Cervical Mucus) if any at all – followed by Creamy or Lotion-Like, and then as Estrogen starts to influence your hormones your CM will begin to thin out! You may start to notice a bit of a watery sensation and that usually will lead to the most fertile type of CM which is categorized as EWCM (Egg White Cervical Mucus) which the name sort of speaks for itself. If you’re not familiar with it, crack open a raw Egg and feel the consistency of the Egg whites! It should be slippery, clear and stretch 1-2 inches between your thumb and your index finger. Sometimes it can also be tinged with Pink, red Blood, or even brown! (That is considered to be amongst the most fertile) so if you happen to notice that type of CM along with a Cervical Position that’s High, Soft and Open – Now’s definitely the time to Test with a OPK! Here’s a Chart that can give you a Good idea as to when (based off of your average cycles) would be a Good time to start!

Image: www.conceiveeasy.com

There are 3 types of Tests you can use – “Midstream,” which is very Common at drugstores, “Cassettes,” which are also very Common, “Digitals,” and then lastly our Internet Cheapies, (also known as) “Test Strips,” which is what we are talking about today. They’re by far less expensive simply because you’re not paying for the fancy container they come in.

Image: www.fertilityties.com Image: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

Now with the most effective Test date being determined with your other secondary fertility signs – It’s also important to understand how to PREPARE for testing!

Unlike Pregnancy Tests that usually are taken with FMU (First Morning Urine) especially with possible Early Pregnancy – It is HIGHLY recommended to use Afternoon Urine when testing with a OPK, usually between the hours of 2-8pm and at the SAME TIME EVERYDAY! Why you ask? Because the LH (Luteinizing Hormone) in FMU usually isn’t metabolized enough, and can therefore give you a False Negative! (Which of course if you’re actively Trying To Get Pregnant you definitely don’t want that) essentially it can cause you to possibly miss your Surge. (When dipping your Test Strip there is a black line that says, “Max Line,” it’s always best not to dip your Test past that line to avoid over-saturation of the Test)

Image: www.naturalfertilityshop.com

So what is a LH Surge? Well, LH tends to flow through our bodies at all times. Just a few days prior to Ovulation the LH Hormone starts to increase to a higher concentration (thus as we call the “Surge”) and that higher concentration of LH can then be measured by a OPK.

Typically speaking there are different brands of OPK’s that can detect different levels of the Hormone so to speak. A normal, healthy female would probably opt to use a OPK that detected 30-40 mI/U only because we have the Hormone constantly running through our system and would not want to yield a False Positive result using a lower sensitivity test. (In some cases though, you may need a lower sensitivity Test just depending on what YOUR “normal” concentration is that’s running through your body during non-peak times) – We on average, typically have anywhere from 1-20 mI/U prior to our Surge. You can find Tests that are 10-25 mI/U, 30-40 mI/U (which is considered average) and then the lower sensitivity Tests that can run up to even a 100 mI/U! (Again, I highly recommend NOT purchasing those Tests simply because according to some Consumer Studies it’s usually next to impossible to have a LH Surge that High in concentration!) You’ll more than likely yield nothing but Negative Results.

Once you’ve established the best brand, day, and time to start taking your Tests – a Good question most have is, “How Do I Read Them?” Here’s a few illustrations that may help you learn how to interpret the results.

If you’re using Test Strips, you may see packaging very similar to this:

Image: www.dhgate.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

This can be a bit confusing if you’re unfamiliar with how they work. This claims if there’s 2 Lines, it’s positive. Don’t be fooled though! Regardless of what kind of OPK’s you opt to use, essentially they all work the same way.

Image: www.spermmeetseggplan.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

A TRUE Positive Result, (unlike a Pregnancy Test) is when the Test Line is EQUAL TO or DARKER THAN the Control Line.

Image: www.ovulation-calculator.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

Here’s another good illustration:

Image: www.opktests.com

And here is one displaying ACTUAL OPK Results:

Image: www.babyornot.co.uk Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

Some also opt to use a Digital Ovulation Test, to confirm the Midstream Test or the Test Strips Positive looking Results!

Image: www.amazon.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

You can’t go wrong with a digital. There’s absolutely no guessing involved although they are a bit more expensive. But if you happen to get a Blue Dye Test, you’ll understand WHY it may be a Good idea to FOLLOW up with a digital since they can be a bit harder to interpret. (You’ll have to check out my OPK reviews if you want some further insight with that subject).

Name Brand OPK’s that you can find in your local drugstore can be a bit costly. Some opt to use the Internet Cheapies known as “Test Strips” Because essentially you can buy a Big bundle of OPK’s and HPT’s for a small fraction of the price. If you like to Test frequently it can add up, and I’ve found over the years that it’s a much more cost-effective way to gain more insight into your Fertile Window each cycle.

Image: www.fertilityties.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

Which (I might add) you can’t beat FREE! You have a great chance of winning a bundle of OPK’s and HPT Strips (on me) simply by “Liking” our Facebook Page – (PeeOnAStickFreak) “Following” our Twitter (@PeeOnAStickFRK) and lastly our Instagram (PeeOnAStickFreak) – The more referrals you have, the greater your odds are! All you have to do is have your friends/family members comment on each account stating WHO refered them! SIMPLE! I will be picking winners randomly and the ultimate prize is the bundle along with a $25 Gift Certificate to a restaurant of your Choice! GOOD LUCK!

Getting back to business (Ha Ha) when taking your Test, you’ll want to make sure that your urine doesn’t sit out for any length of time, and you also hold the Dip stick in your (CONCENTRATED) urine for at least the specified amount of time on the instructions. Otherwise I highly recommend dipping it for a full 5-10 seconds! Only Because you want to avoid under-saturating your Test and yielding a lighter Test line, and in some cases a False Positive Result! (Check out my OPK Experiments, Videos, and of course my Informational Tidbits) to my conclusions with those results! Also, I highly recommend waiting the full 5-10 mins before interpreting the results. You’ve got to keep in mind that OPK’s work a bit differently than your average HPT.

(Something else I just wanted to add which I also mentioned in my video) is when you purchase a pack of Midstream Tests, Cassettes or even Test Strips – you have to judge each Test individually! The reason I’m saying this is because different Tests have different amounts of Dye in them. You may have taken a Test yesterday (that came in the same pack) that had a very Dark CONTROL Line, whereas today’s Test has a very Faint one. No worries! Your Test Line (if positive) will reflect how light or dark your CONTROL line is. So if the CONTROL line is very light, as long as your Test line matches that or is a bit Darker than it’s considered positive! Same thing if the line is lighter, that would be considered Negative!

So with that being said, (Yes I know it’s a ton of information to absorb if you’re not familiar with these things) after a few cycles, you’ll get more familiar with it the same as you would with all of your other secondary fertility signs!

For a more, in-depth demonstration I made this lovely video showing you just how simple this can be but most of all BENEFICIAL! When you yield your first true positive result, don’t forget to DTD! (Do The Deed) also known as Baby Dancing!

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Basal Body Thermometer

November 13, 2014

By peeonastickfreak

Image: www.ivillage.com Graphics: Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

There are so many benefits you can experience from charting your fertility! One of the main, key ingredients in order to gain insight into your most fertile window is the ability to track your daily BBT (Basal Body Temperature) throughout the duration of your cycle. Your BBT is your lowest body Temperature at rest, following a solid block of at least 3 hours of sleep or more.

Now, before you go reaching for a typical (Fever Thermometer) you may be surprised to know that fertility experts of the like have come up with this amazing invention known as a Basil Body Thermometer! That’s what you’ll typically want to use. It’s a special kind of Thermometer that is very inexpensive, you can find it at most drugstores and it measures at 1/100 of a degree. So for example, with a normal (Fever Thermometer) that only measures at 1/10 degree – your temp would read at 98.6° whereas a BBT will measure your temp detecting slight body fluctuations reading at 98.67°. It’s very ideal just for the fact that you may detect Ovulation with only a slight Temperature increase over the course of several cycles, which may give you better insight inside your future fertile window.

During your FP (Follicular Phase) Estrogen is responsible for lower BBT’s. Once Ovulation occurs, you’ll notice a rise in BBT’s due to Progesterone, which is a heat inducing Hormone responsible for gearing your body up for possible Conception. Many women commonly opt to use OPK’s (Ovulation Predictor Kits) to detect their LH Surge (Luteinizing Hormone) that’s highly concentrated just a day or two prior to Ovulation – but only a rise in temperatures for at least 3 days or more will confirm it!

It’s important when temping, to do so at the same time everyday and in the same manner. Some may opt to do it vaginal rather than orally. Whichever method you prefer consistency is key! Another important factor is making sure you get plenty of rest beforehand. Otherwise you may start to notice erratic temperatures on your chart that can make it difficult when trying to interpret it. It’s not uncommon though to occasionally experience a slightly higher or lower temp when charting. The most important thing is maintaining a pattern with several temps throughout each part of your cycle so you can know when to accurately pinpoint Ovulation, as well as knowing when to expect a reliable result on a HPT (Home Pregnancy Test). If you’re charting for other reasons, pinpointing Ovulation will also aid in knowing when to expect your next Period.

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Pee-On-A-Stick-Freak

We love to experiment with everything pee-on-a-stick related! While also giving out helpful information relating to Home Pregnancy Tests (HPT's), Ovulation Predictor Tests (OPK's), Charting your fertility and much more!

Tag Archives: Conceive

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Basal Body Thermometer