CBEFM vs. ovulation test strips-why such a dramatic price difference?

biochemgirl

I'm new to all of this really trying stuff and was thinking about ordering either the CBEFM or ovulation test strips.  I had no idea the CBEFM was so expensive-can anyone tell me why it's that much better than the strips that I should spend that extra money? 

Kristen81603

I believe it measures different hormones to give you a more accurate picture of when you are ovulating, whereas the strips just tell you when your surge is going to happen within a day or so-

kmslwsmrs

Because it's a computer that keeps track of everything for you, as opposed to you using the strips and having to keep track of your days to know when to take it.  The monitor tells you when to take it..you turn it on every day and it tells you whether or not to take it...wit hthe strips, you almost have to guess which days you would be ovulating to be able to know when to do them.

oct11bride03

kmslwsmrs:

Because it's a computer that keeps track of everything for you, as opposed to you using the strips and having to keep track of your days to know when to take it.  The monitor tells you when to take it..you turn it on every day and it tells you whether or not to take it...wit hthe strips, you almost have to guess which days you would be ovulating to be able to know when to do them.

This.

I couldn't see spending the money for a CBEFM so I went the cheap ovulation stick route. Not that it mattered because of IF, but they worked well for me in conjunction with Fertility Friend (free online). 

biochemgirl

Thanks guys.  I think this month I will chart and then maybe that will give me an idea of when i ovulate and try the strips and if that doesnt' seem to be working I will try the monitor the next month.  I am going to do my best to try and get pregnant this month

barcelonagirl

I got pregnant with my chart and cheapy opks, and some digital opks once I thought it was positive (which are hella expensive) but, I love the assurance of a happy face

Brown chicken brown cow

mccw

I have a CBEFM that was only used twice in case you wanted to purchase a used one for cheaper.

biochemgirl

MCCW-I would be interested in purchasing a used one for cheaper-do you want to PM me?  I probably won't be back online until Sunday. 

BTW, how is your sister doing?

TSD

I was aiming for a specific astrological sign as crazy as that will sound to some. Obviously I couldn't know I'd get pg when i wanted but I also had no reason to think I wouldn't. I got the CBEFM on Amazon for $150 which was cheaper than anywhere else at the time. I did get pg when I wanted to by using it and I did have an aquarius, so I was pleased with how it worked. I also used it for 2 cycles before the one I'd planned on trying with just to get used to it. For me, the month I did conceive, I ovulated REALLY late and I'd have had no idea of knowing that was going to happen. So I was thankful to have the machine to see when that egg was showing. If you're more of a "when it happens it happens" kind of case, then I suppose it isn't as important to drop the money

But, they seem to be highly sellable secondhand. I sold mine to someone on the Nest because I knew I wasn't ever going to need it again. I also got the sticks on Amazon.

Good luck!

mrs.spunky1508

If you are an ebates member and get it on drugstore.com, you can get 6% cash back, plus free shipping. Sometimes drugstore.com will have double cash back. I happened to buy it on a double cash back day, plus I already had a few drugstore.com bucks to redeem from the prior quarter. That made it an easier pill to swallow. The total discount was ~$20.

The one thing about the monitor itself you have to buy the test sticks separately. I don't know why but I thought it would come with at least a 1 month supply. This resulted in me having to run to Walgreens to get the damn sticks (only drug store that carries them in stock in my area) and spend $10 more than if I had bought them online. 

barcelonagirl

TSD:

I did get pg when I wanted to by using it and I did have an aquarius, so I was pleased with how it worked.

That is too funny.  I was hoping for a certain zodiac sign too because I thought a water sign would be more compatible/easier to raise lol.  He was due on the cusp so I thought I had hope.  Nope.  Little bugger came out way overdue and is definitely an Aires.  Great mother give me strength.  I'm a cancer.  We couldn't be more incompatable.

TSD

barcelonagirl:

TSD:

I did get pg when I wanted to by using it and I did have an aquarius, so I was pleased with how it worked.

That is too funny.  I was hoping for a certain zodiac sign too because I thought a water sign would be more compatible/easier to raise lol.  He was due on the cusp so I thought I had hope.  Nope.  Little bugger came out way overdue and is definitely an Aires.  Great mother give me strength.  I'm a cancer.  We couldn't be more incompatable.

HAHA. That's why I was hoping he'd stay in longer. I needed him to not be a Capricorn. He was three weeks early and I was like oh, thank god I got over the hump to Aquarius.

mccw

biochemgirl:

MCCW-I would be interested in purchasing a used one for cheaper-do you want to PM me?  I probably won't be back online until Sunday. 

BTW, how is your sister doing?

just reading this now...will PM ya