GKU Talks - HPTs

[goldenlove3]

What is your brand of choice?

Dip or mid-stream?

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period?

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested?

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing?

[flojo973]

What is your brand of choice? I'll pee on anything but I'm cheap and I have a POAS-problem (which DH enables) so usually Wondfos.

Dip or mid-stream? Dip baby dip...

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? See above. I test early every cycle. I have no willpower.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 7 DPO

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? Other than use FMU, none!

[pinkcat]

What is your brand of choice? Wondfo is all I've ever had to use, if I ever get a squinter or a positive I think I would buy one of the digital tests. (I would have said I'd buy a FRER, but I've heard so many bad things about the new design!)

Dip or mid-stream? Dip.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? I wish I had the self control to wait, but each month I start testing before a missed period. My LP varies quite a bit too, so I am never sure exactly when my period is going to start. It's been anywhere from 9 to 16 days.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? In the early months 8 DPO, ashamed to admit! But it was a month when I wasn't 100% positive on what day I ovulated, and I thought there was a chance I was 10 DPO.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? I have heard a lot of bad things about the new FRER and it seems like that was the "go to" brand here before the new designs. What do you consider the new "go to" brand?

[sleepymonkey]

What is your brand of choice? Wondfo but will use CBE to confirm (much like my OPKs)

Dip or mid-stream? Dip - it is so much easier

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? Now that I'm 6 months into TTC, I have learned to wait until I'm 11DPO before I test and that's only if my temp hasn't started dropping. My LP is usually 11-13 days long with the BBT drop starting 10-11DPO.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 9DPO ***hangs head in shame*** But that was the first 2 months TTC and I was a little overzealous.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? Nothing other than even if you get a BFN, you're not out until AF shows up. I had several BFNs before getting my very faint BFP at 13DPO when I was KU with DD.

[ohinvrtedworld]

What is your brand of choice? I have some FRER in the cabinet

Dip or mid-stream? Haven't had to try yet!

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? So my LPs are really short, from 10-12 days max, so I wait for a missed period, but that doesn't take very long. I don't bother testing before 12 DPO just because I figure it'll be a waste if it's too early, and that it's not much longer to find out of AF is on her way.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? Never

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? I feel like my answers are Debbie Downers, but I wanted to put them out there for variety's sake. I'm cheap and pessimistic, so I don't bother testing until I am 100% sure that AF should have shown up by a certain day.

[piccyami]

What is your brand of choice? Wondfos now. I still have one old FRER left.

Dip or mid-stream? I got really good at mid-stream for the OPKs, so I gave up dipping entirely.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? I was waiting until my longest LP before testing.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? Before I understood how all this worked? I think 8DPO.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? I'm not testing anymore, but I'd still be interested in hearing what other people use now since FRER changed.

[goldenlove3]

What is your brand of choice? I use Wondfos. I have one FRER (old design) and one digital test that are left from last year. I would use those to confirm if I saw a positive on the Wondfo. Edit: I'm watching the expiration date on them.

Dip or mid-stream? Usually dip but sometimes I'm lazy and pee right on the Wondfo.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? I usually start at 11DPO unless I'm testing out a trigger.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? I think 9 DPO.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? The cheap tests are just as good as the expensive brand. Especially lately it seems like the more expensive brands are getting pretty bad.

[Evelyn3]

What is your brand of choice?
Wondfo now that I am testing out trigger during IUI, it's just cheaper that way.

Dip or mid-stream? Dip

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period?
I have been known to test early, I am trying to give that up.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested?
I think 8.DPO

Edit to get rid of emoji that appears when I type 8 D lol

[doodler]

What is your brand of choice? Wondfo. I used to use FRER but the new ones give false positives so I will not be buying them ever again. If I get a positive on a wondfo I will go buy a digital to confirm.

Dip or mid-stream? Dip with wondfo

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? Early(I got BFP's on FRER at 10dpo with both of my pregnancies) but now that I won't use FRER I will probably wait.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? The first month TTC my son I had no idea what I was doing and I probably tested before I even ovulated, lol.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? Just stay away from FRER. I loved them for my first two pregnancies but the new ones are just evil. Seriously, you do NOT want to deal with a false positive. Even my doctor's office confirmed that they have had women coming in with false positives on the new FRER's.

[LadyNymeria]

What is your brand of choice? It was FRER until they changed the design. Now it's Wondfo or Walmart cheapies (First Signal?).

Dip or mid-stream? Dip so if I got a BFP I could retest with one of my stashed old version FRERs.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? Early. My normal LP is 16 days and I don't have the patience to wait 2 weeks to test.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 10 DPO. BFNs both times. The cycle I got my BFP was on 12 DPO.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? Try to stick with pink dye tests, as opposed to blue, and don't use the new FRERs. I haven't used the new ones personally but I'm hearing about a lot of false positives with the new design.

[pismoduo]

What is your brand of choice: Whatever those Walmart ones are. First Signal, or something? They're 88 cents.

Dip or mid-stream: The Walmart ones have the little eye dropper, so technically neither.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period: For the longest time, my LP was 9 or 10 days. So the first time I went past 10 days was one of the few times I've tested. I usually wait until at least the last day of my LP.

Be honest, what's the earliest you've tested: Once on 9dpo. I wasn't totally convinced of my O date, the PMS/fake pregnancy symptoms were driving me nuts, and I had my annual exam scheduled for that day and figured it'd be easy to get the ball rolling while I was at that office. Started spotting 2 hours after taking the test.

[Deleted]

What is your brand of choice? Answer brand

Dip or mid-stream? usually dip but I'm alright with confirmation of a midstream

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? Test early although with my last baby I did wait until af was due so day of

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 10dpo I think; but I've never gotten a positive before 12dpo, so

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? I've never used a digital and would never spend that amount of $ on a test! cheapies work just fine

[emilie]

I'm just here to say that I hate those new FRERs with the passion of a thousand burning suns. Wondfos 4 Lyfe.

[notagoddess]

What is your brand of choice? I'll use anything, but I only buy Wondfos at this point because they're cheap and I tend to test several times each cycle.

Dip or mid-stream? Dip. I do prefer traditional tests where I can avoid the cup of pee, but I hate spending 20 bucks on HPTs that show negative results.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? Early. Less time to get my hopes up.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 8 DPO on my first cycle post-loss. Glad to see I'm not the only one! I tested at 9 DPO last cycle, but I was thinking it could have been 11 DPO and I just needed it to get off the crazy train.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? Nope!

[notagoddess]

Nov 4, 2015 13:57:05 GMT -5 danib said:

What is your brand of choice? Dollar Store. I wasted a lot of money on FRERs before I found this place (well TB technically) and found out about test accuracy and all that.

Dip or mid-stream? Well the Dollar store ones use a dropper. But when I FRER I pee on it, no dipping.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? It varies. I try to wait but don't always have the willpower.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 10 DPO.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? Advice, read the box, follow the instructions, and don't dig a BFN out of the trash an hour later!!

::Hangs head in shame::

[akraus2015]

What is your brand of choice? I'm not loyal to one particular brand. Currently I have CBE digitals at home, but have also used FRERs (old kind) and Walgreens and Walmart brands. I stopped using Wondfos when I read that they were notorious for false positives.

Dip or mid-stream? Dip

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? Usually early, but only if I feel like my timing was good and my chart looks good.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 3 days ago, which was 8DPO, because I'm on the crazy train right now.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? Not that I can think of right now.

[ellabee]

What is your brand of choice? Wondfo's, although I do feel that the POAS threshold is lower since they're so cheap... I guess if I only used FRERs I'd be able to hold out longer instead of peeing on my money.

Dip or mid-stream? Dipity do da

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? Early. It's a really not cool habit. Why I haz no willpower?!

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 9dpo

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? I've started referring to HPTs as period inducers in my head since every time I test, AF shows up a few hours later.

[daisy818]

What is your brand of choice? It's a Wondfo-like brand called BFP (I never turn a Wondfo OPK strip, but I do with BFP brand, so I use it for HPTs also)

Dip or mid-stream? It's dip.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? First few months I tested early-ish; now I don't test till after I'm beyond my usual LP.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 10dpo. It was like 2 months into TTC and I was still eager.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? DH has asked to be there when I test, and that actually helps a lot in avoiding an impulsive early test (since I'd have to explain to him why I'm testing so early, and that would make me put rational thought into it, and everyone knows that rational thought is where spontaneity goes to die). I honestly just don't even think about testing as an option at this point unless I reach 14 or 15dpo, and by drawing a firm line I have really reduced the number of sad, stark-white HPTs I've had to experience. Because even if I know it's too early or that my temps are not all that high anymore or that our timing was rather eh, it really really sucks to see a single lonely line on that test.

[butlerfan]

What is your brand of choice? FRER but now I'm hearing bad things with the new design so may be switching.

Dip or mid-stream? I've done both but dip is easier.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? usually if I'm "late".  This month I tested on Halloween at 14 dpo because of drinking that night.  Based on temps I figured I wasn't but wanted the peace of mind "just in case".

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? probably 10dpo near the beginning of trying

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing?

[Ray]

What is your brand of choice? I used dollar store test because $$$

Dip or mid-stream? these ones you pee in a cup and then use a little eye dropper to drop the sample - it's very easy. I just rinse the cup afterwards (pouring water into the toilet) and stick it back under the sink.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? I generally only test when I have gone one day longer than my longest LP to date. The exception was last month because I was feeling very anxious about an "oops". This month I plan to test "early" at 11dpo (average LP=11, longest =13) just so I can do it on the weekend.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 11dpo anything before 10dpo is a waste of $$$ IMO (unless doing it to allieviate anxiety/stress etc)

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing?
Don't waste your money on blue dye tests or fancy FRERs (especially if you are the type to test early). Test with a cheap one first, and then if you see a line feel free to pee on a 20$ stick if you want. Throw it out as soon as the time limit is up so that you're not tempted to look at it afterwards and *gasp* is that an Evap line or a Line line? Try to use FMU or at least hold it for a few hours before you test. All the things listed in the newbie blog

[Deleted]

So are Wondfos not giving false positives/negatives anymore? Did they finally fix that?

[pismoduo]

Nov 4, 2015 13:58:27 GMT -5 emilie said:

I'm just here to say that I hate those new FRERs with the passion of a thousand burning suns. Wondfos 4 Lyfe.

I've heard the Wondfos have a tendency toward evap lines too, though. Is that not the case?

[pismoduo]

Nov 4, 2015 15:49:14 GMT -5 @led said:

So are Wondfos not giving false positives/negatives anymore? Did they finally fix that?

Jinx.

[rungirlrun]

What is your brand of choice? Eh don't really have one. Digital for sure - usually generic so CVS. I really don't buy tests.

Dip or mid-stream? No preference.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? Missed period.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? This time around TTC, never tested. Last time TTC, I probably peed super early when I didn't really know what I was doing TTC related. But I don't test until 15 dpo now.

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing? Not testing until I'm 15 dpo with no period symptoms works for me. Don't get the false hope of maybe I tested too early, and I save money.

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2015 15:59:27 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

Nov 4, 2015 15:49:14 GMT -5 @led said:

So are Wondfos not giving false positives/negatives anymore? Did they finally fix that?

I've never had an evap or false positive in the time limit. I have noticed a slight evap line well outside of the testing window that I just ignore

A while ago there were a lot of people getting false positives (not evaps) and false negatives within the time limit. They may have fixed it, but there used to be bad batches all the time. 

[jwinct]

What is your brand of choice? Last cycle, I purchased Wandfos and I'm not turning back! Can't beat the price and how tiny the packages are - I love that.

Dip or mid-stream? Dip - always. Even if I have one you can use mid-stream.

Do you usually start testing early or wait for a missed period? Early - no will power.

Be honest, what is the earliest you've tested? 7DPO (only once and never again)

Any other questions, comments, or advice about testing?
With my first 2 pregnancies, I got super-duper faint lines on Dollar Tree (New Choice) tests at 10DPO. So faint, I couldn't tell if my eyes were playing tricks on me. I used a generic CVS band blue dye test to confirm my first pregnancy, later that same day - the line was light, but definitely a line. I used a Target brand pink dye test to confirm my 2nd pregnancy on the same day and there was light line, but definitely a line. I'm only sharing this in case anyone is curious about the sensitivity of these particular tests. It obviously depends on when implantation occurred and stuff, but the CVS and Target brand tests seemed to be a bit more sensitive than the Dollar Tree test.

[ameliabird]

Nov 4, 2015 16:02:47 GMT -5 @led said:

Nov 4, 2015 15:59:27 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

I've never had an evap or false positive in the time limit. I have noticed a slight evap line well outside of the testing window that I just ignore

A while ago there were a lot of people getting false positives (not evaps) and false negatives within the time limit. They may have fixed it, but there used to be bad batches all the time. 

Was it from companies passing their products off as Wondfos? I saw a list with approved companies to buy from.

[pismoduo]

Nov 4, 2015 17:15:56 GMT -5 ameliabird said:

Nov 4, 2015 16:02:47 GMT -5 @led said:

A while ago there were a lot of people getting false positives (not evaps) and false negatives within the time limit. They may have fixed it, but there used to be bad batches all the time. 

Was it from companies passing their products off as Wondfos? I saw a list with approved companies to buy from.

That was from an issue with companies passing off non-Wondfo OPKs as Wondfos, if it's the one in the newbie blog.

[ameliabird]

Nov 4, 2015 17:23:43 GMT -5 pismoduo said:

Nov 4, 2015 17:15:56 GMT -5 ameliabird said:

Was it from companies passing their products off as Wondfos? I saw a list with approved companies to buy from.

That was from an issue with companies passing off non-Wondfo OPKs as Wondfos, if it's the one in the newbie blog.

Ya thats it! I wonder if those were the ones giving off evap lines??

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2015 17:28:22 GMT -5 ameliabird said:

Nov 4, 2015 17:23:43 GMT -5 pismoduo said:

That was from an issue with companies passing off non-Wondfo OPKs as Wondfos, if it's the one in the newbie blog.

Ya thats it! I wonder if those were the ones giving off evap lines??

The ones I'm talking about are legit Wondfo brand. People were reporting bad batches all the time and having to search for your batch number to make sure you didn't get a bad batch was really common. Less than a year ago this was still happening, but I haven't heard much about it recently.