Infertility And The Clear Plan Easy Fertility Monitor
Q: If an individual already knows for sure their day of ovulation,
is it worth it to buy the clear plan monitor? (Does the day of ovulation
change? My doctor confirmed at one time that I ovulated on the 11th day
and the ovulation sticks I used confirmed this.) Will it indicate the
day at which I am the most fertile? Or will it just indicate to have sex
in that 5-6 day period before ovulation?
My husband and I have been trying for 4 years. I have numerous tests as
well as my husband. I had a laparoscopy, which determined I had endometriosis
stage II, which was removed. My doctor says I am perfectly healthy...unexplained
infertility. The next step is IUI in about 5-6 months. I am desperate
to know if the clear plan monitor could really help me pinpoint my most
fertile day, and I don't know if my doctor would give me an unbiased answer.
--S.K.
Dr. Donnica: This is a tough situation. My best wishes go out to
your and your husband. Of course, you are not alone. Of the 16 million couples
in America currently "trying" to conceive, about 2 in 10 have unexplained infertility.
The Clear Plan Easy Fertility Monitor, as you know, can identify the day of
"peak fertility" as the 5-6 days you are most likely to conceive. The day of
ovulation is the most likely day for conception. Unfortunately, many women DO
NOT ovulate the same exact day of their cycle each month, so confirming that
you ovulated on Day 11 one month does not mean that's your day of ovulation
every month, even if you have "regular" periods. I have heard anecdotal reports
from many women who used the Clear Plan Easy Fertility Monitor saying they were
surprised to find that they were actually ovulating several days earlier or
later than they thought.
What do I recommend for you? Of course, I always recommend getting your own
personal physician's opinion. I am concerned that you are worried about whether
your doctor's opinion would be "biased". You may want to ask your doctor what
his or her experience has been with patients who have used the monitor. The
fertility monitor costs about $200. While this is not cheap, it is a minimal
cost compared with the costs related to assisted reproductive technologies.
Since all your work-up has been negative (except the treated endometriosis),
I would recommend trying the Clear Plan Easy Fertility monitor for 3 months
and seeing how it works for you and your partner. Be sure to read the instructions
carefully and follow them. And let me know what happens!
Disclaimer:
I have served as a spokesperson for the company that makes the Clear Plan Easy
Fertility Monitor in the past. I no longer have any financial relationship with
that company.
With best regards,
Donnica Moore MD
President, DrDonnica.com
Created: 9/4/2001 - Donnica Moore, M.D.
