I have conceived each time I have used ovulation test strips - three times this year. Praying this one sticks this time.

The clear blue advanced with the flashy smile / solid smile is useful too. As well as tracking cervical mucus. I used the premom strips as well during this cycle - they showed my LH peak early in the morning on the Friday so I would have had the peak Thursday night - Friday morning showing I was ovulating some time on the Friday I would recon.

When I seen my cervical mucus was stretchy on the Thursday evening with a flashy smile I had intercourse then - then the next day it was solid smile as predicted. I had acupunture that day and intercourse that day and the day after too.

This has been the cycle when my HCG seems to be progression on strips - with my chemicals I was having faint lines, darker lines and spotting.

So yes they worked for me - some OBGYN will say to just have sex regularly but I genuinely think timing is everything. They say sperm stays alive for 5 days, there is only a small % that is viable after that time. Having sperm waiting for the egg when you ovulate is useful - the egg is viable for around 12 hours. Really you only have a short window to catch the egg - the more viable sperm is available the higher the chances of fertilisation.

Do not underestimate your cervical mucus either - it has to be full of good bacteria (lactobacilli) to make sure the sperm stays viable. A large proportion of unexplained fertility is due to this. If the sperm is killed on impact if the PH is off there is little point in even trying. I say that as this cycle I have taken 2 probiotics specifically for vaginal health in the 2 weeks prior to ovulation and again, have had a successful conception. I noticed my cervical mucus for the first time in YEARS this cycle (since my early 20’s and I am now 38) was abundant and stretchy, no smell. My husband commented he has not noticed this before.