does pcos affect opks?

Al4321 · Mar 25th, 2009, 10:57 AM

Im not sure whether I have it or not but when I had an ultrasound they said my ovaries were larger than average and that I have alot of follicles on my ovaries more than average but they said this could be normal for me as my cycles are every 42 days so less follicles are getting produces. And they didnt really seem concerned about it. But I have had trouble with ovarian cysts in the past, one grew to 4cm but then went. Im on cd5 after an early miscariage and getting a faint positive on opk? So confused.

Aria · Mar 25th, 2009, 12:40 PM

I have a few friends with PCOS, and for them, the OPKs are useless.

The Catster · Mar 25th, 2009, 17:11 PM

I have PCOS on my right ovary....OPKs work for me....I think it's all about how much hormones they produce that may distort the OPK reading...but my advice is to do an OPK test every day of your cycle and not just when you think you may O.....keep all the tests and then you can compare the darkness????

Hope that helps....

xxx

Vestirse · Mar 25th, 2009, 17:14 PM

Some ladies with PCOS have elevated levels of LH. However not all do. If you have elevated levels, OPKs will not work and you will probably get a positive almost all of the time. Otherwise they will work just fine.

By the way, there is no such thing as a faint positive on an OPK. For an OPK to be positive the test line must be as dark or darker than the control line. So it sounds as though you do NOT have elevated LH levels. Which means OPKs will work for you. All women have varying levels of LH in their systems at all times and can get faint linesat any point in their cycle. It is only the "surge" of LH that it picks up and that gives you the positive.

toby2 · Mar 25th, 2009, 17:14 PM

I have heard they can be a little unreliable straight after a m/c though?dont take my word for it am sure someone else knows either way
xx

Jolinar · Mar 25th, 2009, 17:16 PM

I think the confusion may be that the test line needs to be as dark or darker than the control line on an opk test for it to be positive.

Sorry to hear about your loss and good luck for this cycle

Vestirse · Mar 25th, 2009, 17:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toby2

I have heard they can be a little unreliable straight after a m/c though?dont take my word for it am sure someone else knows either way
xx

The problem straight after m/c is that hCG levels may still be up. OPKs can also pick up hCG. LH and hCg are very similar in structure. However, if the OPK is not positive, it is unlikely that it is picking up anything out of the norm. I would do an HPT - which picks up hCG exclusively - to test that all the hCG is out of your system if that is a concern.

The Catster · Mar 25th, 2009, 17:22 PM

Here's my tests this cycle.....

The lowest one is CD17 and the highest one being CD24....

So although I have faint lines on some....I actually got a positive on CD23 which means I O'd on CD24....CM and pains also substantiate this too!!!

xxx

Vestirse · Mar 25th, 2009, 17:25 PM

Yup, no elevated LH for you. I do not have PCOS and can get lines at any point in my cycle. I can get a 70% as dark line (negative) and then nothing the next day and then a positive a day later! No pattern for me.

The Catster · Mar 25th, 2009, 17:28 PM

I wonder why OPKs don't work for you then hun???

xxx

Mar 25th, 2009, 10:57 AM	#1
Al4321 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 613	does pcos affect opks? Im not sure whether I have it or not but when I had an ultrasound they said my ovaries were larger than average and that I have alot of follicles on my ovaries more than average but they said this could be normal for me as my cycles are every 42 days so less follicles are getting produces. And they didnt really seem concerned about it. But I have had trouble with ovarian cysts in the past, one grew to 4cm but then went. Im on cd5 after an early miscariage and getting a faint positive on opk? So confused.

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Mar 25th, 2009, 12:40 PM	#2
Aria Pregnant (Expecting) Inactive Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Redwood City, California, USA Posts: 874	I have a few friends with PCOS, and for them, the OPKs are useless.

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Mar 25th, 2009, 17:11 PM	#3
The Catster Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,947	I have PCOS on my right ovary....OPKs work for me....I think it's all about how much hormones they produce that may distort the OPK reading...but my advice is to do an OPK test every day of your cycle and not just when you think you may O.....keep all the tests and then you can compare the darkness???? Hope that helps.... xxx

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Mar 25th, 2009, 17:14 PM	#4
Vestirse Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Nerdville - Silicon Valley Posts: 5,588	Some ladies with PCOS have elevated levels of LH. However not all do. If you have elevated levels, OPKs will not work and you will probably get a positive almost all of the time. Otherwise they will work just fine. By the way, there is no such thing as a faint positive on an OPK. For an OPK to be positive the test line must be as dark or darker than the control line. So it sounds as though you do NOT have elevated LH levels. Which means OPKs will work for you. All women have varying levels of LH in their systems at all times and can get faint linesat any point in their cycle. It is only the "surge" of LH that it picks up and that gives you the positive.

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Mar 25th, 2009, 17:14 PM	#5
toby2 Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Devon,England Posts: 1,713	I have heard they can be a little unreliable straight after a m/c though?dont take my word for it am sure someone else knows either way xx

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Mar 25th, 2009, 17:16 PM	#6
Jolinar Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 1,576	I think the confusion may be that the test line needs to be as dark or darker than the control line on an opk test for it to be positive. Sorry to hear about your loss and good luck for this cycle

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Mar 25th, 2009, 17:22 PM	#8
The Catster Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,947	Here's my tests this cycle..... The lowest one is CD17 and the highest one being CD24.... So although I have faint lines on some....I actually got a positive on CD23 which means I O'd on CD24....CM and pains also substantiate this too!!! xxx

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Mar 25th, 2009, 17:25 PM	#9
Vestirse Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Nerdville - Silicon Valley Posts: 5,588	Yup, no elevated LH for you. I do not have PCOS and can get lines at any point in my cycle. I can get a 70% as dark line (negative) and then nothing the next day and then a positive a day later! No pattern for me.

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Mar 25th, 2009, 17:28 PM	#10
The Catster Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,947	I wonder why OPKs don't work for you then hun??? xxx

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