OPK's and PCOS

[Kota]

Hi Ladies,
Hope you don't mind me posting in here as I'm not a LTTC'er but I do have PCOS and thought this would be a better place to get information.

I've been quite lucky with my pcos and was having pretty reg 32 day cycles, feeling ovulation around cd17/18, I've only started temping in the last couple of months but before that was just taking note of AF days and OV pain days for about a year and the OV predictors online were quite accurate for me, so accurate that we got a BFP on 2nd month trying. Unfortunately I m/c at 5wks and I'm now on CD52 from 1st day of m/c bleeding. I've started spotting today and had a massive temp drop so know that the witch is on her way.

What I'm curious about though is because of my messed up cycles I now have NO idea when I'm going to be due to ovulate. this month it wasn't until cd36!! and short of pouncing OH every 2nd night from witch end, I am considering using OPK's for the first time, I've heard mixed reviews about these with women with PCOS though, and that they can give false positives??

Does anyone have any advice, experiences, suggestions on whether or not they are likely to work in my situation??

Sorry for the long post.

Thanks!

 

[Millnsy]

HI

I don't have PCOS but have never got on with OPKs at all. I tried for a while when we first started TTC but never got a positive at all. my cycle was irregular and I don't think I was ovulating at all. I found it stressful and expensive so didn't perservere. Have had 6 months on clomid with close monitoring so haven't had a need really. In hindsight maybe I should have stuck with them to give us a better chance.

DOn't know if I've helped at all but personally I didn't get on with them at all!

HTH

M x

 

[CurlySue]

I recently found out (rather harshly) that I have PCOS. I never knew I had it. Was never told. Was actually told I DIDNT have it, in fact.

BUT - for months and months, I was getting positives for 12 or 13 days out of every cycle. I used to think "These are shite OPKs, they are positive every day!" I mentioned it to the horrible cow that told me I had PCOS and she said "It's the increased LH in your blood that does that. If you have PCOS then it's not advisable to use OPKs. They are often wrong."

 

[Angelmarie]

I have PCOS and I use the 40mIu type... they are less sensitive to the LH which is helpful for us ladies with constant high levels. I would give them a go. I get mine from Fertilityplan on Ebay... Worth a go?

Good luck!

 

[CurlySue]

Mine were the 40mlu ones and they were still positive, but I suppose it really depends on HOW high your LH level is. They reckon if you have PCOS the best bet is to go on cervical mucus but sometimes that is not enough. Every other day BD is probably the best bet.

 

[Samisit]

I've PCOS too and found that i would have 7-10 days of positives!
so i gave up.
Its because we have an imbalance in FSH/LH and the increased LH levels cause them to be constantly positive rather then just detecting a surge.
I've started using an ovulation microscope and i watch my CM.

Good luck !!!!!

 

[CurlySue]

OPKs are just frustrating. I used to think "Maybe they will be MORE positive when I do actually ovulate" but they were never any more or less positive, these months. I could do a test now and it would probably be what others would see as 'positive' but it wouldn't be. Could do one next week and it would still be positive. It's annoying.

 

[Angelmarie]

I think I must be a little bit lucky in that I never get a true positive - never had a line as dark as the control line EVER! But I can pretty much tell when one of slightly darker so I can guage ovulation ok I think

Does clomid effect the results of opks at all?

 

[Kota]

Thank you everyone for your responses. Seems they follow what google search is bringing up as well... blah!!!

Well I've got 20 of them sitting here that I bought last month but didn't use as I thought I'd already OV'd... so I guess I can only try them this month once AF finishes and see what happens.

 

[fairy1984]

I would say give it a go and see. I have PCOS and i get positivies anytime I pee on them so they dont work for me.

Maybe its different for each PCOSer as to how much LH they have in them at any one time..

good luck