Clearblue Fertility Monitor - but I have PCOS

[Woobeedoo]

Hi Ladies,

Bit of background so not to drip feed.

I was diagnosed with PCOS many years ago. I have cysts on my ovaries but that's it, I'm a healthy BMI and no other PCOS markers. I've had blood tests and I do ovulate by my cycle can sometimes be random which means fertile days are a big question mark.

After many years TTC, we were finally approved for IVF. It didn't work 1st time but I didn't expect it to really despite eggs & sperm being classed as 'good, healthy, no problems'. Had ICSI for the second go, it worked and my little boy is snoring on the sofa next to me.

So - main question!

We want to try for a sibling but private funded ICSI is scary £££ so we were planning on just DTD as much as possible. However, this is scattergun and probably knackering (we're parents to a 4mth old, we appreciate sleep these days!).

I was looking into fertility monitors and found the Clearblue Digital Ovulation sticks, however, the Clearblue site says something along the lines of results not being clear with PCOS, but the Boots website goes one further and says not to use if you have PCOS.

Has anyone with PCOS used this kit and had success? I can't find reviews from anyone with fertility issues who has used and either had success or not. Its not hugely expensive at £23 a month but I don't want to be throwing money away if its really not worth it.

Thank you.
x

[tattyteddy]

Hi woob,

I used the cbfm when trying for Dc no.1 and it worked great. This my second month of use for Dc no.2 but I'm afraid I haven't got Pcos so can't comment on that xx

[blamber]

It depends what your PCOS entails. You say you do ovulate, but do you get LH surges that don't lead to ovulation? If that happens, the monitor may not be accurate as it will give you a peak while you may not ovulate.

I have PCOS and the monitor always worked fine for me. I just had long and irregular cycles, but do get a steady oestrogen and LH surge, after which I ovulate. I find the monitor helpful to use, but I am also aware of other signs of ovulation, such as cervical position. Last cycle I used the monitor, dtd regularly on my fertile and peak days and got a BFP . So yes, it can work for some with PCOS, but it really depends on the individual.

[busybaby]

There's a great book which you might find useful... 'Taking Charge of your Fertility' by Toni Weschler. I've found it invaluable in interpreting my very irregular PCOS cycle.

[blamber]

I was thinking, did they ever test your LH/FSH levels? If so, was LH elevated? If that is the case, the monitor might not work as it will get confused.

[Woobeedoo]

Thanks for all your replies.

tatty Congrats on number1, good luck for number2!

blamber Wow, congrats to you too on your BFP!! Super exciting! On my last hormone checks which would now be about 18-24mths ago, my LH level had reverted to normal non-PCOS levels. This is either due to diet, exercise or Metformin.

I'm taking DS for his 4mth vaccinations on Thursday so will be making an appointment for myself to get my PCOS status re-checked.

busybaby I discovered I have the book The Fertility Code by Dermot O'Connor. I must've bought it shortly before being approved for IVF and clearly decided there was no need to read it (!). As the last time I was able to read a book without interruption was December, I can only try!

Thanks everyone.
x

[bessie84]

i have pcos and i use the ovulation sticks. for me they have worked / are working. (not concieved yet)

They have indicated when i would ovulate and sure enough, i have :-) (confirmed by blood test 7 days after)

i think it depends on the severity of the pcos and by the sounds of things, yours isnt bad what so ever. so id give them a shot.

over time you get to know your body and discover when you ovulate/ (cervical mucus ect ect)

if you dont mind me asking, why did you have ivf before? (is there a problem with other half too?)

we're just waiting for lap&dye op to check my insides,(had 2 sections) then if all is ok, we're moving to iui /ivf/icsi.(other half has low count and i have pcos) the prices are shocking arent they, i have 2 children from a previous marriage, my other half has none, ive vowed to give it my all to complete our little family. so saving like mad to chase our little rainbow.

best of luck and give the sticks ago, even if for a month or 2 and see how you like them x

[Woobeedoo]

Hi Bessie,

We'd been TTC for so long - over 7yrs. I know it sounds silly we left it so long to get checked out, but we weren't going gung-ho at it, it wasn't a mission so before we knew it, many years passed with no baby.

The IVF found my eggs to be OK and OHs sperm to be fine but it simply didn't work so the Oxford team moved us to ICSI which did.

I keep a check on my CM (never ever thought I'd be doing that!) but my cycle seems all over the place at the most - probably got some preg hormones still rattling round in me confusing things.

IVF is so expensive when private and you really have to shop around so to speak to find the best clinical team.

I wish you all the luck and I'll be investing in a box of those sticks.

x

[bessie84]

Thank you Woobeedoo

i wish you all the best too, its so hard when money isnt an option. we're hoping that lap&dye will turn out ok and iui will work as its only 665 per cycle. rather than 4k for ivf.

try the sticks and do the best you can. :-) thats all you can do. xxx

[Gottahavefaith14]

Hi I've got Pcos too , It will pick up your real surge but it's not advised as we have elevated levels of the hormone picked up in the opks and therefore Pco woman are prone to false positives , the only way to predict ovulation in Pcos is temping I found it really useful when I was on clomid x good luck !! X