PCOS &a OPKs - Help Please!

[MintGreenLife]

Hi everyone,

I've just read 'Period Repair Manual' which has been brilliant having come off the pill three months ago - it has loads of advice and insights into what a healthy cycle should look like, and why cycles can be haywire and the things that can go wrong when coming off the pill.

Something it does talk about is post-pill PCOS, which can happen when your body doesn't manage to start ovulating after the pill, causing PCOS. According to the book this type of PCOS can be temporary, but I wanted to ask if someone could look at my charts and OPKs and see what they think...

I've attached last months cycle, during which I had multiple LH surges, and this months cycle, where my LH has been higher from CD20 but no surges. I've also attached the OPK I did today - this seems to be my standard level from CD20 onwards this time, and I think it's probably quite dark?? Also attached my app readings for the last few tests.

I wanted to ask if you think it's possible I do have PCOS? I don't appear to be ovulating, and from what I can tell my LH isn't normal, but I might be wrong.

Thanks in advance x

Wouldn't let me upload more than 3 images, so here's my app photo x

Also just to clarify, on charts purple line is LH and blue is BBT

@MintGreenLife when did you come off the pill? From your charts I would suggest you haven't ovulated but it's hard to tell as your temps don't differ too much. You should enter your BBT to Fertility Friend, it's a much better app in terms of interpreting your temps. If you do have PCOS that would explain the lack of a surge in OPKs but not because you won't ovulate, it's because LH levels are inconsistent therefore the main thing to rely on is the 3 days consistent higher temp from your baseline temp

@Stabal thanks for your reply. I came off the pill in early April, so just over three months ago now. I'm fairly certain I'm not ovulating as I've never had three constantly high temps. I do use Fertility Friend also but it's not helped make anything clearer. I did wonder if I may have ovulated on my second cycle (one with all the LH surges) as my temp did go above the coverline for three days, and I missed one temp, but then AF came...so either no ovulation or a very short luteal phase. I've definitely not ovulated yet this cycle and am CD33. As far as I'm aware I didn't have PCOS before the pill, but the higher LH levels/multiple surges and lack of ovulation/unclear ovulation is making me wonder if I'm suffering from what the book I read calls 'post-pill PCOS' x

@MintGreenLife yeah I can see those higher temps but a bit strange if you ovulated then had a period a so quickly so I'd be wary that's what it was. April isn't that long ago to be fair so I wouldn't panic too about it or stress that it could be PCOS. It can take months to get back into a groove. I have PCOS and was diagnosed at 18. I've been on a few pills throughout the years to try and help and each time I've come off any I've bled for months and not ovulated. It took me a year and 4 months to get my cycle to a regular pattern and then a few months after that I finally started ovulating and then 4 months after that (March this year) I fell pregnant but it unfortunately ended in miscarriage. It takes time.. I know that's not what you'll want to hear. Some people go straight back to normal, others don't. I would give it 6 months and if still no better speak to your doctor. I hope you start to find things settling soon on their own though! 🤞

@Stabal thanks for sharing your experience with me, and so sorry to hear about your miscarriage, hope you catch again soon.

I expect you're right, I'm probably not ovulating yet, but the strange LH levels were concerning me. So far my cycles have been 30 days and 37 days, and I'm now on CD33. I've been getting EWCM each cycle, so seems my body is having a go at ovulating, just think I'm not quite managing yet. Only thing that's thrown me is that I did get LH surges last cycle and I got a positive OPK, where as this cycle nothing, and I did start taking various supplements this cycle too, so not sure if that's made things worse.

Our wedding was cancelled because of Covid, so we decided to focus on TTC instead. From trawling other mumsnet boards about coming off the pill it seems to be a tossup between women falling pregnant literally within days of stopping the pill, or having irregular cycles and issues for months afterwards. Really hoped I would be one of the ones that got back on track quickly, but seems I need a bit of time x

@MintGreenLife thank you! We're feeling positive because we were trying for those 2 years in case we caught but never did. It wasn't until I lost 4 stone and was being sent for fertility treatment that I fell pregnant. Typical! I was also told when I was diagnosed that pregnancy would probably never happen so it was a blessing and given us hope. The fact you're having the signs of ovulation is really good. Interesting you should say about the supplements, I started some after my miscarriage and now this cycle is messed up. I ovulated late and I've been spotting for a week and a half so wondering if it's the supplements too! Sorry about your wedding. We booked ours for November next year literally before everything kicked off and I'm so glad we went for next year rather than this year!

@Stabal well done for being so positive :) like you say that's fantastic you can fall naturally, and well done for losing the weight and getting yourself to that point :) really hope it doesn't take too long until you catch again.

Hmm that's interesting - I may have introduced too much too soon! I've been taking Pregnacare, however I switched to a better quality prenatal recommended in 'It Starts With the Egg' about a week ago. Before I switched I was also taking extra folic acid, vit d and vit e, as well as evening primrose, Ubiquinol and probiotics as I got diagnosed with IBS earlier in the year. May be too much...but then this is all stuff recommended in 'It Starts With the Egg'. I think I might be in for a long cycle this time seeing as I have't had any sort of LH surge.

Ahh that's great you went for next year, you should be all good then! We've rebooked for September next year, but are still going to officially get married this September with a small ceremony. I do worry how TTC will fit in with next year as I already have my dress, but don't think I would want to pause to get the timing right. I'm only 31 going on 32, but already feel like time isn't massively on my side x