OPK with PCOS

[jengrosve]

I'm mid miscarriage so feeling a bit sensitive but planning for the future is making me feel better.

I was diagnosed with PCOS about 7 years ago following a bad bout of adult acne. I suppose I might have a bit of a furry face in comparison to others but it's not noticeable because I'm quite fair haired.

My periods have always been regular as clockwork every 28 days. My son was conceived on the first month of trying and the pregnancy which I've just lost was also first month TTC.

So finally getting to my question, can I REALLY not use OPKs to track ovulation? I really want to but everything I've read says no if you've got PCOS.

Thanks in advance of any advice!

Just realised I probably sound like a raving lunatic telling everyone about my facial hair. It's common to have excessive facial hair with PCOS but it's not something I feel is particularly problematic for me. I wonder if I can have a bit of PCOS or if it doesn't come on a sliding scale.

Bump

I'm not officially diagnosed yet but was told that OPKs often inaccurate for those with PCOS due to naturally higher levels of LH so it can't differentiate between the base level high and an actual high.

Some people with PCOS can conceive totally unassisted and ovulate, others don't so I suppose it is sort of on a scale.

Thanks for replying. I'm wondering if the fact I don't seem to have severe symptoms might mean I can use OPKs but it's so hard to find any information on this!

I hope your diagnosis goes smoothly.

I have diagnosed PCOS, it does effect people to varying degrees. I have excess facial hair but no thinning of the hair on my head, no acne, no weight problems (aside from the self inflicted ones). I've had scans to confirm multiple 'cysts' on my ovaries. Blood tests confirmed hormones are out of whack too. I was diagnosed 17 years ago and told I'd probably need help to conceive.

Fast forward 15 years and I conceived DS naturally, first month of trying. I used OPKs for a few months prior to TTC just to see if they worked for me and they did. They picked up my surge every time and help me pinpoint when I ovulated.

I'm TTC #2 now and using them again (Clearblue advanced digital).

No harm in giving them a go. Start with the cheap One Step ones first if you don't want to spend too much until you're sure they work for you.

@LifesAnItch thank you so much for replying. That is really, really good to hear. I have absolutely zero 'symptoms' now and haven't had acne since my first pregnancy four years ago.

I'm definitely going to give OPKs a go then. What's the risk though? That they will pick up false positives?

Yes the risk is that they give you a peak and you think you've ovulated when actually you haven't.

If you use them in conjunction with bbt that should give you comfort that you've actually ovulate?

Saying that - if you have a 28 day cycle and you've managed to conceive easily in the past then I'm not sure it's worth bothering with opks and bbt!

@Juno231 this probably sounds a bit pathetic but I just feel like I need to 'do' something in relation to trying again.

I'm pretty sure the miscarriage is incomplete because I've really not had heavy bleeding but I won't find out until Friday when I have my next scan at the EPU so this gives me something to organise, if that makes sense?